Why is it (almost) always B-24 ??

[airmanual]

Always had a very strong interest in WWII aircraft graveyard photos, especially pacific area.

Had to come to the concusion that most photos collected over the years were about B-24 or at least contained B-24 !!

Just wondering why. Any clue ?

Few samples below. All from unindentified airfield except the first one taken at Mrotai in 1946

Laurent

[Pat Carry]

In the Pacific B-24's were the plane of choice because of their greater range and probably because the B-24 was built in such large numbers. That would be my explanation.

[davidbray]

My personal guess would be because of the 18,482 built only 24 are left, including the 3 wrecks and 5 nose sections. A friend at my church was a B-24 gunner, and he told me about his pilot ferrying brand new B-24's straight to the desert for storage/recycling after the war. Also B-24's served in every theater of operation.

[Django]

My personal guess would be because of the 18,482 built only 24 are left, including the 3 wrecks and 5 nose sections. A friend at my church was a B-24 gunner, and he told me about his pilot ferrying brand new B-24's straight to the desert for storage/recycling after the war. Also B-24's served in every theater of operation.

Yep, I concur. Thanks for posting those pics. I've not seen any of those before. Have any more?

[Jesse C.]

I don't know why, but, I love these types of pics!

[Pat Carry]

I wonder if any of these graveyards are still there?

[Zachary]

They say the B-24 is the box the B-17 came in. You see, it's like kids at Christmas - they keep the toys and throw away the boxes!

[reno64]

In the B-24 boneyard picture on Morotai 1946, at the center right margin is the tail of 868th BS Snooper (S diamond). I was very excited to see this, since my father-in-law was a radio operator/gunner in the 868th and very little has been written about their role in developing maritime radar bombing in the Pacific. It is bittersweet to see those workhorses put out to pasture.

[airmanual]

A few more :

First 2 shots also taken at morotai, either end 1945 or early 1946





Next one taken at Munda, end 1944



Last one sent to me by a friend. Date, place and provenance unknown

[The Inspector]

In the next to last shot @ Munda, look @ the B-25 hulk in the foreground, I don't see a life raft hatch (or whatever it is) missing just ahead of the turret hole (this goes back to the B-25 thread of a couple weeks ago) and what happened to the belly on that PBY piled on top? In the last one, judging from the gravelly ground and what look like blackwater spruces, thats either in Northern C eh N eh D eh or Southeast Alaska.

[PbyCat-Guy]

If these were still around, I'd need to take a month off to have a nice field day.

[Second Air Force]

A few more :

First 2 shots also taken at morotai, either end 1945 or early 1946

Notice the C-54 tail to the left of the C-47 fuselage? It appears to be either 42-272244 or '45.

You asked the question of why so many B-24s were photographed in scrapyards. Another answer, beyond the sheer numbers that saw service around the globe, is that many B-24s in the Pacific were condemned after combat damage that might have been repaired in the ETO or MTO. The supply pipeline to the SWPA depots was very difficult, and slower, than to Europe, and many damaged aircraft were cannibalized for spares rather than being rebuilt.

These are great new photos of the boneyards that we are very glad you are sharing with us, airmanual!

Scott

[the330thbg]

Looks like Gary has been at work here.., merging a C-54 tail with a C-47!!! LOL

[george]

Great pictures, airmanual. Regarding your question - it must have been the numbers factor with Libs. Hundreds upon hundreds of Libs were flown to places like Biak, Nadzab, Dobodura, and just left there to rot. I think around a thousand were flown to Biak alone, just to be parked and abandoned. I have read that there were so many on Biak that they were still being scrapped up into the 60's.

[Taigh Ramey]

In the next to last shot @ Munda, look @ the B-25 hulk in the foreground, I don't see a life raft hatch (or whatever it is) missing just ahead of the turret hole (this goes back to the B-25 thread of a couple weeks ago)

I see the life raft compartment sans the hatch right above the trailing edge. The compartment is smooth and rounded inside so it blends in well.