Consolidated B-24 Tour - Subscriber's Request! - Part 1
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2019
- We posted a question on our community page a little while back asking our subscribers what planes they'd like to see a tour of, and the Consolidated B-24J Liberator was among the top choices. Well, we listened, and here is Part 1 of the 2 part Consolidated B-24 Kermie Cam Tour!
Hope you enjoy the walk-around and walk-through, along with the commentary. If you like the tour and want more, please subscribe, and give us feed-back, and we'll do more. The next one could be the B-29, Fertile Myrtle, or the PBY. Thank you for your support!
(The Connie was first choice - • Lockheed Constellation... )
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My Dad was a Flight Engineer in B-24s and later B29s in WWII. Thanks for the tour.
This bird needs to be on display in a museum. Palm Springs comes to mind
This video really brings home the fact that there was nothing glamourous about flying in these machines for hours and hours in mortally dangerous conditions, day after day (or night after night) for weeks on end.
It must have been a hellish experience, cold, uncomfortable and intensely stressful. These men had immense character.
They dreaded flying in the B-24's just for those reasons ;)
The B-24 was very difficult to fly, and left the pilot exhausted after the flight
Then B-24 crews had to take the plane into combat....
"I think I have a ball turret around here somewhere."
😹
My dad was a technician in WW2 that worked on the Norden Bombsight and the auto-pilot for the B-24. He got an award because he figured out how to service the auto-pilot without removing it from the bomber.
Mr. Weeks - Thanks for the excellent tour! Dad was control rigger on B-24s at Ypsi from start of production until drafted '43. Was working 12hr days 6 days/wk when on Sat night he advised wouldn't be in Mon as drafted. They had forgotten to put him on essential list & said please don't go we'll fix it, but he was in the Army now!! Saved millions of lives as later took bridge over Rhine at Remagen w/ammo carrier, BAR, 2000 rnds, & 12 grenades by themselves, while rest of 1st Army went to town on W bank. Ammo carrier plugged 1/3 way across 4/10 mile bridge, and Dad relieved 25 min after reaching far bank corralling surviving Germans in RR tunnel from where they had launched 4 unsuccessful counterattacks. Dad glad to get help as BAR melted, down to 50 rnds ammo for his Tokerov pistol and had a few grenades. Ike said that action at that time ended war 6 months early. And I would assume they found some other little guy to rig the controls on Dad's portion of that plant's B-24s too!!! So you see, the B-24 responsible for circumstances put in place to end war early, Germans surrendered before transport of their perfected & stocked A-Bombs to NYC, and the plans/units/materials got to USA w/U-234's surrender, allowing for hot time in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ending war in Pacific Theater REALLY QUICK!! B-24 GOOD!!! B-24 TOUR EXCELLENT!!! MANY THANKS!!!! (I just live over in Lake Alfred so will stop in to your Gift Shop soon to check it out and see if can get on the tour if possible.)
INCREDIBLE men of the Greatest Generation
@@lockdownmytownbykevinjohns6224 - Yes Sir, both...& tough too! Dad's war ended month later by 88mm from Tiger Tank after he kilt 10 buddies in 2 other Tigers. They didn't like 'em! Unarmed advancing to rear, diving under barbwire fence, shell hit between legs exploding just beneath blowing him up, wadding him up hanging in fence facing last 2 Tigers. 2 hrs later pair of Thunderbolts dropped down thru slit in overcast dispatching last tanks. Dad cut down & hauled to Field Hospital w/only other survivor of their 6 man attack named Bob Fish of NY. Bob said when Doc triaged Dad he said "Not this one" so thrown in dead pile guarded by 2 GIs. After about 3 hrs one of the guards had seen Dad's trigger finger moving every time he passed, so he told his buddy "We got a live one". Dad dragged to entrance & Docs said nothing left, but then understood .45 well enough so 3 Docs & a nurse sewed his wounds up w/shrapnel in them just to get BP! Guard stayed w/him so not thrown out again. Woke up in London hospital still paralyzed when nurse said "Oh....you're back"! He recovered enough to learn how to walk & got back to USA for discharge by Nov '45. His parents had gotten the "So solly letter" as name and serial # recorded as being in dead pile, but nurse practiced Dad's hand and wrote his letters home for 7 months. Neither they nor his fiance' ever let on they knew he had been hit! People on home front tough in those days as well! I was forced to count holes in his long coat he had been wearing and allowed to stop at 400 but there were a lot more. When 6, had me cut the shrapnel that worked it's way to surface out & sewed him up so no longer went to VA 30 miles away. I did that for 21 yrs, but he still couldn't get thru screeners at airports! Yes Sir....incredible, greatest, toughest, and most patriotic in my book
Dear Mr. Weeks I used to live in the Two story Victorian farm house at the end of the runway on Hughes Street back in the day. I used to get to see the get together every year for free. I miss those days. I love to model and both my grandfathers were in the USAF during WWII. My mom's dad was in the Pacific in 44-45 on a B-24J. My other grandfather was Stationed at Wright Field in Dayton. He was a 5 or 6 striper Mechanic mainly on B-29s. In '46 he was hired by Curtis E. le May to work at materials command when it was at Wright-Patterson. Loved the video.
My mom worked for Consolidated at the Ft. Worth, Texas plant building B-24s while my dad was in Europe with the Army Air Corp. This is the first time I've seen the inside of one.
Fascinating tour, I just read the book ‘The Wild Blue’, which was about George McGovern and his B 24 crew. He flew 35 missions, and the name of his B-24 was the Dakota Queen. The book was written by Stephen Ambrose. He was appalled at the end of the war, when he saw thousands of the B-24’s scrapped and buried out in the Arizona or New Mexico desert.
I really love the bomb bay door solution. Seems like it saved both weight and drag, so it makes you wonder why every other bomber of the era used "real" doors that weighed more and added quite a bit of drag when they were open.
I remember this aircraft at Duxford in the '70s. It was originally flown in from Poona in India. My friend Gerry Collins put the markings on it and it was named Delectable Doris. On it's way back to the 'States from Duxford it suffered a nose wheel collapse on landing at Prestwick to refuel for the next leg of the journey home. Fortunately, Prestwick was the main base for Scottish Aviation who still had the approved repair scheme for this type of problem and so they did the work. Great days!
My dad was a member of a B-24 Liberator during WWII he served with the Army Air Corp454 Bombardment Group H 15th Air Force in the Mediterranean Theatre flying out of San Giovanni Air Field, in Italy from Jan 1944 thru October 1945. He was shot down over Yugoslavia and captured by the partisans, held briefly and returned to his unit. He served as a ball turret gunner.
One of the reasons I respect Kermit so much, is to hear the joy and wonder in his voice as he explores these planes.
He's one of us.
Personally, I think that he blathered too much, and doesn't spend enough time on the B-24 itself.
My father was a waist gunner in a B-24J 1944-45. It was emotional to see what he must have seen. Thank you for this detailed tour.
So cool, my grandmother built these during the war. Nice to get an idea of what it was about.
My uncle was a ball turret gunner on Liberators in the 8th Air force RAF Shipdham. Two confirmed kills. I love how it is all original. It is like a time capsule!
olentangy74 very cool!
My father was at Shipdham for three months in 1943 before being detached to the 9th AF in Benghazi. Then it was the 8/1/1943 low-level raid on Ploesti. Awful day.
Robert Austin yes it was. Incredible losses.
When one is present inside, the smells take you back. As a kid in San Antone, I had many opportunities to crawl the old hulks. I'll never forget any of them. Thanks Kermit. I know you do your job and we'll try to do ours.Preserve the memories of the A/C but never forget the men who lived and died to purchase our futures.Mostly teenagers or early 20s. I never cease to be amazed by their accomplishments.Go to a museum and donate what you can afford.They are not cheap.
I've been watching your video's with my Dad the last three weeks. He's 94 and was in the southern Pacific in the Army Air Forces ww2. He was crew chief in a C-47 and a flight engineer on a C-46. He retired from NASA in 1979.
It's been great watching these videos with him. Thanks again.
p.s. he still runs circles around me.
Thanks. God Bless your Dad, and thank him for his service for us.
@@KermitWeeks444 I will show him your reply on my next visit. He'll very much appreciate this.
In his footsteps, I spent 23 years at NASA as well. He's my hero!
An absolute beauty of an aircraft. Very unique.
That little white racer under the wing looks awfully familiar. When I was a little kid, I had a lot of models of racers, and that was one of my favorites.
It is a 1932 DGA-5 “IKE”
Thank you. That plane sure brought back a lot of good memories. I haven't built a model in years, even though I still have a few unbuilt kits.
I remember this bird when I worked for New England Warbirds out of Hanscom Field in Bedford Ma. She was sitting on the ramp for quite a while in '93-94 and was in pretty rough shape (oil pouring out of the Turbos, misfires, etc). I flew in her once on a checkflight (I was going to school to be an A&P at the time and volunteered a lot of time to working on this bird and the B-25 "Snow White II" that was there). Those were the days. I always wondered what happened to her after she left. Thanks for the flashback, Kermit.
Kids love Model Planes, Posters, and the Adults like Shirts, Refrigerator Magnets and Coffee mugs for the Gift Shop👍
The front turret is an EMERSON(Electric) but the rear turret was a BENDIX(Hydro-electric).
The pilots that Dave managed to get to fly her always complained about the weight and balance.
At one point, they yanked out the pilot armour and left it at some airport while they toured the airplane around the East Coast.
The ball turret was in the airplane the last time I saw her in 1994.
The remnants of the fabric bulkheads were still attached but the zippers had long since frozen shut and the crews just cut there way through them. Just like the wheel well canvas covers, these were meant to control dust and debris inside the ship.
We used that upper side hatch to service the fuel and oil tanks. Occasionally we would walk up and down the spine of the fuselage to clean the pilot glass and service the rudders and elevators.
The side gunner's air deflector hinges were always a little sticky and when they stuck open, it affected the flying characteristics so much that the rudder trim couldn't fix it. Much like the dive brakes on a Mig-15.
I really loved every minute when I could work on,"DORIS," ( She originally had a Nude Female painted on her nose. Only after a trip down South, we had to cover her naughty bits with a CENSORED decal.
The story about the 50 cal Brownings is true!
They were confiscated by the ATF when she landed after refueling in Nova Scotia. The guns in the Emerson Turret were courtesy of a gentleman in New York who made them in his garage.
Great stuff. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for taking time to show us this great plane. And for mentioning the B-25 "Mitchell" one of my favorites, along with the A-20 and the Bristol Blenheim. My father always liked the B-26 and the Martin 187 Baltimore bombers.
Emerson turret, wow. I had not known the company that would become Emerson Electronics was a World War II supplier.
Kermit. My Uncle flew as a NOSE GUNNER in the B-24s into north Africa and then into Castelluccio, Italy. The boys camped out there like Boy Scouts. They flew over the Alps everyday to drop onto the rail lines and oilfields of the Germans. I would give you my life savings to fly one mission to commemorate my Uncles' sacrifice today. I'd love to share his log-books... we are life-long U.S.A.F. diehards. Anytime, Anyplace... bring it on! We are American patriots! Thank you for keeping these birds alive.
My dad also was a nose gunner in a B-24 17th Air corps, 451st bomb squadron based in Castelluccio Italy. He was president of the 451st bombardment group getting together reunions for over 30 years. Cheers to your uncle.
Kermit many years ago I talked to CBI b24 pilot and they removed ball turrent because it saved so much weight they could extend range and put in another fuel tank.
Thank you for your efforts to save our past.
Thanks for the tour Kermit. Greatly appreciated. 👍
How do you not sit in an airplane like that and make gun and airplane noises all the time?? Your collection is absolutely fantastic.
My Dad flew in these as radio operator/air gunner in coastal command R.A.F. During WW2.
Spent his ops scouring the North Sea for U boats. Carried a Leigh light under the wing to illuminate any target located by Radar.
My great grandfather flew the b24. He was stationed in Italy in the 464th BG.
What a time capsule. Can't say I've ever seen an aircraft so complete, and so original. This is prime for a complete restoration, and I'd love for that to happen.
Wow, a time machine with wings!! Kermit, you must be going through it and thinking,"Man, I own some pretty cool stuff!!" We all live vicariously through you, thanks so much!!
I believe that this B24 once spent time at Duxford in the UK. She was flown from India to the UK and needed work (including an engine change) before crossing the 'pond'. She was at DX for quite a while and was painted up with the 'Delectable Doris' nose art. I was a volunteer at DX and was there on the day the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight came to see her on her way to the USA and they flew a Lancaster, Liberator formation with Spitfire, Hurricane and (interloper) Sea Fury escorts. She's an amazing time capsule and I hope she doesn't get 'restored'.
Right you are, John, about this B-24 spending time at Duxford, interrupting its transit from India to the US. You might be interested in a current thread about this Lib on the Historic Aviation Forum, at: forum.keypublishing.com/forum/historic-aviation/3868813-kermit-shows-us-inside-the-b-24 . I posted a photo of this Lib when it was at Duxford, but before it was painted as "Delectable Doris" (from a book).
Inside the Hatch for Airplanes, awesome!
The editting for the bad jokes makes the video 10x better
Wow! My father was a turret mechanic on these out of RAF Halesworth, UK during WWII. I was stationed in Tampa years ago and while he was visiting we came to FoF not long after you acquired the '24-- heard the story about the watermelon drop. One of you guys took him in the hangar and let him look it over. After a while, my Dad started talking about the plane and was able to clearly recall lots of details about the systems on the plane, to include why the turrets were each different. It was a great experience for him, and regrettably, he passed away a few years later. Thanks again, to you and your team for the wonderful experience for my dad.
This plane was definitely a great upgrade from the B-17. It was more roomy, it could carry a larger payload with duel Bombays. The design too was more advanced with the landing gear setup and the fork tail. I actually visited the old ford plant in willow run Michigan and saw how these were built, and it’s amazing how they manufactured them. It may have looked a bit blocky and bulky, but it’s still a beautiful aircraft!
Not a fork tail, a twin tail. A p-38 has a fork tail. And a twin tail is not actually more advanced. If you will notice they are pretty rare on planes today. They were perceived as a sign of an advanced aircraft in that era, but it turned out to be not such a great idea, and the B-24s tails probably caused in more trouble than any other feature. Once they put a single tail on, it lost most of the handling probems it had been dealing with. But I agree, technically, and probably actually, a better bomber than a B-17. I certainly prefer it, but that may be becauee I am always inclined to root for the underdog. I think the B-24 at least ought to get more of its fair share of recognition, even if it isnt promoted to top of the heap. Much like the Hurricane which actually did most of the heavy lifting in the Battle of Britain. or the Ki-43, which probably did more for the Japanese advance than the A6M did, but which is just called 'the Army Zero' ever since the war.
Wow. The men that flew in these things were real heros,,,the lot of them. Pilots and crew.👍👍👍
I spent 30 years in the old B-24 bomber plant at willow run. G.M. bought it from Kiser Fraser and turned it into a transmission plant. Lot of history in that place.
Hope to see this wonderful piece of history flying again soon. Sad to think that most of the kids who flew and fought in these birds are almost gone. Keeping that history alive is what makes Kermit’s effort so appreciated. Thank you Kermit!
More videos of the less frequently seen birds please! Crack open all those old aircraft you haven't visited in a while! (and take us along)
I remember David and that Plane,and his B 17 too,I worked for him in 80s in St Petersburg. At Clearwater airport. He was a great guy. I miss him alot and Pat. Great guys.
Man that thing is like a time capsule of WW2 history! Thanks for saving it! The amount of engineering that went in to a warplane that size is impressive
Thank you, my Dad was a B-24 mechanic in the 15th Army Air Corp 450th Manduria Italy he helped with the Ploesti Raid.
My father was the pilot of the B-24D "Southern Comfort" with the 506th Sqdn 44th BG on the Ploesti raid of 8/1/1943. The low-level mission with all the horrific losses.
b-24 was in Topeka 1977
Incredible Kermit!
So many treasures
I remember this acft at Sun-n-fun back in the early 90s. I'm thinking 92 or 93. I was allowed to crawl through her and yes I was impressed in how original she was. As a WW2 living historian with the Airmens Preservation Society I ve helped with the Collington Collection. One time they were short handed and we became the tour guides which we wore out period flight gear. As a pilot myself and a certified flight engineer on the B-25 Panchito , it's always a hoot to show how damned uncomfortable Warbirds could be. They were meant to do war. Thanks again for a little time travel from the past.
Thanks for the tour! My Dad was a radio man on the B-24 and was hoping to see a radio station on this video. You didn’t disappoint. Thanks again.
Thanks for the video - my Dad was a B-24 nose gunner in Europe in WWII
Dear Mr. Weeks. Thank you so much for doing this. Always a pleasure to have a tour in one of your aircraft. Greetings from Denmark.
Excellent video tour and quite a collection! My Father was a B-24 pilot flying 35 missions out of Shipdham, England from September '44 to March '45. First with the 489th Bomb Group/844th Squadron and then with 44th Bomb Group/67th Squadron.
In the 90"s I was the airshow director for Yesterdays Airforce, owned by David Tallichet This airplane was part of our flying collection. It was the "Delectable Doris" at the time. Quite a noticable nose art for those who remember it. Not G-rated! I''ve flown in it, even flown it, many times and I can say it was not quite the flying luxury of our B-17 that we flew (The movie Memphis Belle). We used to say we landed the B-17 and we arrived in the B-24, as landing was never ever graceful!!Tallichet was not known for spending a lot of money, so he and I were hotel roommates as we flew around the country. Me in my 20's and he in his 70's. :) Oddly, I now live just across the highway from the end of the Fantasy of flight runway. Btw, Kermit! we did tons of maintenance, it was just usually after we landed with 3 engines and replacement parts in another state. hahaha.
Cool! Thanks for posting.
@a10warthog61 No, sorry, that was after my time I believe.
@a10warthog61 No, the B-17 was never permanently grounded, it was down periodically at times. After I left it had a hard landing or a wing clip on taxi I believe that did ground it but I dont know where that was. Sorry
@a10warthog61 haha, that does not surprise me at all.
Checkout the "Lady be Good" unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/2017/06/16/lost-and-found-the-story-of-lady-be-good-and-her-crew/
Was working at Vintage Fighters in Sellersburg,Indiana when this aircraft arrived with troubles, walked through it. Great to see it again.
Thank you for the upload Mr Weeks.My uncle sat in that tail position as an air gunner with the RAF during world war 2.His Squadron first flew operations from Italy and then after the war ended in Europe they transferred to India to carry out supply missions to Burma.Who knows maybe this ship was part of his wing?.
Same same for my FIL a WAG (Wireless operator Air Gunner) who flew 67 missions as a tailgunner with the bulk being in Lib's. He flew over Europe in Lanc's and later in the far east with Lib's. I have his logbooks showing every mission flown, the captain's name, aircraft type and airframe number along with time in air. His Squadron were referred to as "secret" because they were tasked with dropping Sikh agents behind Japanese lines flying "the hump" based out KunMing with him being billeted right beside General Chennault's Flying Tigers. I wonder if this airframe is one that he flew in?
Owns his own B-24, "You guys probably know more about this stuff than I do.", yeah, probably not!😄 Great video!
@Kyle Miller basically
He also owns a Mosquito I believe.
@Kyle Miller Its Kermit Weeks, he owns dozens of rare and valuable aircraft. He has a Martin Mars and a Sunderland, FFS. A Constellation, a whole museum. Yes, a rich airplane enthusiast.
Well, since he appears to be mystified by the basic mechanism for retracting the ball turret, he is probably correct. Any person half interested in the B-24 would know what that was. He loves planes and has enough money to fly and store many of them, but that doesnt make him some sort of guru for airplane knowledge. There are any number of people who can quote minutia, build schedules, corrrect interior fittings, subcontractors, people who know all about the radio systems of WWII aircraft, whatever. Weeks wouldnt be able to compete with any of them as far as plain knowledge about the planes goes. But he can tell you what its like to own and fly and maintain them, which most of the boffins cannot. And of course he owns so many, he can hardly learn any single one of them very well, whereas boffins will often study their favorite plane very intensively.
I appreciate your timing on posting this video. I just finished reading "Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot" which documented his military service during WW II flying B-24s in Europe & bombing missions over Germany. And, it's my birthday. Thanks, Kermit!
A Wonderful book about an absolutely INCREDIBLE American Hero, who CHOSE to Fly & Fight when the USGov and MGM did Everything they could to KEEP Gen. Stewart OUT of Combat in the ETA.
Thank you for your efforts Mr Weeks. I know that saying thank you is inadequate reward for what you offer, but it is all that I have to give. Judging by the look on your face when you mentioned not having events at FoF any more, I think that I understand why and I don't blame you one bit. May GOD continue to bless you and yours.
AWESOME! My uncle was co-pilot on B24, CBI theater, 5th AAF, 90th BG, 320th SQ, 11/44 -8/45. So many stories come flooding back when I see one of these. Thank you for the video tour!
My father went from digging coal in a one horse town to flying B-24s in WWII. Thank you for this.
@Hal 9000 Now there are many since that little town way out in the country has been swallowed up by ever-growing Pittsburgh. My father was digging coal alongside his father when WWII broke out and he was able to realize his dream to fly. If he hadn't I would have joined them because that's all there was.
Had a relative who worked in manufacturing almost 1000 B24s in Tulsa, and I worked in the same building for another manufacturing company 2001 to 2012. During my years there, I always desired to know more about that very important bomber design. Thanks very much for the B24 tour!
To quote a famous aviator, museum owner and Naked in Jamaica Rum drinker, "That is Friggen Kewl" Thanks again for sharing. I agree about the restoration, hope you're able to start that soon. Thanks again.
Thank you. My second cousin 1st Lt Richard Augden Payne was a copilot in the Alusian campaign. He and his crew and plane "Iggy" were lost 85 miles Ne of Aidac island Nov 18 1943. I carry his name because I was born on 11/18/55.
Mr weeks you are lovely genuine man who is a true enthusiast keeping history alive many thanks for posting greetings from steve in England
Just fantastic! The stories are enchanting. Thanks so much for allowing us all into your mind.
Thanks for the post Kermit.. 👍
If I had the chance, I'd restore that B-24 for ya! I'm a big aviation enthusiast and I have my A&P certification. I'd love to help you and your crew out however possible. Keep up the GREAT work Mr. Week's. Looking forward to seeing more video's from ya. 👍👍
Great video! Love how original the aircraft is. One of my best friends flew on a Privateer in the Coast Guard back in the 50"s as a radio operator. He passed away 10 years ago. Miss our conversations on WW2 aircraft. He'd love that 24.
Not able to travel at present time, thank you for showing the vintage air craft. Bless you for all your hard work on the air craft. Be safe. Peace.
Wow! Like a WWII time machine. Thanks a million for sharing it with us. Especially that tail gunner position. Looking forward to part 2.
My dad was a navigator on these in WW2, proud to be a member ofvthese 8th.
My Dad, though not a flier, in the British Army in North Africa, was onboard a B-24 that was shot down by an Me-109 in the desert! Saved by Bedouin Arabs!
My father was in North Africa withvthe RAF. One of family's favorite photos was a photo of him in his desert shorts, officers cap and sitting on a camel.
Your first flight in the B-24 sounds like my grandfather's first in the B-25. He was a pilot in the CBI with the 16 CCS.
Total history. Kermit, you rock and have preserved so much for future generations. Thank You!
Been to his place Fantasy of flight great place
My Uncle from Minneapolis flew the B-24 in the Army in WWII. Yes passed since then. Thanks for showing this!!!
Thank you for doing this video, imagine the goodies under the floor and in the nooks.
Thanks for this in depth look into this B-24!
I had the pleasure of walking through it with Andy, it smells amazing! It is a true time capsule!
" ... frikin awesome airplane to restore" -- Paul shudders
Had an uncle who flew 51 missions in a B24 with the 15th Air Force. Didn't think much of it. Hard to fly easy to bring down.
Jimmie Stewart flew the B24 in combat eventually achieving high rank. A relative of mine was a waist gunner on the B17. He said guys flying in the 24 were trying to get transferred to the 17 as it was more rugged.
Love the video...getting in that b-24 is like a time machine...you should totally restore the bomber and maybe even fly it around!!!
A true part of history that should be brought back to it's full glory again.
This B-24 was at Duxford Airfield in the mid 1970's where it was done up and painted as 'Delectable Doris' of the 389th Bomb Group.
I always enjoy your postings with unique and sometimes humorous explanation that maybe every airplane nuts love to hear. I'm a Japanese and used to be a bad student of English conversation, I regret I should study harder. If I were a little younger and had a little more budget I'd like to visit Florida. Keep sending nice footages on, please!!
Really fascinating. I've been inside the Colling's B-24 at Moffett a few times, but I was not physically able to crawl around much inside at all. Thanks much for this comprehensive tour.
My first name is Joe !. Saw it from the Freeway in 1997 ? parked at the edge of the field near the entrance to FoF, the day's plans to go to Disney/whatever were instantly cancelled. 1) Your face and control surfaces have been expertly re-skinned, no wrinkles 2) Overwhelmed by the claustrophobic atmosphere vs a B-17, many escape hatches. 3) Thank you Sir for making this video, hard to clamber round for an 18 year old ! Road trip from Houston being planned to see the greatest active museum in the world !
Be sure to check the FoF website for the schedule of open dates before you come by. The Museum Lite is only open seasonally.
It’s amazing how complete this aircraft is, thanks for sharing it with us 👍🏻🇦🇺
wow what an amazing collection. ball turrets must have been the scariest job on earth
Thank you Kermit! I have wondered about this B24 for a while. What a treasure
Thanks for sharing Kermit, Grandpa was a Liberator pilot with the Bomber Barons, South Pacific theatre. Hope to check one out someday. Beautiful plane!
Any photos?
Bilge Rat Models All of the photos were in a trunk that was lost when he moved back to the mainland from HI. I wasn’t even born then, thankfully his bomber crew photo is published in a book we found called Bomber Barons “5th Bombardment Group Heavy”
Hi! I just caught your message to Kermit's video from 3 years ago. I lost my Dad in Feb. 21 at age 96. He was a radar mechanic for B-24's with the 13th Air Force, 5th Bomb Group, 23rd Squadron in the the Pacific Theater. I have all of his hardbound books of the 13th and the Bomber Barons. It would be a pleasure to chat with you about our connection to these heroes of WW11. Doug
Awesome!! Next you should do the B-29! I (and I’m sure a lot of other people) would LOVE to see that up close!
Flight Chops has a very good tour of Fifi in flight.
Thanks for sharing. Awesome restoration potential.
Thank You for this tour. My Dad (Lt. Col. Donald H. Perry Ret.) flew Liberators with the 8th and was in the Ploesti Oil Field Raid. He left one Liberator in the Adriatic (possibly the 'Club 400') and the other one (My Nell) made it to the end of the war. He went on to fly in the Korean War (C-119) and Vietnam where He flew AC-47's 'Spooky...Puff' out of Bien Hoa 68. I pictured him as a young man climbing thru your 24...Thanks again!
As soon as I hit the lottery I'm giving you the money for that restoration!
Just a few weeks ago I got to walk through the Collings Foundation's B-24 with my 5 year old. It's great to get the chance to look at the parts I couldn't look at in that tour, either because they didn't let the general public into that area or because a five year old is tricky to wrangle through an airplane. I love these old birds that were pushing the boundaries of what was possible with the technology of the time!
My father was in the 15 Air Force 449 Bombardment group out of Italy in B24's. He flew as a ball turret gunner at first but ended up as a bomb damage assessment photographer do to growing 4" after enlisting. I hope they get youtube in heaven because he would love seeing your B24
Amazing , nice to see it unrestored!
I really love Fantasy of Flight. Coolest place
This B-24 is AWSUM!
Thank You Kermie.