List of surviving B-24 Liberators

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Main article: B-24 Liberator
B-24M-20CO 44-51228
Dugan
Imperial War Museum - Duxford

Consolidated B-24 Survivors is a list of flying and static display B-24 Liberators and PB4Y-2 Privateers and includes brief history, markings, owners, locations, and aircraft condition or status.

Contents

[edit] Background

By the time the last complete B-24M came off the Willow Run assembly line in July 1945, 18,482 Liberators had been built by the five B-24 manufacturers. An additional 774 PB4Y-2 / RY-3 were produced by Consolidated in San Diego.

[edit] Post World War II

The B-24 was quickly declared obsolete by the USAAF and the remaining stateside aircraft were flown to desert storage in the US Southwest. In the Pacific theatre, many aircraft were simply parked, the oil drained from the engines and left for reclamation. By 1950, except for the one B-24D held for preservation, the vast fleet of Liberators were gone. In 12 May 1959, the last flight of a B-24 by the USAF flew from Davis-Monthan to the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson AFB where it is now on display.

[edit] Maritime and fire-fighting usage

With the USN and USCG, the PB4Y-1 continued until early 1950s when they were retired to NAS Litchfield Park. The remaining PB4Y-2 (now redesignated P4Y-2) remained in inventory until the early 1960s when they were either retired to desert storage or expended as targets (as QP4Y-2K). After retirement from active service, these aircraft took up a second career during the late 1960s to the late 1990s as aerial tanker aircraft. It was only after a series of fatal accidents that the remaining PB4Y-2's were again forced into retirement.

[edit] Lend lease

While at the end of the war both the Royal Air Force as well as the Royal Australian Air Force were willing[citation needed] to continue operating the B-24, the terms of the lend-lease agreements stipulated that these aircraft were to be either paid for or returned to the US and vast graveyards of aircraft accumulated in India as well as Tarakan, Australia.

[edit] Other countries needs

When India gained independence in 1947, 37 Liberators were resurrected and gave service until their retirement in 1968. It is from the Indian Air Force that the majority of the remaining B-24s owe their existence.

In 1948 when Israel was looking for aircraft, the Royal Australian Air Force was approached with the offer to purchase 25 aircraft, but since these aircraft had not been stored with long-term preservation in mind, they were neither airworthy nor economically feasible to restore to flyable condition.

With the availability of intact, existing airframes beginning to diminish, the warbird movement since the late 1990s has been seeking out previously considered unrecoverable airframes for restoration. The RAAF has three airframes in storage (serials unknown) which were recovered when they restored their museum aircraft. Both India and China are reported to have additional recoverable aircraft and the jungles of the Southwest Pacific still hold abandoned aircraft.[1]

[edit] Survivors

Each entry covers one remaining complete or partial airframe. Each entry has

  • Aircraft number - the type of aircraft and model eg B-24J-85CF s/n 44-44052
    and current registration (N224J).
  • a brief history (oldest to newest):
  • current markings, codes first then name: Q2 M Witchcraft
  • the current owner or museum: eg Collings Foundation
  • the location where it might be seen or owner's address
  • Condition
(D) = Display
(A) = Airworthy
(S) = Stored
(R) = Under restoration
(W) = Wreck
(U) = Unknown
  • If latitude and longitude points are given, aircraft is on permanent outside display and can be seen in aerial photography.

[edit] B-24A CO Consolidated-San Diego

  • B-24A-CO c/n 27 40-2369, Robert Kropp, Mesa, AZ (S) note: nose section only

[edit] Liberator II CO Consolidated-San Diego

  • Liberator GR.II CO c/n 55 AL557 (N92MK), ex-No 120 Sqn, ex-1445 Flt, ex-159 Sqn, ex-BOAC "G-AGZI" (North Atlantic Return Ferry Service), Vintage Aircraft Ltd, Ft Collins, CO (S)

[edit] B-24D CO Consolidated-San Diego

B-24D-160CO 42-72843
Strawberry Bitch
USAFM
  • B-24D-CO c/n 25 40-2367 (N58246), ex 11th AF / 21st BS /28th Composite Group - 18 combat missions (Pilot Captain John Andres) - crashed 9 December 1942, Bechevin Bay, Atka, AK (W) [5]
  • B-24D-25CO c/n 1096 41-24301, ex-9th AF / 376th BG / 514th BS, (Pilot 1st Lt. William J. Hatton) - crashed 4 April 1943 " 64X Lady Be Good ", Tobruk, Libya (S) note: wreckage only
  • B-24D-70CO c/n 1634 42-40557, ex-RAF Liberator GR V BZ755, ex-RCAF 600, ex-10 (BR) Squadron RCAF "N - Nanette", " Fighting Sam ", (D) note: nose section only
  • B-24D unknown s/n, " Hail Columbia ", Fantasy Of Flight Museum, Polk City, FL (D) note: nose section only

[edit] B-24J CF Consolidated-Fort Worth

B-24J-85CF 44-44052
Witchcraft
Collins Foundation


  • B-24J-90CF c/n 1557 44-44262, ex-RAF Liberator D VI KH391, ex-Indian Air Force HE846, ex-No. 6 Sqn "D", Pooma AB, India (S?)
  • B-24J-90CF c/n 1558 44-44263, ex-RAF Liberator B VI KH392, ex-Indian Air Force HE846, ex-No. 6 Sqn "T", Pooma AB, India (S?)
  • B-24J-90CF c/n 1567 44-44272 (N94459), ex-RAF Liberator B VI KH401 No 357 Sqd, ex-Indian Air Force aircraft HE771, ex-No. 6 Sqn "P", " RR * R+ Joe ", Fantasy of Flight (FoF), Polk, FL (A) [19][20]

[edit] B-24J FO Ford-Willow Run

B-24J-20FO 44-49781
Louisiana Belle II
8th AF Museum


  • B-24J-20FO c/n 3636 44-48781, ex-Spartan School of Aeronautics, " WQ * E Louisiana Belle II ", Eighth Air Force Museum, Barksdale AFB, LA (D) (N32 30' 43.41" W93 40' 53.58")


[edit] B-24L FO Ford-Willow Run

B-24L-20FO 44-50206
RAF Museum - Hendon
  • B-24L-1FO c/n 3867 44-49112, ex-RAF Liberator GR.VIII KL506, ex-RCAF 11120, SOC: Oct 7, 1946, Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing, MI (D)
note: nose section only


  • B-24L-20FO c/n 6707 44-50206, ex-RAF Liberator B.VIII KN571 ex-231 Group / No. 99 Sdn (Madras Presidency) "F", ex-Indian Air Force HE807, ex-No. 6 Sqn "K", RAF Museum (RAFM), Hendon, London, England (D), [22][23]

[edit] B-24M CO Consolidated-San Diego

B-24M-10CO 44-41916
The Blasted Event
Castle AFB
  • B-24M-10CO c/n 5852 44-41916 (N4907L), ex-USN PB4Y-1 Bu 90165, ex-OTU-1 VB-4, ex-NAS Hutchinson, ex-Boliviana de Aviacon CB-76, ex-Bolivian Overseas Airways CP-576, " Circle-B RE * H The Blasted Event ", Castle Air Museum (CAM), Castle AFB, Atwater, CA (D) (N37 21' 52.93" W120 34' 42.46")
  • B-24M-10CO c/n 5992 44-41956, ex-RAAF A72-176, Werribee, Victoria, Australia. (D) [24][25]
note: wings from B-24D-13CO 42-41091 [26]

[edit] B-24 (plant unknown)

  • B-24J s/n unknown, Popondetta, Papua New Guinea (W) [29]

[edit] B-24 replicas

  • B-24J-45CF 44-10395, an RAF Liberator B.IV KG890 of No. 1586 (Special Duties) Flight[30] GR-S, Warsaw Rising Museum[31] on display [32][33] Some parts of the original crashed aeroplane incorporated into the replica
  • B-24M-20CO 44-51228, RE * Z, USAF History and Traditions Museum, Lackland AFB, TX (D) [34] (N29 23' 23.37" W98 37 06.41")

[edit] PB4Y-2 CO Consolidated-San Diego

PB4Y-2S 59701
127
Hawkins & Powers Aviation
  • PB4Y-2S-CO 59701 (N6884C), ex-VPB-120, ex-HDN FAW-4 ex-VP-197, ex-VP-HL-7, ex-NAS San Diego, ex-Tanker "B27"" 127 ", Hawkins and Powers Aviation, Greybull, WY (S)[37] (N44 30' 34.23" W108 04 49.09")
  • PB4Y-2-CO 59876 (N6813D), ex-VB-197 NAS Miramar, ex-VPW-1, ex-HDN-2 FAW-14, ex-NAS Corpus Christi, ex-PB4Y-2G, ex-USCG Barbers Point, SOC: NAS Litchfield Park ex-Hawkins & Powers air tanker "A25", "B25", "125", Yankee Air Museum (YAM), Belleville, MI (S)
  • PB4Y-2-CO 59882 (N6884C), ex-HDN FAW-14 ex-VPB-197 ex-HDN-2 FAW-14, ex-PB4Y-2G, ex-USCG, SOC: NAS Litchfield Park, ex-air tanker "B26" & "126", " 126 ", Hawkins & Powers Aviation, Greybull, WY (S)[40](N44 30' 39.47" W108 04 47.95")
  • PB4Y-2M-CO 59932 (N9829C), ex-VPW-3, ex-VPM-3, ex-VP-HL-3, Tom Reilly Vintage Aircraft, Kissimmee, FL (W) note: fuselage only
  • PB4Y-2-CO 66300, (N2872G), ex-PB4Y-2G ex-USCG Elizabeth City, ex-air Tanker "B24" & "124" " 124 ", Hawkins & Powers Aviation, Greybull, WY (S) (N44 30' 39.92" W108 04 50.03")
  • PB4Y-2-CO 66302, (N2871G), ex-PB4Y-2G ex-USCG Elizabeth City, ex-air Tanker "B21" & "A20" & "121", " 121 ", Hawkins & Powers Aviation, Greybull, WY (S) (N44 30' 40.61" W108 04 49.95")

[edit] References

  1. ^ Aeroflight Warbirds Directory
  2. ^ 40-2366 AM927 (airliners photo collection)
  3. ^ 40-2366 AM927 (airliners photo collection)
  4. ^ 40-2366 N1503 (warbird info exchange)
  5. ^ 40-2367 (National Park Service)
  6. ^ 41-23908 (Restoration Progress)
  7. ^ 41-23908 (Pacific Wreck database)
  8. ^ [http://www.rmk-museum.org.tr/english/exhibit/aviation.html#13 Rahmi M Koc Museum
  9. ^ 41-24311 Hadleys Harem (B-24 info page)
  10. ^ 41-24311 Hadley's Harem (Museum history)
  11. ^ Virginia Air And Space Centre Liberator exhibit
  12. ^ United States Air Force Museum
  13. ^ 42-72843 Strawberry Bitch (airliners photo collection)
  14. ^ 42-72843 Strawberry Bitch (Pilot Rice Memories)
  15. ^ 44-44052 (airliners photo collection)
  16. ^ 44-44052 (Aircraft KH191 History)
  17. ^ 44-44175 Bungay Buckaroo (airliners photo collection)
  18. ^ 44-44175 Bungay Buckaroo (Aircaft KH304 History)
  19. ^ 44-44272 Joe (airliners photo collection)
  20. ^ 44-44272 (Aircraft KH401 History)
  21. ^ 44-50154 (aircraft KN820 history)
  22. ^ 44-50206 (aircraft history)
  23. ^ 44-50206 (aircraft KN751 History)
  24. ^ 44-41956 A72-176 (airliners photo collection)
  25. ^ Big Pond B-24M
  26. ^ 42-41091 Flying Wolf (Pacific Wrecks)
  27. ^ 44-51228 Dugan (airliners photo collection)
  28. ^ 44-51228 The Blasted Event (airliners photo collection)
  29. ^ New Guinea B-24
  30. ^ a Polish flight formed under 138 Squadron RAF and alter used to reform No. 301 (Pomeranian) Squadron
  31. ^ [1]
  32. ^ 44-10395 (replica)
  33. ^ 44-10395 (replica)
  34. ^ 44-10395 (replica) (airliners photo collection)
  35. ^ 59695 (Accident report
  36. ^ 59695 (go fish films)
  37. ^ 59701 (Hawkins & Powers)
  38. ^ 59819 (airliners photo collection)
  39. ^ (Primeprotal photo collection)
  40. ^ 59882 (airliners photo collection)
  41. ^ 66261 V514 (airliners photo collection)
  • United States Air Force Museum. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation. 1975. 

[edit] External links

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