B-24 Dugan at Duxford

[APG85]

Does anyone have an pictures or information on the restoration of this B-24 after it moved to Duxford? It sat for decades on the parade grounds at Lackland before being transferred to Duxford. Any pictures of it being dismantled and transported to the UK? Is the interior complete? Can't find much online about it.
Thank you.

[Archer]

Back then, the restoration (or at least part of it) and the assembly of this airframe was covered on the Flypast forum. This is now the Keypublishing forum but unfortunately, the search function is very bad. You can try: https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation

[JohnB]

What also would be interesting about the history of 44-51228 was its "convetsion from the Ice Research EZB-24M-21 to its display configuration at Lackland.
Look at postwar photos of it and it was extensively modified for its research role.
At some point, it was turned into a (externally at least) bomber configuration for display.y

Given the speed the USAAF retired Liberators, I wonder where the USAF got whatever was needed to make it look like a wartime aircraft? We have seen some USAF-owned display aircraft with some pretty bogus threats and the like, so perhaps it was left up to Lackland to " convert" it back to stock appearance.

[APG85]

Unfortunately, I can find very little about it on the internet. It would be neat to see pictures and articles on it...things like the dismantling at Lackland, the air transport to the UK (I'm assuming it was brought over in a C-5) and the restoration at Duxford.

This link does show one picture of it dismantled after it arrived in the UK.

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/44-51228

[quemerford]

Why are you limiting yourself to the internet? Try writing to the IWM at Duxford and HO at Lackland for a start?

[JimH]

I took this at Lackland many moons ago, it may have been on her arrival...I believe it's a Tallichet mold replica. On a subsequent trip to the UK we asked to get inside Dugan, unfortunately they weren't keen on that.

Jim

Attachments

[Hooligan2]

I'm assuming it was brought over in a C-5

Indeed she was, into Mildenhall naturally!

[Lynn Allen]

I took this at Lackland many moons ago, it may have been on her arrival...I believe it's a Tallichet mold replica. On a subsequent trip to the UK we asked to get inside Dugan, unfortunately they weren't keen on that.

Jim

Jim, didn't they pull parts off the B-24 (Dugan) while at Lackland for a current B-24 project being built up here in the states way back then?

[JimH]

To be honest, I've never heard that...but it's possible. Might have helped the Hill AFB restoration?, or even Tallichet keep his going? A couple of the bombay cogs in Witchcraft came out of the Castle B-24, ours were starting to shatter, they are a bakelite material. That's the only case I know of a Museum helping a flying B-24 with parts.

I took this at Lackland many moons ago, it may have been on her arrival...I believe it's a Tallichet mold replica. On a subsequent trip to the UK we asked to get inside Dugan, unfortunately they weren't keen on that.

Jim

Jim, didn't they pull parts off the B-24 (Dugan) while at Lackland for a current B-24 project being built up here in the states way back then?

[Archer]

I tried to search the Key.Aero forum using Google, as the built-in search function is next to useless. I found this thread which at least provides a date for when it was installed in the AAM: https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-avi ... seum-moves
It is also mentioned that several parts were outsourced, including engines to Skysport.
This thread also mentions its restoration: https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-avi ... -liberator

[Steve Nelson]

I'd be very surprised if much has been done with the interior. She looks great, but It appears they mainly just cleaned her up and added the turrets. They don't appear to have done any major structural work..the bombardier's chin window is still faired over with sheet metal. I'm just glad she's indoors now. <Thread Drift Alert> I heard recently that the B-24 at Barksdale may be moving to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah. Hopefully that one can come in out of the weather as well (and get an accurate paint job.)

SN

[APG85]

I tried to search the Key.Aero forum using Google, as the built-in search function is next to useless. I found this thread which at least provides a date for when it was installed in the AAM: https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-avi ... seum-moves
It is also mentioned that several parts were outsourced, including engines to Skysport.
This thread also mentions its restoration: https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-avi ... -liberator

Some interesting reading in that last link...thank you for posting it. The Lackland fiberglass B-24 is probably an interesting story on its own. Wonder who made it?

[quemerford]

Well again I'd suggest HO at Lackland and the IWM.

[APG85]

Well again I'd suggest HO at Lackland and the IWM.

I could do that but I was hoping someone knew of a website or link that had the background story of the transfer and restoration.

[Archer]

I took this photo last September. She appears to be in pretty good nick judging from what I could see as a visitor.

Dugan_Sept24 by Jelle Hieminga, on Flickr