Warbird Information Exchange

Another remarkable example of the Lib's ability to absorb punishment was demonstrated by Lt. Bernard L. Ball while flying a Consolidated B-24-65 (Fort Worth built) on a mission to Yugoslavia. His aircraft, serial 44-10570, sustained a direct flak hit in the waist gun area. The explosion literally blew that area apart, killing one of the gunners, severing the rudder cables, and removing half of the upper fuselage in that spot. Lt. Bell flew the Lib home using engines and cowl flaps for directional control.

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!

that's an amazing pic.
B

Jack, Thanks for posting that one!
My late Uncle, Thomas Kennedy, was a crew chief with the 449th (the group this B-24 was assigned to) in Italy and was there when this ship came in! He's got his own snap shots of the damage from both sides.
Amazing hearing about it from the horse's mouth.
The late Sen. Loyd Benson was also a pilot with the 449th.
Jerry

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Ol' Gary'll fix her right up. I wonder if that's him standing in the waist...

SN

Nah. I'm not that tall.

Gary

Awe, come on Gary, you could just cut away the loose pieces and make it a "Rag Top" B-24!

Imagine crusin' through the local drive in with the top down. The chicks would go nuts! (and it's a lot faster than a Porsche!)

Jerry

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Here is a photo of the right side of the airplane taken from the wing. The field at Grottaglie must have been used as a depot of sorts judging from the collection of aircraft behind her. R.I.P. to the aerial gunner lost that day.


Scott