General Electric Turbo Supercharger

[LeeWheels]

Hello,

I'm a fairly new member and first-time poster, so forgive me if this is in the wrong place.

I recently purchased a General Electric Turbo Supercharger and was hoping to find a bit more information about it. I believe it is new old stock, never installed on an aircraft due to it being bolted to what is likely the bottom of a shipping crate. It also has two wooden block-off plates still installed to keep things from falling into the openings.

I am hoping someone can tell me what I have here and point me in the direction to learn more about it.

Lee

 

[Tony Kambic]

Aircraft Engine Historical Society has pages about TurboSuperchargers. I believe you need to join to see those pages.

 

[LeeWheels]

Aircraft Engine Historical Society has pages about TurboSuperchargers. I believe you need to join to see those pages.

Thanks, Tony, I appreciate the information about the Aircraft Engine Historical Society. I will check them out.

 

[Daggerr]

Have a look in the field service manual: General Electric Turbo-Supercharger ... Field Service Manual

 

[LeeWheels]

Have a look in the field service manual: General Electric Turbo-Supercharger ... Field Service Manual

These manuals are very helpful. Thank you. I now know that I have a C model.

 

[ddwhitney]

Hello,

I'm a fairly new member and first-time poster, so forgive me if this is in the wrong place.

I recently purchased a General Electric Turbo Supercharger and was hoping to find a bit more information about it. I believe it is new old stock, never installed on an aircraft due to it being bolted to what is likely the bottom of a shipping crate. It also has two wooden block-off plates still installed to keep things from falling into the openings.

I am hoping someone can tell me what I have here and point me in the direction to learn more about it.

Lee

Lee,
This appears to be a Type B Turbo as built by General Electric. There should be a data plate near the supercharger outlet, on the outer face. It will tell you the specific model, like B-2, B-23 etc. and the "setting." From that you will know which specific aircraft it was intended for.
I have lots of info on the GE designed turbos, so send me any questions.
Dan Whitney,
[email protected]

 

[LeeWheels]

Lee,
This appears to be a Type B Turbo as built by General Electric. There should be a data plate near the supercharger outlet, on the outer face. It will tell you the specific model, like B-2, B-23 etc. and the "setting." From that you will know which specific aircraft it was intended for.
I have lots of info on the GE designed turbos, so send me any questions.
Dan Whitney,
[email protected]

Dan,
Thank you for your help in identifying the turbo supercharger I have. I will look for the data plate near the supercharger outlet and let you know what I find. I am very interested in finding out what aircraft it was intended for. I personally like the P-47 myself, but my wife's grandfather was a co-pilot on a B-17, so she is hoping it was for his aircraft. We will find out.

Lee

 

[Tony Kambic]

Here is the data plate from the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt (45-49167) that Collings Foundation owns, and it is undergoing restoration in Florida.

Tony

 

[LeeWheels]

Dan,
Thank you for your help in identifying the turbo supercharger I have. I will look for the data plate near the supercharger outlet and let you know what I find. I am very interested in finding out what aircraft it was intended for. I personally like the P-47 myself, but my wife's grandfather was a co-pilot on a B-17, so she is hoping it was for his aircraft. We will find out.

Lee

Dan,

I found the data plate just where you said it would be. I did have to unbolt the unit from the wooden pallet it was on, and then I was able to get a picture of the data plate. Let me know what you think. I also noticed some sort of blue marking on the casting of the supercharger adjacent to the data plate. It looks like two three-digit numbers written by hand with a crayon or a grease pencil. Let me know what you think.

Lee

 

[MIflyer]

 

[bobm4360]

B-2 types were fitted to P-38, B-24, and B-17; V-1710, R-1830, and R-1820 engines. Not enough capacity for P-47, R-2800.

 

[MIflyer]

B-2 types were fitted to P-38, B-24, and B-17; V-1710, R-1830, and R-1820 engines. Not enough capacity for P-47, R-2800.

And the B-29 required two turbos per engine.

 

[Tony Kambic]

Here's a few other images related to turbocharging, etc.

B17 inboard firewall, shows on bottom right duct of exhaust to turbocharger; B17 Turbocharger on outboard engine; BMW801TJ, turbocharged BMW for Ju388; blown out turbocharger from a R1830 caused by piston-eating valve;F6F Intercooler; Hirth Turbocharger from BV155; P47 turbocharger system displayed at National Museum of WWII Aviation, Colorado Springs; piston eating valve; power recovery turbine in a R3350; Turbocharger spares.

 

[MIflyer]

 

[ddwhitney]

Dan,

I found the data plate just where you said it would be. I did have to unbolt the unit from the wooden pallet it was on, and then I was able to get a picture of the data plate. Let me know what you think. I also noticed some sort of blue marking on the casting of the supercharger adjacent to the data plate. It looks like two three-digit numbers written by hand with a crayon or a grease pencil. Let me know what you think.

Lee

View attachment 848823View attachment 848824View attachment 848825

Lee,
With your Data Plate info we now know it is definitely a GE built Type B-2, and with a No. 6 Setting, and that it was intended for an early model B-24. I too have a similar B-2, but built by Allis Chalmers, also with the No. 6 Setting. There were no other aircraft that used that setting. I'm including a Table of Settings for the Type B-2 family, and the aircraft they were used on, to follow.

 

[ddwhitney]

Type B-2 TurboSupercharger Arrangements
Airplane Model	Engine	Type of Turbo	AAF Setting No.	Installed
YP-38 thru P-38F, F-4, F-4A	V-1710-49	B-2	2	RH
YP-38 thru P-38F, F-4, F-4A	V-1710-53	B-2	3	LH
P-38G, F-5A	V-1710-51	B-13	2	RH
P-38G, F-5A	V-1710-55	B-13	3	LH
P-38H	V-1710-89	B-33	2	RH
P-38H	V-1710-91	B-33	3	LH
YP-43 thru P-43-A-1	R-1830-49	B-2	7
B-24C, D, E	R-1830	B-2	6	1, 2, 3, 4
B-17B, Inboard	R-1820	B-3	2	2 & 3
B-17B, Outboard	R-1820	B-3	3	1 & 4
B-17C, D, E & F, Inboard	R-1820	B-2	4	2 & 3
B-17C, D, E & F, Outboard	R-1820	B-2	5	1 & 4
B-29	R-3350	B-11-C1	1	Left Side, 1, 2, 3 & 4
B-29	R-3350	B-11-C2	2	Right Side, 1, 2, 3 & 4

Notes: The relationship (Setting) between the compressor and turbine sections could be any one of eight symmetric positions, determined at final assembly to fit a particular aircraft installation.

The basic Type B-2 was intended for 1,000 hp engines. The B-11 had improved materials in the turbine wheel allowing rated speed to increase from 21,300 rpm to 24,000 rpm. Type B-13 had a different supercharger diffuser, enlarged for rating at 1,100 hp. The B-33 is the same as the B-13, but fitted with the 24,000 rpm turbine, which improved the rated ceiling from 25,000 ft to 30,000 ft.

Information from Tech Order AN 03-10DA-1, November 20, 1943.
Compiled by Dan Whitney, 9/29/2025

 

[Engineman]

Here's a few other images related to turbocharging, etc.

B17 inboard firewall, shows on bottom right duct of exhaust to turbocharger; B17 Turbocharger on outboard engine; BMW801TJ, turbocharged BMW for Ju388; blown out turbocharger from a R1830 caused by piston-eating valve;F6F Intercooler; Hirth Turbocharger from BV155; P47 turbocharger system displayed at National Museum of WWII Aviation, Colorado Springs; piston eating valve; power recovery turbine in a R3350; Turbocharger spares.

Good photo's Tony! The detail of the 801 TJ and the Hirth Turbo for the DB 603 of the BV 155 are rare and good to see, Thanks!

Eng

 

[LeeWheels]

Type B-2 TurboSupercharger Arrangements
Airplane Model	Engine	Type of Turbo	AAF Setting No.	Installed
YP-38 thru P-38F, F-4, F-4A	V-1710-49	B-2	2	RH
YP-38 thru P-38F, F-4, F-4A	V-1710-53	B-2	3	LH
P-38G, F-5A	V-1710-51	B-13	2	RH
P-38G, F-5A	V-1710-55	B-13	3	LH
P-38H	V-1710-89	B-33	2	RH
P-38H	V-1710-91	B-33	3	LH
YP-43 thru P-43-A-1	R-1830-49	B-2	7
B-24C, D, E	R-1830	B-2	6	1, 2, 3, 4
B-17B, Inboard	R-1820	B-3	2	2 & 3
B-17B, Outboard	R-1820	B-3	3	1 & 4
B-17C, D, E & F, Inboard	R-1820	B-2	4	2 & 3
B-17C, D, E & F, Outboard	R-1820	B-2	5	1 & 4
B-29	R-3350	B-11-C1	1	Left Side, 1, 2, 3 & 4
B-29	R-3350	B-11-C2	2	Right Side, 1, 2, 3 & 4

Notes: The relationship (Setting) between the compressor and turbine sections could be any one of eight symmetric positions, determined at final assembly to fit a particular aircraft installation.

The basic Type B-2 was intended for 1,000 hp engines. The B-11 had improved materials in the turbine wheel allowing rated speed to increase from 21,300 rpm to 24,000 rpm. Type B-13 had a different supercharger diffuser, enlarged for rating at 1,100 hp. The B-33 is the same as the B-13, but fitted with the 24,000 rpm turbine, which improved the rated ceiling from 25,000 ft to 30,000 ft.

Information from Tech Order AN 03-10DA-1, November 20, 1943.
Compiled by Dan Whitney, 9/29/2025

Dan, this is great information. I really appriciate you sharing this. Now we know it was ment for the B-24, lilely a reserve or preplacement part never used. I see Tony has a picture of several turbo supercharger units, I understand mine was made for only one application and it is at least 80 years old, how rare are these turbo superchargers? I enjoy mine but I may be looking to move it on to a museum or similar good cause.


Lee