The B-24 "Witchcraft" is the only fully restored and flying B-24 Liberator in the world. It visited Frederick airport as part of the Wings of Freedom Tour. Here it is taking off.
It's a bit like a flying boxcar, not as elegant as the B-17. But it's a LOT roomier on the inside.
Yep. Designed to be a big old Bomb Truck!
ReplyDeleteAnd a LOT harder to fly!
ReplyDeleteJimmy Stewart's old ride. I heard the pilots had massive forearms after flying those monsters....
ReplyDeleteJimmy Stewart flew both the 17 & the 24. The generals liked the 24 because range & bomb load. The pilots liked the 17 because it was a pilot's plane, not a box car.
DeleteIIRC, pilots also liked the fact that the B-17 flew higher than the -24 when loaded, which made them safer. Tougher aircraft, as the Fortress could take more damage and still make it back home. Interesting that the Fortress was widely utilized for commercial purposes after the war, and the B-24 wasn't. That seems to explain the surviving numbers of the two.
ReplyDeleteFuel leakage inside the B-24 was a common problem, and probably contributed to it's loss rate.
Lindbergh was heavily involved in getting Ford's B-24 into production. Big job, big plant.
This guy really worked hard during the war to help improve our aircraft. Not widely known by the public, it seems. Has several air kills in the Pacific Arena while flying as an advisor to front line fighter pilots.
Hey Will, I remember reading that he advised the P38 pilots in the Pacific on fuel settings to maximize range. That was when he got a few bandits....
ReplyDeleteHe was no slouch in the mental department.
Just one of his improvements. Came close to doubling the cruising range, IIRC.
ReplyDeleteHis next endevour was to increase the bomb load of the Marine's Corsair. He ended up designing and building a new centerline rack to hold a 4k lb bomb. Made a few bomb runs against one of the Japanese outposts during this project. If he encountered any aircraft he never admitted it.
The Army freaked when they found out he was shooting at the enemy during his P-38 days. That's why he was working with the Marines. Don't know why he never worked with the Navy Air Groups.
He did some kibitzing with Army ground units on one of the Islands. He wrote about how the soldiers stopped accepting surrenders, as they had a habit of hiding weapons to attack after surrendering, especially targeting medical personnel. One of the factors in the low numbers of surviving Japanese soldiers.