The Freeper Foxhole Enjoys an Almost Lazy Sunday- A B-24 Liberator Walk Around

See Educational Sources

[alfa6]

Everything I have read states that only the B-24 had a "designed" retractable ball turret.

Here ia a link to a page by a former ball turret gunner on B-24s that is rather interseting.

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Runway/9601/8th.html

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone.

[texianyankee]

Thanks for the info. I just googled "12 O'Clock High" and it appears the movie used B-17's.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041996/trivia

[Professional Engineer]

Good morning ladies. Flag-o-I see your 24 and raise you a 29-o-Gram.

[alfa6]

2179 Nyota Uhura Nairobi Kenya, communications officer (Star Trek)

In best W.C. Fields voice..."Ah yeesss my boy"

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[investigateworld]

The Navy used a similar model with a single tail and two turret guns on top. Wonder why?

[alfa6]

Here is a rather interesting picture, probably the source of the confusion :-)

Probably a field modification of a "D" model B-24 in order to increase thge frontal gun power

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Professional Engineer]

I had the good fortune in my yoot to know a gentleman who had piloted both B-17's and B-24's over YerUp late in the war. IIRC he much prferred flying 17's.

[alfa6]

A pic of the PB4Y-2 Privateer for you. Note the ERCO nose turret and lack of top turrets so I am assuming that this is a restored ex-fire attack aircraft.

The Navy used the B-24 in two versions the PB4Y-1 which was a regular twin tailed B-24 and the -2 version. ABout 850 -2 models were made mostly at the end of WW-II. The single tail version of the B-24 was slightly more efficent than the twin tail version but not enough to go thru the trouble of changing the production lines in the middle of the war.

Almost forgot, the reason for the two top turrets was the Privateers were used in a lot of low level attacks on shipping. If enemy fighters appeared the PB4Y would drop down to the surface of the ocean or land. This tactic put the attacking fighters at a disadvantage and would of course negate the need for ventral protection.

Ah what the heck, I went and found a PB4Y-2 pic from 1949 showing the top two turrets and this one has Emerson nose and tail turrets, I think. A small number of PB4Ys are still in service, I think, as Fire Bombers. Hawkins & Powers in Wyoming operated about half a dozen Privateers as recently as 2002.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Professional Engineer]

1964 "Gilligan's Island" begins its 98-show run on CBS

[Professional Engineer]

Hi miss Feather

[Soaring Feather]

Morning, PE.

How's Bittygirl today??
what's Spiderboy doing, he is growning up so fast.

[Professional Engineer]

We went family reunioning yesterday. Bittygirl got to meet a half dozen cousins under 2. It's a big family Msdrby has. Spiderboy got his semi-annual cousin fix.

[Soaring Feather]

Ah, I just bet the kids charmed the cousins. :)

[Valin]

two turret guns on top. Wonder why?

Probably because they were flying singly on recon/intel grathering and needed to extra firepower.

[Valin]

The eternal question Ginger, or Mary Ann?

And for the ladies Mr. Howell, or the Professor?

[Professional Engineer]

Well, that's a picture of Maryann which isn't showing. ;-(

[investigateworld]

Thanks for the info. I had an uncle who was Nav/Bom on a Catalina. Sadly I never had the chance to talk with him about his war experiences.

[Valin]

I had an uncle who was Nav/Bom on a Catalina.

Sounds like another subject for a thread.

[SAMWolf]

Great pics! Thanks Alpha6.

Not as "classy" as the B-17 but still a good plane.