Scott and All,    I came across this early photo of a FO WR B-24E sitting on the tarmac outside the Willow Run Airport adjacent to the WR FO facility.  It was an early production model direct off the #1 Assembly Line.  It was uncanny looking at this photo and then looking at the several photos of "OL 927" in its restoration process!  Thought you would enjoy it!    Steven

[image]local://upfiles/11777/D1CF8396E1494CC3BADB5D355D4F946C.jpg[/image]

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Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

Where's that B-17 man Jim Peters?

G. Combs
Niece
First Lieutenant Clay Byers
Navigator Bombardier Radar
1st September 1944
482nd BG (Pathfinder)
389th BG
466th BG

G.Combs....I have been wondering what happened to you.....I'm right  here.  I just returned from Columbus, Ohio, for a hort visit with family, and to attend the Gathering of the P-51s at Rickenbacker AFB,Ohio....lots of afterburner noise. 
 
Saw B-17 fly..belongs to Yankee Air Force, understand Dave Tallichet had his B-17 there as well.  One of two Lancaster (Canada) there also. Other in UK.
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

Hey Jim:

I'm sorry I didn't know you were going to be at the airshow. I was there Sunday and we could have met.

It was disappointing that the show couldn't deliver a 51 Mustang fly-over. Instead twenty Mustangs flew over in the formation of a "5" and a "1." Otherwise it was an excellent show. Very impressive to see all of those P-51s lined up.

I was excited to see the Lanc there as well as the two B-17s and two B-25s.

Ken


[image]local://upfiles/9698/57A473926A3B4C16A454D46589730E8C.gif[/image]

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Ken Alexander
Son of 1st Lt. Clair B. Alexander Jr.
Pilot, B-24s: 10/12/1944 - 04/24/1945
15th AF, 49th Wing, 461st BG, 764th BS
Torretta Airfield, Cerignola, Italy

Ken..I was there on Friday, and by Saturday evening was back in Columbus, IN.
 
I made the trek for two reasons....my brother had won two tickets at the Box Seating, and I visted my brother, ( I stayed with my brother) and visited my brother-in-law, who was on an annual trip from Florida, and who was visiting his daughter in Upper Arlington, in Columbus,Ohio.
 
Jim :-)

James S. Peters Sr. T/Sgt
B-17 Flt Engr, 27 missions
99 BG, 348BS, 5th Wing, 15th AAF
Tortorella, (Foggia#2), Italy
My Tour was from 12/03/44-06/19/45
M/Sgt USAF (Retired)

Steven,
 
Here is a real oldie that captures the spirit of your last photo.
Scott
 

[image]local://upfiles/8432/0D0E99DAEBF044168E314CE8A431AC4A.jpg[/image]

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Scott:  That is an interesting photo. It has a Wright Field negative number (85683) but the background is obviously San Diego so it is another one of many copy negs that were part of their collection of original 8 x 10 negs. I have tried to clean it up a little so will post it again.

Don't know where that photo went so will try again....

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Bill - I have a clear 8x10 of that photo. The WF number is gone and in the lower right is the photo #166389USAF. This came from the Air Force Still Picture Library around 1966 or so. Glad to send you a high rez scan if you wish. It is, as you know, the second B-24D and was a roll-out shot taken at San Diego as you stated.
 
Al Blue

Al, Bill, Ken,   Thanks for sharing the photos!  March  of '42 was a big month at FO WR!  Completion at the adjacent airport terminal was progressing well, concrete had all been poured.    By the end of the month Charles Lindbergh will be an engineer research consultant to the FO facility. Check out the background!  Thought I'd share this picture of an "E" with you.  I'll also post another one that I found which maybe one of you will recognize.  Best Regards!  Steven

[image]local://upfiles/11777/13BA7F8E9046499F89D74A51EFF72073.jpg[/image]

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Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

Here is the photo I mentioned in the previous post.    Obviously not from FO WR, but it was in my collection.  With the huge number out there in books, I am sure that it is somewhere!  Steven

[image]local://upfiles/11777/942C64BF6ACF420CB0EAFAE666DC2EF7.jpg[/image]

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Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

Steven - The photo you refer to as a B-24E is actually the one and only AAF YB-24, serial 40-702. The second photo is, of course, the XB-24. Also, you might check your references on Lindbergh's association with Willow Run, which began long before 1944.
 
Al Blue

Here is another similar photo that I hope someone can help me with. Does anyone have information or knowledge of the codes applied to trainers in the Second Air Force? This airplane was photographed at a CONUS Army Air Field and I need to ascertain which base applied the "I" codes. The only field I have nailed down is Bruning Army Air Field--the code there was "Y". As long as I'm fishing, a rundown on 2AF B-29 tailcodes would be great as well!
 
Scott

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AL,   Thanks so much for picking up on the error, albeit a typo.  I had the correct date (year) on the photo but miss-typed it in the post.  I have gone back into post #70 and corrected it (in blue).  Charles actually came under contract later in the month of March, '42.      Thanks also for the clarification on the two photos.   Steven

Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

(QUOTE FROM ANOTHER THREAD: B-24 BOMB BAY ROLLER DOORS.)
 
"Scott,      Great to read your post!  Great photos in both posts!  How is your "Ole 927" project going?  (Maybe this is more appropriate for the CAF: "Ole 927" Thread!)  The photo from the Teggie Ann really shows the "tear" in the sheet metal (aluminum).  Ken's post from the 461 Newsletter was really interesting.   I'm reminded of my opportunity to fly on the Collings Foundation B-24J, the Witchcraft, in 2005.  While transversing the bomb bay on the "catwalk," albeit a steel I-beam of sorts, I noticed the 4-5 inch gap between the apparent closure.  It didn't strike me at that time, but I'm now wondering more about the ability, over time, of the doors to actually close 100% unde normal conditions let alone in combat at altitude."
 
 
Scott,   Last week one of the guys at work stopped me and told me that he  happened to have the chance to actually see "Ole 927" when it was "hangared" (my word) temporarily at YAM in August.  How is the bomb bay project progressing?  Is the A/C done flying for the season?  What other work is scheduled on it?  I'm sure you had a successful "Tour Season."       Best Regards!  Steven
 
 

Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

Steven,

It's funny you should mention Ol'927--I'm about thirty feet away from the old girl as I type this. Gary decided to change #3 engine and I came down for a couple of days to lend a hand. He had planned to change it after the show season, but as there was a little space in the schedule he decided to get it done early. He needs to have it ready to go for this weekend's Nellis airshow, and after that she will be back to Midland for the normal winter maintenance cycle. As to the bomb bay project, I am still going to research what we need and can actually find in the way of original parts and structure, but the actual installation of the bomb bay doors etc. will not be done anytime soon, likely after Fifi is back in the air, and then only as time and money permit.
 
I haven't really had time to ask Gary what he plans for the winter other than the annual inspection and general maintenance, if I find out anything I'll be sure to keep everyone here posted. Thanks for the interest in the airplane and it's transformation, it makes everyone associated with the Squadron feel good to see positive feedback!

As to the fit of the doors--they do seem to let a lot of wind in, even when they ARE closed!

Scott

All went well with the engine change on '927, a few small items on Wednesday and she'll be ready for the last show of the season at Nellis. Then it's back to the hangar for Phase 2! 
This is the first run of the new noisemaker on Tuesday morning:
 
Scott
 

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Scott,  Just completed Ford's book, Flying Tigers, about the beginning of the AVG through its eventual absorption into what would become the 14th AAF.  I was hoping toward the end that there might have been more about the inclusion of the B-24's, but there were only passing references to the B-24A's used as "ferry service."  Also it was unusal getting used to the CAF usage which we all know referred to the China Air Force, but it made me think about your CAF project, therefore the post.  Hope all is well with Ol' 927!       Best regards!  Steven
 

Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl
Willow Run Historian  (RET.)  
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum

Steven,
 
Somewhere I have a photo of a B-24A with a load of passengers headed for China. It's nothing remarkable, but it does fit in nicely with what you've described in the book.
 
Ol' 927 is in Midland with the winter maintenance underway, and we're planning on getting down there next weekend to contribute. The "Phase 2" reconfiguration plan is nothing major due to good news with our B-29. It seems that money is becoming available to start the re-engine program for FIFI, so the B-24 will have a thorough annual inspection but not as much in the way of modifications due to a "spreading out" of the available manpower. In addition, our crew chief, Gary Austin, has taken a new position in the CAF and a new crew chief will have to be found for the Squadron. The B-29 project will take quite a bit of time to complete, but the plan is to have Ol' 927 ready for the show season somewhat earlier than this past year.
 
Scott

I think it's 40-700, which would make it the 5th D model.  Long nose, turrets, etc.
 
Duane