Warbird Information Exchange

In tribute to Gary's makeover of Diamond Lil, I thought I would go through the files and post a sampling of preserved B-24 shots from my collection. These pics are all from the cameras of two guys, Dick Kamm, aviation historian and enthusiast extraordinaire, and myself, strictly ordinaire.

I'll do these in construction order. Therefore, first will be -- Lil! The oldest 4-engined airplane flying now that the Boeing 307 is safely tucked away at Dulles. First, the way she looked circa 1977 at Harlingen:



The nose at that time. Sheet metal work then was not always up to Gary's current standards!



A few years later, greeting the sunrise at Oshkosh 1982. Windborne smoke from Canadian forest fires that year led to dicey VFR conditions but lovely sunrises that looked like sunsets.



Lil with Fifi, Aluminum Overcast, Sentimental Journey, and Chuckie, again at Oshkosh 1982. This formation of five heavies was unprecedented at the time and was not beaten until the big bomber meets of the 1990s.



Bringing things up to date, Lil in action at Airsho 2005, Midland:







Taxiing in after a hard day's display flying at Airsho ...



And up early again the next morning!



Next we have B-24D 42-72843, the Strawberry Bitch. My friend Dick, then in the Air Force, was among the mechanics who prepared her for her post-restoration flight from Davis Monthan to Dayton. The date was 1959. Here she is, about ready to go:





Cockpit view of the Bitch prior to the ferry flight:



And off she goes!



Here she is at home in the USAFM. Note that the scoreboard markings and symbol on the nose were added much later, around 1979.



Now on to the late-model airplanes. 44-41916 at Castle AFB:





Collings Foundation 44-44052 on a low pass while payng a visit to Santa Monica, spring 1993. Well, technically not a low pass but a missed approach. The field had just gone IFR and the tower refused permission for the low pass. But wouldn't you know it, that lousy Collings pilot overshot!





Now Witchcraft, in 2005 at Nashua, NH:





Pima's identity-crisis B-24, 44-44175. The "American" side ...



... and the "Indian" side.



Next up, the then-Tallichet, now Weeks 44-44272. This was at the March AFB show in 1989. Tallichet's B-17 and B-24 were supposed to fly together at that show. Neither one could quite be made serviceable.





The Canadian national collection's Liberator got an airing-out at Rockcliffe, 1971:



At Cosford, another ex-Indian airplane, 44-50206:



And finally, before it departed for Duxford, 44-51228 at Lackland:





Hope you've enjoyed this little photo feature. Go Gary! Go Lil!

August

Nice pics! Thanks!

Thanks for the tribute August. Some great shots!

Gary

If I remember right Al Shower ferried Strawberry Bitch to the USAFM. He was the CO of the 467th and home to "Witchcraft". In the last two years of her new paint job it is amazing how many more veterans have turned out that were associated with "Witchcraft" versus "All American" and "The Dragon". Ray Betcher and his family seem to frequently turn up out of the blue and spend hours talking about his service with WC. Its all about the veterans.

Jim Harley

I really enjoyed the ones of Strawberry Bitch before her flight to the museum.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

How did Strawberry Bitch escape the mass scrappings after World War II? Was she specifically chosen to be part of the new Air Force Museum (not unlike the decision to preserve "Flak Bait")?

Could the Castle AFB bird be made flyable again? It looks (at least on the outside) substantially there. It seems to be a waste to have that bird sitting outside constantly exposed to the elements.

The B-24 at Castle is just a shell. Not much inside her at all. Although the desert like climate helps, it is a shame it is outside, along with the rest of those machines. The B-17 was flown in and would probably require a few months $$ to get it back into shape but the rest (including the 17)are ground bound.

jim

Bump. Some great threads still out there if you're willing to search.

Always a bit weird to start reading a thread before realizing how old it is and then seeing Gary's comments.

I miss that guy...

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Curator - EAA Aviation Museum, Oshkosh, WI
"Let No Story Go Untold!"
http://www.timelessvoices.org

Anyone have any pictures of the CAF airplane when it was a full executive ship?
Chris...

"hybrid" versions of the Lib were not uncommon in WW2. Many 'D' models for example were fitted with tail turrets in the nose here in Australia and looked like later models. B-25's were chopped and channeled and fitted with non-production line items [Pappy Gunn eg.] The graveyards provided parts and complete sections that were grafted onto various types from time to time. 927 is one heck of a rebuild todate. Brave Gary and all his helpers and supporters. Old "Lil" is dead for me. She did her thing but after major plastic surgery morphed back to her teenage self...