Post-War B-24M's ...

[Mark Allen M]

These two B-24M's may have been parked at a technical school somewhere, but not quite sure.


B-24M with four Pratt & Whitney R-1830's 44-50960 "Tricky Mickey" at an undetermined location after the war.
J Baugher states: Ford B-24M-15-FO Liberator 44-50960 to RFC Kingman AAF, Az Nov 9, 1945.


B-24M with four Pratt & Whitney R-1830's 44-51901 after the war also at an undetermined location. No data on 44-51901.
J Baugher states: 44-51928 was last B-24 built by Ford at Willow Run. Came off assembly line Jun 28, 1945.
Flown directly to storage facility and then to RFC at Kingman, AZ for scrapping and ultimate smelting.

[quemerford]

44-50960: Kingman maybe?

Last edited by quemerford on Sun Jul 28, 2024 2:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Craig59]

The 1942 Ford Station Wagon (Woodie) is marked with U.S. Navy on the front door if that offers up any clues.

It’s also interesting that 960, Tricky Micky (no E) appears to be marked with 13 bomb mission markings.

3rd edit…

Ah ha! From the website worldwarphotos.info:

Ford B-24M-15-FO Liberator Bomber #960 44-50960 of the 11th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Squadron. Nose Art “Tricky Micky” Okinawa 1945.

The image there shows a much larger pin up art on the right side.

[reno64]

Note the 44-51901 has a radar dome in place of the ball turret. Several all black, late production B-24Ms were assigned to the 868th BS as radar equipped "Snoopers" and fought in the last few months of the Pacific war and flew back to the U.S. after hostilities. Documented B-24Ms include: 44-50308, 44-50395, 44-50397, 44-50780 and 44-50972. There is a William Larkin aerial photo of 44-50780 while in storage at Kingman.

[Craig59]

This may be the 98th BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 11th BOMB GROUP insignia on the left side.

Attachments

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[sandiego89]

44-50960: Willow Run to St Paul 17Feb45; Rock Springs 14Mar45 (weather); Salinas 18Mar45; San Francisco 15Apr45; departed US 18Apr45; returned to US at Mather 02Nov45; RFC Kingman 09Nov45.

Too mountainous for Mather, so Kingman maybe?

Looks very much like the mountains east of Salinas. Distinct range with smaller hills closer to the camera, and a higher range behind.

Kingman mountains are further away from the airfield and different shape (more pronounced spikes)

[Noha307]

Quite interesting that the tail bumper on 44-50960 has been fitted with a wheel and the last three digits of the serial number have been painted on the inside of the vertical stabilizer. Has anyone seen either of these features before? Perhaps the latter is predecessor to AMARG inventory codes?

[mike furline]

451901 also appears to have covers or fairings over the turbosuperchargers.

Here's another,

[quemerford]

44-50960: Willow Run to St Paul 17Feb45; Rock Springs 14Mar45 (weather); Salinas 18Mar45; San Francisco 15Apr45; departed US 18Apr45; returned to US at Mather 02Nov45; RFC Kingman 09Nov45.

Too mountainous for Mather, so Kingman maybe?

Looks very much like the mountains east of Salinas. Distinct range with smaller hills closer to the camera, and a higher range behind.

Kingman mountains are further away from the airfield and different shape (more pronounced spikes)

Date must be Nov45; not sure whether Salinas would be enroute Mather-Kingman?

[Mark Allen M]

First time I've noticed those two small fuselage windows lower aft.

[quemerford]

B-24M s/n 44-51901; why did I bother posting its record card?

Last edited by quemerford on Sun Jul 28, 2024 2:04 am, edited 1 time in total.

[turretguy]

This is answered in the August issue of Air Classics magazine beginning on Page 56.

Sharp-eyed SanDiego89 is correct, those are the mountains south of Salinas -- actually at Camp San Luis, near San Luis Obispo. Tricky Mickey was photographed en route to storage at Kingman, Arizona. The Camp San Luis airfield served both the AAF and the nearby U.S. Naval Amphibious Training Base Morro Bay, thus the Navy Ford Woodie on the field.

As for 44-51901, it is seen at Lambert Field, Missouri, while most likely on loan to Emerson Electric for an experimental armament program that was canceled at war's end. According to the aircraft's record card, this B-24 was scrapped at Lambert Field.

So the thought that these two B-24s had post-war careers as war memorials or served at ground instructional airframes has been run to ground. They did not have post-war careers.

Nick

[Mark Allen M]

B-24M s/n <a href="tel:44-51901">44-51901</a>; why did I bother posting its record card?

Glad you did. Your vast knowledge is both predictable and appreciated as always. Also the fact that you have the rare gift of real research and your posts always prove that.

Thanks as always.