Seeking Bureau Number of PB4Y-1P named Wild Cherry II

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NNAM

Airman
17
11
Jan 10, 2021
I'm a volunteer researcher at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. We've had an inquiry about this PB4Y-1P, but can't answer it without the Bureau Number. The art was painted by Hal Olsen. This photo was taken in 1945 at Tinian when the a/c was assigned to VPB-102. Anybody recognize it? The numbers visible on the nose - "27" - were used as the side number when the a/c was in Fleet Air Photographic Squadron One (VD-1.) We need the Bureau Number.
 
Pictures comes from The San Diego Air and Space Museum

Page 10

 
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Do you have a higher-rez scan that shows the names under the cockpit windows?

Here's VD-1 War Diaries,
National Archives NextGen Catalog

Here's the VPB-102 War Diaries. Perhaps you may find a mention of a BuNo or Wild Cherry II.

Here's a list of PB4Y-1 Bureau Numbers. Based on the forward turret it is most likely a later war build. If by dumb luck the number "27" were the last two of the BuNo.,
31936-32085 PB4Y-1 Consolidated (32027)
32087-32094 PB4Y-1 Consolidated
32097-32335 PB4Y-1 Consolidated (32127, 32227)
38733-38979 PB4Y-1 Consolidated (38827, 38927)
46725-46737 PB4Y-1 Consolidated (46727)
63915-63991 PB4Y-1 Consolidated (63927)
65287-65396 PB4Y-1 Consolidated (65327)
90132-90271 PB4Y-1 Consolidated (90227)
90462-90483 PB4Y-1 Consolidated

 
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Great sources! One can go further. Below are lists with PB4Y-1 frames in VD-1 and VPB-102 (I used the search machine from the site shown in the previous post).
As per the initial photo it is a late model B-24 (not a B-24D!). Unfortunately none of the lists shows an a/c which matches the above criteria.
VPB-102 was on Tinian before Sept.1945 but I don't think the war diaries will give some more information - I glanced them and they are not from the type describing the BuNos and the battle/side number during every mission. Maybe a crew member's name will help....
 

Attachments

  • Search USN PB4Y Airframe List VD-1.pdf
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  • Search USN PB4Y Airframe List VPB-102.pdf
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Notes on the PB4Y list

USAAF and USN production reports
USAAF types becoming PB4Y-1, built at San Diego unless noted.
45 B-24D transferred after USAAF use
229 B-24D
4 B-24D Fort Worth
1 B-24G North American
367 B-24J
186 B-24L
145 B-24M

740 PB4Y-2
34 RY-3
1,751 Total (278 D models, 977 PB4Y-1)

USN PB4Y-2 production reports BuNos,
59350 burned and was stricken
59554 crashed prior to acceptance, no replacement, contract not reduced
59836 destroyed by fire destroyed by fire at Lindbergh Field, with VRF-3?, navy development of B-24N
59967 built

USN list From USN PB4Y Airframe History List
278 B-24D
1 B-24G North American
368 B-24J (1 Fort Worth, BuNo. 32351 reported as B-24J-5-CF 42-64915 but BuNo is a Howard GH-2, and USAAF B-25G serial)
187 B-24L (BuNo, 65392 B-24L-20-CO 44-41857, should be a B-24M-5-CO)
144 B-24M (BuNo, 65392 B-24L-20-CO 44-41857, should be a B-24M-5-CO)
1 Unknown B-24 became PB4Y-1 BuNo. 32375 but that is actually a Howard GH-2
741 PB4Y-2 (2 cancelled, 59554, 59967, while 59544 has 2 entries)
40 RY-3 (6 cancelled, 90051 to 56)
1,760 8 cancelled, leaving 1,752
5 C-87, transfer from USAAF
3 C-87A, transfer from USAAF
1,768 entries

979 PB4Y-1 but 2 are mistakes, 32351 and 32375
741 PB4Y-2 but 59544 has 2 entries, and 2 reported cancelled actually flew

Should be PB4Y in list, BuNos.
P4Y-2 59350
P4Y-2S 59792
P4Y-2B 59990
P4Y-2 66246
P4Y-2 66253
P4Y-2 66258
P4Y-2 66280
P4Y-2 66298

RY-3 production
Jun-44 1
Dec-44 4
Jan-45 6
Feb-45 6
Mar-45 4
Jun-45 3
Jul-45 3
Aug-45 1
Nov-45 1
Dec-45 5

RY-3 RAF and USN notes, plus British Air Commission and Lend Lease by K J Meekcoms
90021/JT973 Toc 26-May-45 note: 45 group Canada BAC&LL: 45 group Canada
90022/JT974 note: Retained by Consolidated
90023/JT975 Toc 10-Mar-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: Exported from US
90024/JT976 Toc 10-Mar-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: Exported from US
90026/JT978 Toc 25-Jan-45 note: To Britain 6 Feb 45 or 18 May 45, recaptured BAC&LL: Exported from US
90027/JT979 Toc 19-Jan-45 note: To Britain 14 May 1945, SOC in transit 19 Oct 45 BAC&LL: Exported from US
90029/JT981 Toc 14-Apr-45 note: 45 group, reduced to prod. 28 Feb 46, recaptured BAC&LL: 45 group Canada
90030/JT982 Toc 1-Jun-45 note: To Britain 3 Jul 1945, ACSEA CAT E transit? BAC&LL: Crashed in transit
90031/JT983 Toc 1-Apr-45 note: To Britain 17 May 1945, ACSEA reduced to produce 28 Feb 46, recaptured BAC&LL: Exported from US
90032/JT984 Toc 10-Mar-45 note: 45 group, reduced to produce 28 Mar 46?, recaptured BAC&LL: 45 group Canada
90033/JT985 Toc 9-Apr-45 note: To Britain 4 May 1945, ACSEA SOC 15 Jun 45 BAC&LL: Crashed in transit
90034/JT986 Toc 29-Apr-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: Exported from US
90035/JT987 Toc 29-Apr-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: 45 group Canada
90036/JT988 Toc 29-Apr-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: 45 group Canada
90037/JT989 Toc 3-May-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: Exported from US
90038/JT990 Toc 4-May-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: 45 group Canada
90039/JT991 Toc 26-May-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: Exported from US
90040/JT992 Toc 26-May-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: 45 group Canada
90041/JT993 Toc 24-Jun-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: 45 group Canada
90042/JT994 Toc 7-Jul-45 note: To Britain 8 Aug 1945, recaptured BAC&LL: Exported from US
90045/JT997 Toc 31-Aug-45 note: Recaptured BAC&LL: Exported from US
 

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