B-24's going to Mi. Oct 2008

Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:20 pm

I am honored to be involved with the transport of the B-24/PB4Y parts and airframe sections to the Yankee Air Museum in Mi., from Arizona and Maryland....They will be used in making a very unique display in the near future at the Museum. I just hope that the public can come to appreciate the overall history of the B-24, and it would be an undertaking, to say the least, to tell the history of all the individual parts that are being used from many different aircraft in this collection...I am still in awe...

Thanks Rob, Van, and Lou for allowing me to be a part of this.

Mon Oct 27, 2008 6:24 pm

Im very Happy about this. I dunno, sure seems like enough to make a flyer! :wink:

Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:01 pm

That exact thought dawned on me, at two different locations!

Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:02 pm

Too cool!

What's the origin of that fuselage section? The windows look like an LB-30/B-24A.

Is that a B-24 wing section in the trailer? The nacelle looks like it extends too far back into the wing.

SN

Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:05 pm

I believe it is a J model...It was built at the Michigan Willow Run (Ford) facility.

Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:39 pm

Wing section is PB4Y-2 Privateer off of BuNo. 59905 destroyed summer 1972 resulting from center section/mid-fuselage fire in Washington. Had been operated by Wenairco; remains transferred to T & G Aviation Arizona, operators of Tanker 50 (lost, operational accident southern AZ 1974) and Tanker 30 (now Lone Star FM). Purchased by private collector and saved from scrapping 1991. Undamaged outboard wing panel had been attached to this section, and it was one of two panels sent for use on the B-24 M restoration in Australia earlier this decade. Outer wing panels presently hung on airframe.

Engine mounts were NOS B-24 M QEC from Bob Bean collection, Blythe, Calif., and part of T & G spares. Purchased 1991 prior scrapping operation at Memorial airfield, Chandler, AZ.

Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:06 am

Yankee Air Museum volunteers are already hard at work restoring the sections we have received. Work is on going on a tail section (looks to have a tunnel gun section like Gary made on Ol' 927) and a greenhouse section.
I will try and get photo's next time I am out.
You can see some images on Yankee's website on the photo gallery on the bottom right of the main page. http://yankeeairmuseum.org/
or click here to go directly to the photo gallery.
http://public.fotki.com/Kos/members_photo_galle/
Regards,
Mark Popejoy

Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:29 am

Are there enough parts to build a static airframe?

Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:42 am

Not yet.
The reason for the aquisition of these parts is (I believe) to be part of the new museum in tribute to the B-24 plant at Willow Run. The sections will be displayed as if they are coming together for assembly.
Regards,
Mark

Tue Oct 28, 2008 10:45 am

That's cool too. It will definitely be unique!

Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:41 pm

The fuselage section came from me. It is from a Ford B-24L 44-50022, and now after 60 plus years she is going back to the factory that made her. My entire B-24 collection went to the YAF. I was sad to see it go, but after my B-24 bomb racks and bomb bay doors went to Old'927......I gave the Yankee guys some serious consideration. They've been asking me for years. So, away it went - everything....the turrets, fuselage section, landing gear, wheels and all of the inside goodies - filled up almost all of Gary's semi trailer. They will give it a good home.

Between Robs stuff and my stuff they are well on their way to having a very nice display. I'm not going to say what their intentions are....that is for them to release - but as a Liberator historian I can say it is pretty cool.

Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:59 pm

Very kool!

Tue Oct 28, 2008 6:45 pm

Quest Master wrote:The fuselage section came from me. It is from a Ford B-24L 44-50022, and now after 60 plus years she is going back to the factory that made her. My entire B-24 collection went to the YAF. I was sad to see it go, but after my B-24 bomb racks and bomb bay doors went to Old'927......I gave the Yankee guys some serious consideration. They've been asking me for years. So, away it went - everything....the turrets, fuselage section, landing gear, wheels and all of the inside goodies - filled up almost all of Gary's semi trailer. They will give it a good home.

Between Robs stuff and my stuff they are well on their way to having a very nice display. I'm not going to say what their intentions are....that is for them to release - but as a Liberator historian I can say it is pretty cool.

It could not go to a better museum and location. I'm sure it was hard to part with all that good stuff.

Tim

Tue Oct 28, 2008 7:11 pm

TimAPNY wrote:It could not go to a better museum and location. I'm sure it was hard to part with all that good stuff. Tim

It was and probably will be for some time. I've been collecting B-24 stuff for over 15 years. You can see what they got on my website (plus tons more not pictured)....but now I can focus on other projects.

I'll keep the pictures up on my website for a little while.

Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:34 pm

Here is a picture prior to loading. BEE 24 - get it?