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RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:11 am
by Ron Saueracker
Too small to be a B-24 from this angle.
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:40 am
by stubby331
The following RAAF squadrons were equipped with Liberators: Nos. 12, 21, 23, 24, 25, 36, 99, and 102. Five of these squadrons had previously operated Vultee Vengeance dive bombers. Most of the RAAF Liberator operations were directed against targets and shipping in the former Dutch East Indies which had been overrun by the Japanese. Many RAAF Liberator operations were conducted out of air bases in the Northern Territory and Queensland, whereas others were flown from bases in Burma.
FYI
No. 25 (City of Perth) Sqdn RAAF was actually home based @ Cunderdin, which is approx 175km east of Perth in Western Australia. When flying missions over the DEI they staged out of Airfields in the North West. The Cunderdon Airbase is still there, long decommisioned, but still used for civil flights (and some air shows).
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:41 am
by Tankerace
No way in Hell is that a Liberator. B-25 maybe, but way to small to be a Liberator. Those things were huge. My grandad always remarked about how big his was.
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:49 am
by Barlock
My grandad always remarked about how big his was.
Sorry - couldn't resist! That could be taken horribly out of context [:D]
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:59 am
by Belisarius
The landing gear gives it away.
It's a Liberator alright.
The B-25 has a straight landing gear assembly which is attached to the wheel on the inside rather than the outside like in this case. Ergo, a B-24.
Compare with this pic:
Notice that despite its' size, it rides really low on the gear. The Mitchell is taller standing on the pad, even if it's a smaller aircraft.
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 8:31 am
by Jaws_slith
Agree B-24
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 3:28 pm
by Cap Mandrake
I thought it was some aircraft specific marking...but it is really a quite dusty RAAF roundel. Look at the barely visible second, darker circle.
Ergo RAAF B-24...dont think there is any way to tell model type from this view.
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 3:55 pm
by DrewMatrix
They do have a B-24 at Castle AFB. (And I forgot to dig around for my pictures of it). The one thing that really struck me about the B-24 was how _very_ low to the ground it sat on the pad. I have a picture of the belly turret. About a foot clearance as I recall.
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:04 pm
by DrewMatrix
This isn't my close-up of the belly turret but you can see how little ground clearance there is:
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:24 pm
by Capt Cliff
LB-30, like the one the CAF has.
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 10:49 pm
by Tankerace
OOpsie.... at that angle the plane looked a LOT smaller than a Lib. [:D]
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:24 am
by rogueusmc
Looks like ya did good this time Brady...[:D]
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 3:49 am
by DrewMatrix
Ground Clearance of belly turret on B-24
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 4:10 am
by Brady
Liberator, it is[:)]
RAAF Liberator, Location India, Circa 1945.
.........................
"Looks like ya did good this time Brady... "
Thanks[:)]
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 6:18 am
by ATCSMike
ORIGINAL: Brady
???
B24
Mike
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:00 am
by Belisarius
Takeoffs must have been an interesting experience for the belly gunner! [X(]
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:47 pm
by rogueusmc
Take-offs?!?!?!
What about the landings?!?!?!
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:53 pm
by Cap Mandrake
ORIGINAL: rogueusmc
Take-offs?!?!?!
What about the landings?!?!?!
Useful in bad weather though"
Belly Gunner: "Ok...twenty five feet on centerline.....twenty.....fifteen....ten...eight, seven, six ,five, four, down a bit ....."
Pilot: "Damn! I HATE when that happens"
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:56 pm
by Arnir
If I'm not mistaken, the B24, unlike the B17, retracted the belly turret inside the aircraft for takeoffs and landings.
RE: Name This...(142)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 2:19 pm
by DrewMatrix
retracted the belly turret
Or at least retracted the belly turret gunner!