Is this a B24?

[syscom3]

Here is the caption and photo.

I have never seen a dual .50 mount like this for a B24.

Your thoughts?

"Dec. 11, 1943, England. On a mission to Emden, Germany, this B-24 encountered Luftwaffe fighters experimenting with aerial bombs suspended from cables. Wire from one of these contraptions smacked into the Liberator, smashed some Plexiglas and became entangled in the bomber's "bird cage" nose."

 

[Capt. Vick]

Field mod is my guess. Great shot. Thanks for posting.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Very cool find.

 

[syscom3]

Field mod is my guess. Great shot. Thanks for posting.

You're right. I've never seen or heard of a mod like this. I swear that every time I come to this group I learn something new.

 

[mjfur]

Photo is from the Air Corps/Air Force Collection at NARA/Fold3.

Page 1 - US, WWII US Air Force Photos

www.fold3.com

Page 2 - US, WWII US Air Force Photos

www.fold3.com

 

[fubar57]

I'm not authorized.

I'm not authorized

 

[SaparotRob]

Are you a robot?

 

[Njaco]

Only thing I could find was that pic on this site.....

Aviation Historian 18

and this interesting pic. What I gather is the 'D' model tried various nose armament configurations until the turret was introduced on the 'J' model.

 

[strider190]

Here is the caption and photo.

I have never seen a dual .50 mount like this for a B24.

Your thoughts?

"Dec. 11, 1943, England. On a mission to Emden, Germany, this B-24 encountered Luftwaffe fighters experimenting with aerial bombs suspended from cables. Wire from one of these contraptions smacked into the Liberator, smashed some Plexiglas and became entangled in the bomber's "bird cage" nose."

View attachment 652110

Yep, looks like a field modification.

 

[elbmc1969]

Only thing I could find was that pic on this site.....

Aviation Historian 18

and this interesting pic. What I gather is the 'D' model tried various nose armament configurations until the turret was introduced on the 'J' model.View attachment 652199

Is there discoloration on the lower framing around the ball socket? Maybe repainted with a different color?

 

[emu27]

You could realy confuse people with a photo of the B-24J that had the nose of a B-17G grafted on during the war.

 

[Graeme]

 

[Dana Bell]

View attachment 652624

The tubular objects were rocket launchers for anti-sub warfare. While approaching the sub at night, the aircraft would launch two flares past the sub, silhouetting the target and causing the sub's deck gunners to look the wrong way during the attack. It doesn't seem that the system was ever used operationally.

While I've seen he reports on that "jazz music" installation, I've never found any report explaining the application or evaluation of the scheme. You just know they had to have written it up at some point! With my interest in all things camouflage, I've always wanted to know much more about this one!

Cheers,



Dana

 

[Dana Bell]

Only thing I could find was that pic on this site.....

Aviation Historian 18

and this interesting pic. What I gather is the 'D' model tried various nose armament configurations until the turret was introduced on the 'J' model.View attachment 652199

This one's an early attempt at moding a B-24 into a camera platform - note the camera positions for the tri-met rig. The aircraft could wear an early version of synthetic haze paint camouflage. I copied the original of this many years ago - while the data block is visible - still calling the aircraft a B-24D - the serial is not ledgible.

Perhaps we'll all know more about the armament rig when Alan Griffith publishes his second volume of Consolidated Mess!

Cheers,



Dana

 

[GrauGeist]

You could realy confuse people with a photo of the B-24J that had the nose of a B-17G grafted on during the war.

Well, now that you mention it...

 

[Capt. Vick]

Can't wait for that book.