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

[NNAM]

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

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[SaparotRob]

Welcome to the Forum. I can't help you but I'm sure help will be forthcoming.

 

[Snautzer01]

Pictures comes from The San Diego Air and Space Museum

Page 10

VP-14/VP-102/VPB-102 Special Collection

The San Diego Air and Space Museum houses the archives of the Squadrons VP-14/102. The Collection highlights the squadron under various designations. It was originally VP-14, but was established as Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWO (VB-102) on 15 February 1943. Redesignated Patrol...

www.flickr.com

 

[mjfur]

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.

National Archives NextGen Catalog

The online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records.

catalog.archives.gov

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

USN PB4Y Airframe History List

AAIR, Aviation Archaeological Investigation & Research, is a source of U. S. military aircraft accident reports, pictures of aircraft crash sites, MACRs (Missing Air Crew Reports) and individual aircraft history cards and historical research. Historic aircraft crash site surveys, search and...

www.aviationarchaeology.com

 

[CATCH 22]

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....

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

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