Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:43 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2
Author Message
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 5:29 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:56 pm
Posts: 659
Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
Just to clarify what was mentioned previously, the RCAF only operated a single Liberator C.IX, which was JT973 (ex-USN RY-3 BuNo 90021, aka the "Rockcliffe Ice Wagon") and was only on loan from the RAF from 1946-1948.
She was used for icing research by the RCAF Experimental & Proving Establishment in cooperation with the National Research Council, and was based at RCAF Station Rockcliffe.

Image

A lack of spare parts kept her grounded much of the time, and was scrapped in 1948 or '49.
She was replaced in her ice research duties by RCAF North Star 17513, which was modified with a dorsal wing section on the fuselage and observation blisters.

Image

Although it would be really nice to see another Privateer in the air, I doubt that Canada would be the right home for it with such limited service here.

:partyman:

_________________
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:47 am 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club

Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:26 pm
Posts: 4961
Location: PA
I think a PB4Y-2 would be best seen in post-ww2 US Navy scheme of perhaps a Naval Reserve unit with orange tail band, and sea blue paint scheme.

_________________
Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 3:07 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:43 pm
Posts: 331
Location: Ottawa
The RAF's experience with the Privateer known as Liberator C.IX in service was not stellar. Three of them (including Churchill's personal aircraft called Commando) were lost in fatal crashes, and it was thought that there was some basic problems with the structural integrity of the aircraft. All but one of the remaining RAF Liberator C.IXs were struck off charge in April of 1946 and either scrapped or returned to the US Navy. That's how the sole surviving Liberator C.IX (JT973, ex BuNo 90021) ended up flying ice-research missions with the Royal Canadian Air Force for the National Research Council as the Rockcliffe Icewagon. They kept it flying by scavenging spare parts from the Liberator stores, and later from the U.S. Navy's PB4Y-2 inventory. After the Rockcliffe Icewagon flew her last mission in late 1948 it was scrapped.

_________________
“Try to fly in the middle of the air. The edges are filled with mountains and oceans and rocks and it’s much harder to fly there.”


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 4:24 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2014 12:55 pm
Posts: 491
Thanks again, Steve ! Speaking of the RAF, My friend in S.A TX reminded me that Winston Churchill had a Liberator II (RY-3 ?) "Commando' AL504 (?) pop2

_________________
WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 4:44 pm 
Offline

Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:18 pm
Posts: 459
[quote="Nathan"]I think a PB4Y-2 would be best seen in post-ww2 US Navy scheme of perhaps a Naval Reserve unit with orange tail band, and sea blue paint scheme.[/q

Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 2:51 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:43 pm
Posts: 331
Location: Ottawa
Have to agree the PB4Y-2 should be displayed in USN colours. The Liberator GR Mk VIII at the CASM which is the machine exchanged with the Indian Air Force is currently displayed in the RCAF wartime scheme.

Image

_________________
“Try to fly in the middle of the air. The edges are filled with mountains and oceans and rocks and it’s much harder to fly there.”


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 6:43 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:48 pm
Posts: 836
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Hello TBM Tony,

Yes, Winston Churchill did indeed have a LB-30 Liberator named "Commando" RAF serial AL 504. IIRC, there is a photo of it in Alan Blue's book "B-24 Liberator" and the aircraft had been re-fitted with a single vertical tail (possibly the first one?). The book photo was taken at the Consolidated-Vultee Modification center in Tucson, AZ. Eventually, Churchill (as well as Roosevelt and De Gaulle) were all provided with C-54's.

JDV
http://www.fuselagecodes.com


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 9:26 pm 
Offline

Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:02 pm
Posts: 284
Not to go too far off-topic, but if you've read Ernest K. Gann's comments on the flying the C-87 in his memoir "Fate is the Hunter", you might find it odd that the RCAF would have used one for icing testing.
If you haven't read that book, go get a copy today. It's an essential resource, by someone who a) was there and flew the airplanes.. and b) could tell a story.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 13, 2017 4:40 pm 
Offline

Joined: Wed Oct 15, 2014 12:55 pm
Posts: 491
Thanks JDV & everyone, Great Input ! pop2

_________________
WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 11:19 am 
Offline

Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:18 pm
Posts: 459
thank you


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 12:32 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!

Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:31 pm
Posts: 1089
Location: Caribou, Maine
I would like to see a PB4Y-2 Privateer go the NASM. They have desired a B-24 for many years; a PB4Y would be a good alternative, and would give them a four-engined aircraft type that saw non-nuclear use in the Pacific.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:21 pm 
Online
Long Time Member
Long Time Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 1:54 am
Posts: 5116
Location: Stratford, CT.
My hope is one (or both) remaining Privateers in Greybull make it into the hands of active groups that would fly em coast to coast. (Collings, CAF, etc.)

_________________
Keep Em' Flying,
Christopher Soltis

Dedicated to the preservation and education of The Sikorsky Memorial Airport

CASC Blog Page: http://ctair-space.blogspot.com/
Warbird Wear: https://www.redbubble.com/people/warbirdwear/shop

Chicks Dig Warbirds.......right?


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page Previous  1, 2

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Warbird Kid and 96 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group