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A handful (number not given) of LB-30s were operated out of India by BOAC and participated in the
evacuation of Java.

Starting in June, 1944, two LB-30s operated by QANTAS out of Darwin made the run to Columbo! The cargo capacity on
that run was 5500 pounds ! This was better than the Catalina - which carried only 1000 pounds
over the same route.

Our map projection seems to preclude ANY aircraft operating Darwin to Columbo - but the planes
can be put in the game.

The LB-30s here are transport versions - ex bombers. They are stated to retain one .50 in the tail.
The LB-30 transport is not exactly the same as the C-87. The latter carries up to 12,600 pounds of
cargo over a significantly less range. They also had different engines, resulting in a different
altitude capacity.

ORIGINAL: elcid

Starting in June, 1944, two LB-30s operated by QANTAS out of Darwin made the run to Columbo! The cargo capacity on
that run was 5500 pounds ! This was better than the Catalina - which carried only 1000 pounds
over the same route.

WOW[X(]
That would be one very very long stressful flight! Flying that far is one thing, but add to the fact that a good 3/4's + of the trip would be over ocean & Japanese occupied territory, nerve racking to say the least! You'd hope the ground crew did thier jobs way above excellent because you wouldn't want to have an egine cut out half way[:(]

Apparently the trip was so long they would watch the sun come up.... TWICE!!! [X(]

There are a couple excellent books around on the topic. [:)]