aaf or B24 related ?

Hello,
Am seeking info on aircraft of VP-61.
serial numbers and matching a/c in squadron numbers.
I know that the "SD" code/number was worn above wing.
was it also worn below ?
Thanks
Alex

wow,
such a swift and venomous response.
Exactly what I tried to avoid.
So I take the guidance from you Mark that the
B24 Best web forum accessable via this Armyairforces Forum
will only accept requests about WW2 and ONLY Airforce.
Thank you again for your help
Alex
 

Alex -- I like this website, it's loaded with photos and info;  as they say, nearly anything and everything VP-related:
http://www.vpnavy.org/
 
Here in Jacksonville, I'm across the river from Jax NAS -- the P-3 Orions fly over every day.  Jax NAS will also be the first base to put the new P-8 into service next year.
 
-- Alan
[EDIT:  Not so off-topic, you could say that the B-24 was one of the "forefathers" of the antisub patrol a/c -- the Liberator was used as a long-range antisubmarine patrol aircraft, just as the P-3 and the P2V "Neptune" that Alex is researching.]
 

So you ARE "on-topic" after all!  ;)  Alex, I have some sources that I want to check;  some of the B-24 books that I have go into detail on the PBYs.
 
Can you re-title the thread to indicate the PB4Y connection?
 
Mods, even though this concerns Navy aircraft, since it is B-24-related could we continue the discussion here?

From Frederick Johnson's book, B-24 Liberator, "the Navy retained Privateers to augment P2V Neptunes in patrol work.  PB4Y-1s continued to serve in Navy photo mapping squadrons well into the 1950s."
...
"In 1949, VP-61 earned a flying safety award for keeping its six PB4Y1-P (P designated Photo) Liberators flying for 5,000hr without an accident. ... For the two years prior to the award, VP-61 extensively mapped Alaska, including 68,000 suqare miles of the slope of Alaska, to be used in oil exploration in Naval Petroleum Reserve Number Four. ... "
 
"During 1948, VP-61 practiced its skills over the Imperial Valley of California before returning to tackle Alaska again. ..."
 
"Records kept by the Navy indicate the last squadron use of twin-tail Liberators was with VP-62, flying P4Y-1P (the B was deleted from nomenclature) aircraft on May 31, 1956."
 
There are more details of the mapping, the cameras carried, and the color schemes of the PBYs.
 
-- Alan

Alan Blue's book, "The B-24 Liberator," has a photo of two VP-61 Privateers over Alaska on the title pages 2-3.  It appears that the top surfaces of the wings were painted a lighter color, possibly white, from the outboard engines to tips.  They carry the large "SD" squadron code on their tails and a large single-digit plane number on the front fuselage.
 

Good morning, Gentleman!  I found this particular Thread an "enigma" as it seemed like a possible discussion of "spirit or letter of the law." Here is my take... Having been a member of the B24bestweb.com over the years, I was pleased to see that Scott had incorporated it into our Site and made it a forum. As for the Libs themselves (stats, photos, variants, technology, etc.),  everything and almost anything about the B-24 is (will be) available thru this channel. With that being said, here is the "slippery slope."  Yes, this is an Army Air Forces Site as Jim has pointed out, and there are Navy Sites available as Alan has pointed out, but this is, IMHO,a unique forum dealing with anything about the Liberator. Therefore Alex's initial inquiry is valid, and Mark's terse answer went right to the chase, but I believe it is not so "off-topic for the Site" as one would suspect.  I believe common sense will keep it "on target" and, if  not, a Moderator will. Interestingly, I've noticed that Posts #4 and #5 have indicated examples of both the "letter and the spirit of the law." Many years ago at WR, this pic hung among a collection of FO pix, but was not identified with a caption, "just another pic of a Lib."  Although, I don't have the S/N, it turned out to be a "well-weathered" PB4Y-1. Here is the link to this pic from the "Heavy and Very-Heavy Sub-forum:  http://forum.armyairforces.com/tm.aspx?m=167883&high=PB4Y-2 .  

I guess I have been corrected by the moderator.  Maybe Scott should change the name of the forum.  It seems that nothing is off-topic.

And there's the rub, eh?  Dan, in the "old" BestB24Web forum, you had a specific section for PBYs, correct?  Would you find it too restrictive to confine our converstions to only ArmyAir Force subjects?  Or did I open a can of worms?  Not sure if you had discussed this fully with the staff here before deciding to make the move, or if this is one of those unforeseen situations.  (And I know this sidebar is off-topic -- oh, well, "rules were made to be broken."  Except that rule.)
 
-- Alan

Hello,
Thank you Daniel, Alan and Steven,
Your help has been much apreciated .
When I started this thread i did not forsee such a turmoil.
Hence the original title which I have now changed.
There are only three sites that I know of that also deal with US "Navy"
aviationarchaeology.com; which has a section on the Navy B24's all are said to be listed.
Accident reports .com; and the vp navy.com.
Thanks for the details given and links to older threads, I will look at them .
From what I have gleaned -
VD-5 became VPP-1 which in turn became VPB-61 then VP-61 from September 48. But that month may be wrong as the photo caption in "B24 Liberator in action" No:80 gives photo by Robert L. Lawson as alaska on 14th July 48.
Colours are also said to be Navy sea-blue ans Special Artic Red markings on the tail surfaces and outer wing panels. Squadron markings are in white on outside of fins and at least the uper right outer wing .
The two Squadron Signal books on Navy Air Colors show other Navy a/c of the 1945-48 period to have Squadron markings under the left wing. hence my querry on these PB4Y-1P's.
Again many thanks
Alex