The Lost Lib of Labrador

[george]

Is this combat vet still sitting in its shipping container in Labrador? Is the wing still resting in the wilderness where it crash landed? If recovery and restoration had gone according to plan, she would be flying now.

Any updates on Liberator 586 would be appreciated.

[SaxMan]

Last I head everything was still "in situ". I had no idea any of it was recovered. It's a shame, as it was very close to being a done deal nearly 15 years ago until the Newfoundland government decided to get into a pissing match with the Canadian government. I was corresponding with an individual who was pretty close to the powers that be at the NASM while this was going on. He passed shortly after the deal starting going bad.

From what I recall, this plane was never going to be a flyer. It was supposed to go to the NASM for eventual inclusion at Udvar-Hazy. The fact that the NASM does not have a single example of a B-24, the most produced American plane of World War II seems to be an incredible oversight. Apparently, though, the NASM isn't interested in just "any" B-24 (even though there are only a handful still around), they want one with some kind of documented combat history. Otherwise, they probably would have taken Whittington's LB-30 that is still rotting away in Ft. Collins. With Whittington's current legal woes, maybe he'll be a bit more willing to unload the hulk at a reasonable price to someone who could do a decent static resto with it.

[JohnB]

For what it's worth...in the 80s I saw most of a B-24 fuselage in a flatbed truck at Fairchild AFB.
I don't know which example it was. Any connection?

[Brad]

Ron Buccarelli is looking to buy B-24/LB-30 parts for a restoration. He's been associated with the Whittington brothers over the years so I'm figuring something is happening with their LB-30.

[george]

SaxMan - This Lib was recovered by Flying Tigers Warbird Museum, Kissimmee, Florida, and was going to be restored to airworthy. They actually had everything crated and ready to ship, except for the center section of the left hand wing panel. They had recovered the fuselage, the turrets, right wing, flaps, everything else.
Maybe the Lib you are referring to is another one?

JohnB - The one you saw in 1980s is a mystery. Couldn't have been 586. I don't think the timeframe is correct for it being the one at Hill, or the two Tallichet recovered from Canada. If it was a D, it must have been recovered from the Chain. The question is: where is it now?

Brad - This is great news. Can you say what part of the country the restoration will take place? Hope he restores as a D, as none are airworthy.

[Chris Brame]

If the Smithsonian wants a Liberator, would they have a shot at the one in Alaska?

[Brad]

Brad - This is great news. Can you say what part of the country the restoration will take place? Hope he restores as a D, as none are airworthy.

Unfortunately I don't know anything about it except that parts are being rounded up by Ron. Anything beyond that is just me guessing.

[Warbird Kid]

If there is another B-24 restoration in the works (especially to airworthy), you can bet I'm a happy camper! Imagine that flight:

B-24A
B-24D
B-24J

[JohnB]

Are there any more in India? Perhaps one could be "liberated"...pardon the pun....from a small collection there.

[seabee1526]

Are there any more in India? Perhaps one could be "liberated"...pardon the pun....from a small collection there.

Ford built at the Indian Air Force Museum.

[old iron]

From what I understand, that is the only Lib that remains in India.

[Todd Hackbarth]

I am trying to determine the USAAF designation and serial number for the Labrador Liberator. It is identified as Liberator G.R. Mk. V RCAF 586.

Geoff Goodall's Warbirds Directory IDs this aircraft as B-24D-60-CO 42-40456, RAF BZ732.
See: http://www.goodall.com.au/warbirds-directory-v6/consolidated.pdf

Joe Baugher lists the following: 42-40433 ... 42-40482 c/n 1510/1559
Consolidated B-24D-60-CO Liberator 42-40456 to RAF as Liberator GR.V BZ732. Diverted to RCAF
See: http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=42-40456&content=


Numerous other sources identify the Labrador Liberator as B-24D-65-CO 42-40526 RAF BZ732.

Alwyn Lloyd, in his book: "LIBERATOR - America's Global Bomber" (1993) gives the following information: Royal Canadian Air Force Liberator GR. V RCAF s/n 586, aircraft letter A, assigned to No. 10 Squadron, RAF s/n BZ732, USAAF s/n 42-40526.

Joe Baugher lists the following: 42-40483 ... 42-40527 c/n 1560/1604
Consolidated B-24D-65-CO Liberator 42-40526 to RAF as BZ732 and then to RCAF as 586. Sunk 2 U-boats in the Atlantic. Forced down by bad weather in the woods 13 miles from Goose Bay, Labrador Feb 1944. 5 survived, one killed. Some of the wreckage has been recovered.
See: http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=42-40526&content=
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b24_10.html

http://www.rwrwalker.ca/RCAF_551_600_detailed.htm

The problem with the Labrador Liberator being B-24D 42-40526 is there are numerous Internet sources which indicate 42-40526 served with the USAAF 5th Air Force in the Pacific, first with the 43rd Bomb Group and later with the 380th Bomb Group, 530th and 531st Bomb Squadrons, with whom it flew approximately 67 combat missions! It was named "Prince Valiant" and later renamed as "PUG". This aircraft was fitted with a nose turret while in theatre. It was salvaged as war weary during 1945.

http://www.kensmen.com/birds1a.html
http://380th.org/HISTORY/PDF/aircraft-D-Types.pdf
http://www.b24bestweb.com/princevaliant1.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/princevaliant2.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/pug-v3-1.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/pug-v3-2.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/pug-v3-3.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/pug-v3-4.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/pug-v3-5.htm
http://380th.org/HISTORY/PARTV/PrinceValiant-PugII.htm
http://380th.org/HISTORY/PARTV/PDF/PrinceValiant-PugII.pdf
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/88289227/APPENDIX-I-COMPLETE-AIRCRAFT-LIST-380TH-BOMB-GROUP-_H_-5TH-AIR-FORCE


To make a long story short, can anyone confirm that the Labrador Liberator G.R. Mk. V RCAF 586 is indeed B-24D-60-CO 42-40456?


An article in the March 2010 issue of Aviation History magazine indicated that "Liberator 586" was slated to be recovered and restored by the "Avalon Historical Aircraft Recovery Association" for eventual display at the North Atlantic Aviation Museum in Gander.

Todd

[_evan]

Does anyone have photos of the plane in question? I have never seen any photos or heard of this wreck until now. Thanks
Evan

[george]

Todd - This info on it being eventually restored for display is the first news I've heard on its status in ages. Thanks. When the recovery was stopped around 20 years ago, it was left dockside to the salt air, and the obligatory theft and vandalism began. It would be interesting to know if it was preserved at all since recovery until now. Certainly it would not have been left on the docks all this time.

Evan - The only pictures I've seen, and there were quite a few, were in some air magazine back when it was recovered, probably around 1990. I do remember one amazing picture of the interior showing that all the wartime equipment was still in place since the plane had not been bothered, and I would guess had just been forgotten about until Flying Tigers Air Museum recovered it.

[PinecastleAAF]

Is this combat vet still sitting in its shipping container in Labrador?

Yes as far as anyone knows.

Is the wing still resting in the wilderness where it crash landed?

Yes fairly certain, I can't imagine anything has changed.

If recovery and restoration had gone according to plan, she would be flying now.

And how! Kinda sad.