LITTLE BILL'S nose art - what's the aircraft?

[The Inspector]

OK, now I'm confused.(yeah, like that's a revalation) I'm certain that somewhere in the forum I remember seeing that a B-24 was a B-24 unless it's tail number ended in 927

[Django]

According to http://www.dunkeswellmemorialmuseum.org.uk , the PB4Y-1s did have that mast, at least in England.



This model seems to have it as well.

Last edited by Django on Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Second Air Force]

Nope, it is a PB4Y-1 with the fairings for the ERCO turret clearly visible. Somewhere in SWPA one must suspect. I've been trying to decide if it is one of the olive drab/neutral grey early ships or if it has the standard Navy paint scheme applied to the later ships. I'm still going to try to find the info on this one in the stack of stuff in my "library"--just haven't had time to search.

And Django's photo shows the braced pitot mast to good advantage. The braces were added to the high-mounted masts because of turbulence from firing the turret guns after conversion. Later -1s and the -2s all had low mounted pitot tubes, just like their later B-24 bretheren.

Scott

[billtate]

I believe this aircraft is a PB4Y-1 Liberator from VPB-115. This may be the aircraft of LT. James E. Little and Crew Two. The Liberator was named “Little Bill’s Lucky Lady” after Lt. Little’s son little Bill.
From the picture we can see the number Five. Common practice of VPB Liberator squadrons in the Pacific was to paint the last two or three digits of the Bureau Number on the nose of the aircraft. I believe after going through Bombing Squadron One Hundred Fifteen War Diary that the aircraft in question is BuNo. 32215. “PB4Y-1 Bureau Number 32215 was destroyed on May 15, 1944 in a crash when a tire blew out and the landing gear failed following an emergency landing on Green Island.” This would seem to be confirmed in the picture of “Little Bill’s Lucky Lady” which appears to have extensive damage to the belly of the aircraft.
Between 10 April and 26 May 1944 the unit, VPB-115, operated off of Green Island, British Solomons. The facts in the War Diary seem to match up with Neville Jackson’s pictures and tour data. Therefore, I conclude that this picture is probable the PB4Y-1, BuNo 32215, “Little Bill’s Lucky Lady” attached to VPB-115, Green Island.
The VPB-115 War Diary and information was provided to me by R. D. ‘Dick’ Shoden (AMO 1st tail gunner inVPB-115). I am currently working on a book with Jim ‘Maddog’ Meehan and John ‘Buddha’ Kerr on U.S. Navy and U.S.M.C. Nose Art/ Special Markings (1919-Present).

[Steve Nelson]

Looks like the mystery is solved..great detective work!

SN

[John Kerr]

One more small piece of information on this PB4Y-1 was ex B-24D 44-73042.

[Second Air Force]

Great detective work, billtate!

John, I found reference to 32215 being B-24J-40-CO 42-73402.

Scott

[John Kerr]

sorry fat finger 402 is correct.

[Second Air Force]

sorry fat finger 402 is correct.

No problem, John! I had to go searching after reading your first post as they pulled airplanes off the Consolidated line in what seems a random fashion to fill the Navy orders.

I've often wondered if the later PB4Y-1s were ferried to Goodyear to have the ERCO turret installed or if Consolidated had a mod line there at the home plant. Some of the earliest "D" models with the bow turret had them installed at modification centers but I don't know about the later ships.

Scott

[Django]

Thanks billtate, and welcome aboard.