Although the Yankee Air Museum (YAM) does not possess a true B-24 Liberator on its hallowed grounds, of which 8685 were produced directly across the open tarmac at the immense FO WR Plant, it does have a static display of a PB4Y-2 Consolidated Privateer.  This A/C started out as Bu. No. 59876 at the Consolidated San Diego Plant (CO) having been accepted by the Navy 27AP45.  After a very brief stint with Patrol Bombing Squadron 197 followed by Weather Reconnaissance, it was later re-assigned to Fleet Air Wing 14 in March, 1946.  In September, 1946, after some repair work, it was put in storage, where she languished until 15SE52.  She was then removed from storage, repaired, retired and deleted from Navy Inventory 30JA53.  Following this, she was acquired by the US Coast Guard and redesignated as a P4Y-2G ("G" for Coast Guard use). She was "modified" and once again found herself in storage in February, 1954. She was sold in 1957 to a flying service and was given the civil registration of N6319D, later changed to N6819D. She moved around several times more, an A/C without a home. In 1965 she changed  owners 3 times, and was purchased by Hawkins and Powers Aviation in Wyoming in 1969 for "fire-fighting."  After extensive retro-fitting, it looked as if she might have a home.  In 1975 she was working in Alaska and then Canada where, unfortunately, on 09AU75, she ran out of fuel on a return flight from Alaska to the States.  With only one engine, she  attempted to land at Port Hardy, B.C. but on her final approach, she hit the ground and ended up in the ocean just off shore. She was pulled out of the water on 11AU75, and again ended up in an aircraft supply center in Richmond, B.C.  Now the interesting part! In late 1981 she was "sold" to "a party of interest" in Michigan who happened to be, at the time, the Plant Manager of the GM WR Plant who had a sense of the history of the  WR facility.  His intent was to restore the Privateer as a B-24 replica with twin tails to be displayed in front of the Administration Office at WR.  He had it transported to the plant in "sections,"  but to accomplish this, he had the A/C literally hacked up in sections. Once on site at the WR Plant, he "stored" it in a pole barn where she languished once again until the spring of 1986 at which time she was donated to the Yankee Air Force (YAF).  While employed at the plant, I had always wondered about the collection of 3 identical pole barns of which one was considerably shorter than the others with a false rear wall.  Well, lo and behold, there were the parts of ole 59876 behind that wall!  The YAM has done a great job in putting her back together and have just recently done a great re-paint of her exterior.  There is still work in progress!  Although a CO A/C, I have pleasant memories about her short stay at the WR Plant.  Also, she was one of the oudoor static displays not affected by the geat fire of October, 2004.  History lives on!  In looking back, it was a shame that there were not ample funds at the time to do justice to this Privateer, but, on the other side of the coin, she finally has a home!  Steven

[image]local://upfiles/11777/7330FC593CF04175AC0C2772316F6BCD.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

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

Some additional info
59876 
PB4Y-2 
Accepted: 450427 
Delivered:450801 
VPB-197 AUG-NOV 1945
VPW-1 DEC-45
VPW-1 JAN-FEB-46
Awaiting action HDN-2 FAW-14 MAR-APR-46
Pool FAW-14 JUN-46
Repairs Corpus Christi JUL-to-AUG-46
Reconditioning completed Corpus Christi 5-SEP-46
Storage Litchfield Pk SEP-DEC-46
Storage Litchfield Pk JAN-to-DEC-47
Storage Litchfield Pk JAN-AUG-48
To USCG as P4Y-2G 1952
 
 
Terry T.

 

Terry,  thanks for the additional info.  I have pages and pages on this A/C's "homelessness," but just wanted to put a brief overview out there with the unusual aspect of how WR came into the picture to see if there was any interest.  Also having personally put my eyes on the "ole girl" in her many parts was quite an education!    Steven 

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

On Saturday I was sitting with my brother-in-law who had retired from the GM WR  Facility two years ago.  He finally has a computer and asked me to show him the AAF Site (he is Navy) and set him up.  When I showed him this Thread, he about lost his teeth!!!  He exclaimed: "So that's what ole George was doing with that junk!"  Well, first I couldn't believe he "knew" about the parts; secondly, it wasn't "junk;" and third, "ole George" was the "party of interest" in the Thread.  He couldn't believe how the  well the "junk" looked in the photo of the restored YAM A/C (post #1 attachment).  Best Regards!  Steven

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

Thought I would update this thread and add these pics of the "early life of" and "piecing back together of" YAM's PB4Y-2 Static display after its donation by a "party of interest."  Continued work still goes on to improve its appearance for the general public.  Best Regards!   Steven
http://public.fotki.com/Kos/members_photo_galle/pb4-y-mariner--a-ph/privateer--some-history/

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