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buckeyeuk
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RE: History: Willow Run Liberators
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08/08/2008 02:29:55 PM
Nice one Steven what surprises me is how light the camo colours look under these lights especially the OD. I would imagine at this time it was the original Dark Olive Drab 41 rather than the later ANA colour 613 ( old stocks were supposed to be used up first ). The attached is a facsimile of the Ministry of Aircraft Production colour chip for RAF Dark Green which was a fair match for "fresh" OD41; problem is , the smaller the sample the darker the shade appears. Photos even colour ones can be very misleading . Thanks Nick
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Al Blue
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RE: History: Willow Run Liberators
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08/09/2008 09:14:47 AM
This is in reply to previous messages concerning the thickness of the aluminum plating used on B-24s. The attached diagram shows where different gauges of sheeting were used. These specs would NOT be allowed to vary by manufacturer. Al Blue
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WillowRun
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RE: History: Willow Run Liberators
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08/10/2008 06:32:56 PM
Al, Good evening from Ann Arbor. Here is that quote from my post of 19JU08 which I reread tonight and could see how I may have mis-represented myself. "This basically meant that from this aspect, there would be some variation depending upon the section(s) of aluminum roll from which the respective part/section of the A/C was stamped (manufactureres allow a variation)." What I should have said was that within the coils of aluminum (or steel) from which stampings for A/C's were made, specific tolerances had to be held. These would have been dictated by the designs from CO and all facilities within the "Liberator Pool" would have had to comply. I hope I have cleared myself up. I had the opportunity today at the "Thunder Over Michigan" Air Show to see th B-24A, Ol 927, "up close and personal" for the 1st time since being converted fom Diamond L'il Although still a "work-in-progress," it is looking good! Best Regards! Steven
Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl Willow Run Historian (RET.)
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators Life Member: Yankee Air Museum
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WillowRun
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RE: History: Willow Run Liberators
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09/07/2008 07:57:36 AM
As has been my past practice, I am attaching this post from another Thread for continuity purposes. Best Regards! Steven
B-24 Liberators Over YAM - 09/06/2008 10:27:20 AM On Sunday, 10AU08, under heavy and ominous skies, those attending the 2008 TOM were treated to a sight not seen in many, many decades over the Willow Run Plant and tarmac: B-24's flying in tandem. Thanks to the Colling's Foundation B-24J, the Witchcraft (named after a FO WR built B-24H), and the CAF's B-24A, Ol 927, the visitors at TOM were given a "snapshot" of history. In two of the attached pics, the B-24J is to the right and the B-24A to the left. The 3rd undated, archived pic shows B-24's queued up on the tarmac during the FO WR "hey days." Hopefully, I'll have more/better pics later! Best Regards! Steven
Attached Image(s)  
<message edited by WillowRun on 09/07/2008 04:43:09 PM >
Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl Willow Run Historian (RET.)
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators Life Member: Yankee Air Museum
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WillowRun
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Re:History: Willow Run Liberators
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10/01/2008 08:45:09 PM
As the October autumn weather sets in here at Willow Run and school is well underway, I thought I'd post these two pics of "School Daze." The one is a group shot taken in December 1944 while the other is a close up of the "nose art." Note the recognition to the Ford Apprentice Program stenciled on the side next to the nose art.
Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl Willow Run Historian (RET.)
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators Life Member: Yankee Air Museum
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WillowRun
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Re:History: Willow Run Liberators
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10/23/2008 08:25:15 PM
With the housing market in such a slump in these troubled times, I reflected back on those early days at FO WR when, as the increasing work force required "living accomodations," housing projects such as "West Willow" began to spring up. Sanitation, along with basic accomodations were lacking to say the least, but Henry Ford's pay couldn't be beat for the "unskilled" work force.
Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl Willow Run Historian (RET.)
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators Life Member: Yankee Air Museum
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WillowRun
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Re:History: Willow Run Liberators
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11/12/2008 10:45:35 AM
As is my past practice, since I make "hard copies" of this Thread for those who do not have computer access, here is a copy of a post from another Thread dealing with FO WR and ammunition for gun stations. In it, I used "on average" numbers while the "stated, total gross weight for a "factory fresh" B-24J "out-the-door" was: 4648 lbs. Here's the post:
I shall give you an answer based on stats from FO WR using "on-average" numbers from the "H" thru the "M," keeping in mind what Jim Peters has written in the previous post dealing with the B-17G. Also the "type of mission" would also play a factor, i.e., the low level Ploesti Raid of 01AU43 had additional firepower added to the B-24D's thus changing payload capacity of amunition. (There were no FO WR A/C's involved in this mission.)
BALL TURRET: 650 rounds/.50 cal gun (2) stored in containers attached to hangers outside of turret.
TAIL TURRET: 500 rounds/.50 cal gun (2) stored in bins located in aft section of fuselage.
N0SE TURRET: 700 rounds/.50 cal gun (2) stored in boxes located outside of turret on each side of nose fuselage.
TOP TURRET: 480 rounds/.50 cal (2) stored in containers supended from turret ring in front of gunner.
WAIST GUN: 700 rounds/.50 cal gun (1 @ each waist window stored in boxes along fuselage on each side.
Ammunition was fed to guns by metallic link disintegrating belts. ammunition was supplied by Frigidaire and Colt Fire Arms Co. in individual boxes. (I believe on the "AAF Tech sub-forum) there is a Thread on ammo boxes/suppliers). The boxes were basically standard @ 150 rounds/box. Again, keep in mind that these are "on average" not allowing for the "D" and "E" variants as well as for MOD's, single tunnel guns, etc. Also this obviously was "standard" (factory) issue so any additions, i.e. extra rounds were determined by mission and/or gross weight. If extra ammo was "added" at a base, then it normally was stored mid-fuselage at the waist guns. Hope this helps a bit!
Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl Willow Run Historian (RET.)
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators Life Member: Yankee Air Museum
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WillowRun
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Re:History: Willow Run Liberators
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11/19/2008 06:42:58 PM
As the winds of war blow across the Pacific, Europe, North Africa and the CBI, a late summer storm flashes above the FO WR Plant. The plant was already a beehive of activity even though the facility was continuing to struggle. This pic is from a collection of Life west coast Liberator production series.
Best Regards!
Steven P. Puhl Willow Run Historian (RET.)
Home of 8685 Ford B-24 Liberators Life Member: Yankee Air Museum
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