Intended destination for Liberator 41-23882

[robstitt]

Liberator B-24D 41-23882 crashed shortly after take-off from Trinidad on October 14, 1942 while being ferried by an all-civilian RAF Ferry Command crew. It was en route to Belem, Brazil and onwards along the southern transatlantic ferry route.

Looking for details regarding its intended destination and potential operational unit.

I have the names of the five crew members.

Thanks in advance:

Robert

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Despite the British crew there is a good chance 41-23882 was intended for the USAAF. Built by Consolidated at San Diego and accepted on 2 September 1942, the only B-24 deliveries for the British in September/October 1942 were 3 from Douglas, as San Diego had stopped deliveries in June 1942, then 1 in August then resumed in January 1943. 41-23879, 81, 82 and 83 were sent to Laguardia and onto West Palm Beach. 41-23879 and 23883 destinations are given as Cherok (no final e), with CHEROKE = 10AF ATC, while 41-23881 went to Sioux City and ended up in Hawaii

The 9th Air Force had the 98th and 1st Provisional/376th Groups with B-24, the 10th Air Force had the 7th Group.

1942 RAF overseas B-24 Squadrons, 108, Middle East, received B-24 to operate along side its Wellingtons from November 1941 to June 1942. 159, received B-24 in UK in May 1942, to Middle East in June, aircraft strength so low effectively merged with 160 squadron, officially to India in September but parts left in Middle East. 160, received B-24 in UK in May 1942, to Middle East in June and effectively merged with 159 squadron on arrival, officially to India in November 1942 but parts left in Middle East. 178 formed January 1943 in the Middle East as a way of sorting out 159 and 160 squadron parts left when the others went to India. Originally 159 and 160 were meant for India.

First B-24D/Liberator III, 108 never, 159 in August 1943, 160 in March 1943, 178 in September 1943.

The USAAF says 41-23882 fatal accident on take off due to engine failure.

 

[robstitt]

Many thanks for yours, Geoffrey.

I've no doubt the aircraft was destined for the USAAF. There was no Air Ministry serial assigned to 41-23882 as was always the case with B-24s allocated to Britain (with the exception of the emergency supply of a dozen B-24D/Liberator IIIs that became LV336-346 with 41-1119 lost off the Irish coast on delivery).

Do you have the IARC for 41-23882?

The engines failed due to the fuel supply being set to the emergency fuel tanks.

The all-civilian crew was a mixture of American and Canadian personnel.

Thanks again,

Robert

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

The card

 

[robstitt]

The card

Thanks, Geoffrey.

I've not found any confirmation that this aircraft was destined for the RAF - no mention or listing in any of the usual Lend-Lease serial books - so am leaning towards the note on the IARC 'was ready for RAF' referring to the aircraft being ready for handing over to RAF Ferry Command for its ferry flight and that it was, as you suggested, destined for the USAAF.

Would welcome learning more if you should unearth anything. I have American civilian navigator George Frederic Johnston's RAF Ferry Command Series 2 card, confirming he was employed by RAFFC.

Incidentally, my interest came out of documenting the history of B-17E/Fortress IIA 41-9243/FL449 on which Johnston was the ferry flight navigator.

Robert

 

[Ed Williamson]

Several Liberators were assigned for civilian operation by BOAC and were on the UK Civil Register.
Might that account for lack of RAF serials ?

 

[robstitt]

Found a partial answer in a Ferry Command report of October 1942, courtesy of Darrell Hillier: The civilian RAF Ferry Command crew of 41-23882 was ferrying on behalf of US Air Transport Command, confirming the aircraft was destined for a USAAF unit.

The report also references RAFFC crews on loan to the Pacific Division of the USATC out of Long Beach and ferry crews on loan to the USATC out of Nashville.

Robert