Warbird Information Exchange

Just wondering IF some VERY kind person were to obtain a PB4Y-2 Privateer ( there should be 2 left at Greybull WY. ?), have it IRAN & then donated to the CWHM or to VWoC , as an RY-3, I can see it now in bare metal or painted silver with RCAF markings ! anyone here think it would be a welcomed gift ? We see how the Collings Foundation has received several beautiful warbirds over the past years, why not the Canadians ? Just day dreaming, maybe that lucky lotto ticket....

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WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

one major difference between the group's you mention seem to be money. Collins seems to have a great deal of it.

Obviously, the Canadians have the technical expertise to operate a PB4Y, after all compared to maintaining a Lancaster, it should be easy.
I know various Canadian groups operate American SE & fighter types, but is the will and financial ability there to operate a lesser known large American type?
Everyone in Canada knows the Lancaster, after all the RCAF flew the type in the war and they were built in the country, (and I'm sure they'd equally love a Halifax since it was flown by many Canadian units, but the Brits scrapped them to near extinction) but not many know about Canadian use of the Privateer. Less knowledge equates to less public support and eventually, funding.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.

Thanks Lon (VERY Cool art work!) & John, I guess I thought of the CWHM first because they operate a B-25, & in one of the latest articles, flying the only flyable PB4Y, it was mentioned how more efficient it is to leave the 2600s . Still, even though, I THINK we've seen pic.s of the collings B-24 flying next to the lanc.(?) having a PB4Y/RY-3 fly formation with the lanc. & B-25 would be something else ! Thanks again !

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WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.

To my knowledge the RCAF never operated the PB4Y-2 Privateer, let alone the markings portrayed in the illustration. They did indeed have a handful of RY-3's during the latter days of WWII all in natural aluminum. These RY's actually had the name of "Liberator" assigned to it by the RAF/RCAF and IIRC it was called a "Liberator Mk.IX" and were used for long range transport duties. They carried no armament and of course displayed the classic RAF roundel of WWII...not the maple leaf insignia that was a post-war revision.

JDV
http://www.fuselagecodes.com

Our collection of aircraft has grown to almost 50 thanks to the generosity of many donors who have gifted us with aircraft over the years. While this type technically would fit into what our mandate dictates us to collect (Rockcliffe Icewagon), this particular aircraft would not fit into our hangar due to the height of its tail. A Spitfire, Hurricane and Mosquito would fit just fine though. Thanks.

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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
http://www.warplane.com

We at VWoC appreciate the thought, and recently had an aircraft offered to us as a donation (Bellanca), but to be frank, our hangar is jammed as it is -- particularly with the 3 restorations we have going on. And building a new hangar isn't in the cards.

Mind you, if a Hellcat became available...

Thanks for the Replies JDV,CWHM & Dave, Yes, that RY-3 "Rockcliffe Icewagon" is part of the OLD the Matchbox 1/72 model kit, which was the inspiration for my friend in San Antonio to pass this idea along to me ! I'll remind him to include a new Hangar if he ever wins the lotto.. Hey Dave, what about a Firefly ? Would be great to see 2 Fly in Canada together !

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WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.

My father served with 168 squadron at the war's end, by that time they had replaced the B17s with Liberators. He was there when the Rockcliffe Ice Wagon was around. Most never lasted long enough to get the maple leaf roundel, however one did get the early style without the white. We were at Trenton in 1968 when the Liberator arrived from India, with the maple leaf roundel. By the war's end the RCAF had 148 liberators on strength, and 426 squadron used them until 1947 when replaced by North Stars. RCAF squadrons and units using the Liberator were:
In Canada:
10 (BR) Squadron, III, V and G.R.VI, 1943 to end of war
11 (BR) Squadron, III, V and G.R. VI, 1943 to end of war
168 (HT) Squadron, August 1944 to April 1946
12/412 (T) Squadron, immediate post war
No. 5 OTU, 1944 to end of war

In the UK:
422 (T) Squadron, from August 1945
423 (T) Squadron, from August 1945
426 (T) Squadron, from August 1945

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“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.”

Very cool, Steve.

Did you know Joe Cosmano flew the (I think) Collings B-24 last year? Ask him about it next time you see him at the hangar.

Look forward to seeing the gang back this year, should be an exciting flying season Dave. A good friend who just turned 92 was preparing to train on Liberators when the war ended, he went to India instead, learned hindi, and became a United Church Minister. We often talk Liberators when we get together.

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“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.”

THANK YOU ! K225/Steve, Great Pic.s we don't get to see much about Canadian RY-3s/B-24s, Great to see those Pic.s Thanks again !

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WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.

Here are a few more RCAF Liberators including the VIP version in the early RCAF roundel,this aircraft was the first to have the maple leaf applied along with the red ensign, also a 10 Squadron sub hunter and a 168ht craft at Rockcliffe in the snow.

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“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.”

More 168ht Liberators. Aso that first maple leaf roundel used from 1946 to 1948 first applied to the VIP Liberator the Silver

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“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.”

Great Pic.s again !! VIP lib., Very Cool without Guns ! & I Always like to see what's in the Back Ground !

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WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.