need help to identify B-24 '2-D-4' and unit

• Apr 30, 2020

• #1

T

TSR-2

Recruit

4

0

Nov 16, 2006

I have a 1940s vintage red-bordered Kodachrome slide of a B-24 with titles '2-D-4' on the nose but the tail is cut off and don't know its serial no. I would also like to know the unit it belonged to. see attached. Judging by the terrain it looks like Thule Greenland. Any suggestions?

 

• Apr 30, 2020

• #2

cammerjeff

Staff Sergeant

957

2,161

Dec 26, 2006

Belleville MI

Just going by the Nose Turret and Markings I would say the plane is not a B-24, but the US Navy version PB4Y. And by the terrain I would suggest either Alaska or the Aleutian Islands, Possibly Iceland or Greenland. Good luck in your search.

 

• Apr 30, 2020

• #3

vikingBerserker

Lieutenant General

28,790

4,611

Apr 10, 2009

South Carolina

Based on the markings, it was between Sept 1943 and the end of 1945.

 

• Apr 30, 2020

• #4

fubar57

General

32,824

19,268

Nov 22, 2009

The Jungles of Canada

cammerjeff said:

Just going by the Nose Turret and Markings I would say the plane is not a B-24, but the US Navy version PB4Y. And by the terrain I would suggest either Alaska or the Aleutian Islands, Possibly Iceland or Greenland. Good luck in your search.

Click to expand...

Interesting about it being Navy. I just saw this a moment ago; ignore the nose art and colour but note similar nose number.

​

 

• Apr 30, 2020

• #5

fubar57

General

32,824

19,268

Nov 22, 2009

The Jungles of Canada

D Dana Bell might have an answer here

 

• Apr 30, 2020

• #6

M

mjfur

Senior Airman

636

735

Sep 23, 2006

The aircraft looks to be a PB4Y-1 (with twin tail), what's also interesting about the aircraft is the lack of paint. I don't recall seeing unpainted PB4Y-1's. The last PB4Y-1 was delivered in Jan. 45.

 

• Apr 30, 2020

• #7

D

Dana Bell

Senior Airman

488

1,103

Sep 17, 2016

I think everyone has nailed this one down; the best I can add is a date range. VD-2 was formed in March 1943 with recon fighters and smaller mapping aircraft. They received their first PB4Y-1Ps in early 1946 and were redesignated VPP-2 in November that year. Based on the US East Coast, the squadron traveled the world on mapping missions. I've no guess where the photo was taken...

BTW - Nice shot!

Cheers,



Dana

 

• May 1, 2020

• Thread starter
• #8

T

TSR-2

Recruit

4

0

Nov 16, 2006

Thanks all for this great info. Now I just need to know the Bu.No. The 2-D-4 also doesnt look like navy unit markings. Terry

 

• May 7, 2020

• #9

A

Alex Smart

Airman 1st Class

118

73

Oct 25, 2018

Looking at the "Star & Bar " Maybe I am seeing things , but I see what looks like a thin or faded red line through the center of the "Bar's" on the fuselage .
Alex

 

• May 7, 2020

• #10

fubar57

General

32,824

19,268

Nov 22, 2009

The Jungles of Canada

​

 

• May 7, 2020

• #11

A

Alex Smart

Airman 1st Class

118

73

Oct 25, 2018

fubar57 said:

View attachment 580467​

Click to expand...

Thank you there is definitely something there ?

 

• May 7, 2020

• #12

B

Barrett

Senior Airman

679

1,130

Feb 9, 2007

Western United States

Dana's right: VD-2 was Navy Photographic Squadron 2 1943-46 (theory is that D honored Daguerre). Here's a unit summary: VP-62 (1942-50) - Wikipedia

 

• May 7, 2020

• #13

M

mjfur

Senior Airman

636

735

Sep 23, 2006

I'm going to disagree on the red line in the Star & Bar. There's nothing there. The red bar is very pronounced on a white background.

 

• May 7, 2020

• #14

cammerjeff

Staff Sergeant

957

2,161

Dec 26, 2006

Belleville MI

I don't know if this site will help, but I have used it for A/C S/N's before, Here is the page on PB4Y's

https://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/USN/PB4Y.htm