Twin Tail Mystery on Maine/Quebec Border

There was some talk some years about about getting a B-24 for the NASM. With as many one-off and obscure foreign types in the NASM collection, it is hard to believe that the NASM does not have a single example of the the most produced American aircraft of World War II. There was talk of recovering an RCAF B-24 that had crashed relatively intact in Newfoundland. This plane had a documented combat history, sinking one (perhaps two?) U-boats. This particular airframe would have been the prime candidate to go to the NASM for restoration.

Apparently, there was some issue over who had the rights to the airframe. At the time of the crash (1944), Newfoundland was not considered part of Canada, so there was a legal squabble over whether the airframe belonged to the RCAF, to Canada, to Newfoundland, or even to the U.S., since this was a Lend-Lease aircraft. Unfortunately, the individual who was keeping me apprised of this project passed away, so I have no idea what the end result was.

There was an LB-30 being stored (in several deteriorating pieces)at the Downtown Ft. Collins airport. This airframe was also being considered by the NASM for acquisition and restoration, but they rejected it due to its lack of combat history. Some sources claim that this LB-30 did see combat in Alaska with the 11th Air Force, but that does appear to be unlikely. It seems to me that the NASM is being too picky. The LB-30, whether it saw combat or not, is a rare airplane. Many similar examples were thrust into combat right after Pearl Harbor...surely the Smithsonian could see the value of the type?

The last thing I heard, the owner of the airframe, Don Whittington, was looking to sell the LB-30, with an asking price around $200,000 as is, where is. I don't know if he got any takers. The LB-30 would require a lot of time and money just to get back into static condition, let alone flying condition. Does anyone know what the current status of this airframe is?

[TimAPNY]

The NASM should get to work on thier B-17D before they look to leave a B-24/LB-30 in storage for another 30 years. IMO

First things ,first canada didn,t recieve any aircraft under the lend -lease program. The aircraft also never made it to Quebec, the parts where taken to goose bay and the RCMP seized the aircraft for the province, of Newfoundland. and before u all come to Canada and take our historic aircraft, worry about the ones still in your country.

Hi Col. Rohr,

Thanks for clearing up what happened to the B-24 in Canada.

Regarding the LB-30, my research agrees with yours: that it flew as a hack throughout the war and had no combat record (even though I have seen press clippings in the Anchorage Daily News that state the contrary). It was used post-war in Alaska by the Morris Knudsen Company, where it was wrecked on an Alaskan airstrip. When I was doing some research on the plane, one individual forwaded me scans of color slides that he had taken around 1960 of the aircraft shortly after it had been abandoned and stripped of its engines. It was still largely intact at that point. The pics are still sitting on my old computer. I'd be more than happy to forward them to anyone interested.

Regardless of whether it had a combat record or not, LB-30s (or B-24s for that matter) in any condition are rare enough birds today that you'd think someone would be interested in the Ft. Collins LB-30. Maybe Mr. Whittington should do the right thing and donate the airframe to an organization that would make some attempt to restore it, even if it was a static restoration. It seems a shame to continue to have the airframe deteriorate to the point that even a static restoration may no longer be feasible.

I'd be all for that hike in the Canadian woods.

Yes this aircraft is a combat vet, its supposed to have sunk two U-boats in the Bay of Biscay,as a permit from the DOD, they can declare it surplus but then it goes to crown assets, and they will give it to you, but they also say that the province that it is located in may have claim to it, Tom was going to mate the wings to his priveteet fus. that he had , the pic,s i saw of the B-24 showed that the fuselage was flatened , this was in 1987-88.

[petef86a]

This one has been a loooong research project and many people I have interviewed blend several incidents together when they talk about this aircraft.

As it turns out, the crash near the lake north of the one usually attributed to this "mystery border bomber" actually happened on November 17, 1940. RCAF Digby #749 was returning from a coastal patrol flight and was diverted to Montreal due to poor weather at coastal bases. It ran out of fuel and all 6 crew bailed out with 3 surviving. The incident is listed as happening in Quebec, and all 6 crew landed in Quebec, but the aircraft circled and actually hit a ridge on the Maine side of the border. The fuselage was telescoped but intact and visible from the air for years. It has apparently been removed.

I am not sure how it became 4 engined and twin tailed but viewing acattered wreckage from the air.......

[John Dupre]

Any photos of the Ft. Collins LB-30 or the Canadian B-24 anywhere?