Consolidate B-24 Liberator

[No.1]

No doubt that this is one of the most famous heavy bomber in WW2. Excellent design, Liberator proven as effective combat platform for many different task such as high altitude bomber, low level bomber, naval patrol bomber, cargo and so on...

First set of archive images 

[Letipapa]

Fantastic old bird!

[No.1]

I agree with you, so nice plane Here you are more images 

[Letipapa]

Mmmmm! Wonderfull

[No.1]

Final pack 

[Nico Braas]

It is interesting to note that, just like the B-17, a B-24 was converted into a heavy armed escort 'fighter'. Plane with serial no.41-11822 did not achieve operational service for same reason as with B-17: when escorting empty bombers back to base it was too slow!

[No.1]

That was interesting idea but drag did not allow this to get in life.

[Second Air Force]

Ellen and I spent a LOT of hours working on the CAF B-24A/LB-30. We affectionately called her "The Pig" during the reconfiguration project that changed her from Diamond Lil to Ol' 927. Here are a couple of photos we shot during her first hop in July of 2007.

Consolidate B-24 Liberator

Consolidate B-24 Liberator

Scott

[No.1]

This bird look so fine!!! What is the logo on nose? Restored from WW2?

[Second Air Force]

The story of that old Liberator could fill a book, No.1. She started off life on a USAAC contract as a B-24A. The RAF purchased her before completion in one of their early Liberator acquisitions and she became AM927. After being damaged in a landing accident in the U.S. the British released the airplane to Consolidated and it became the first "prototype" of the C-87 aircraft, as well as a test-bed and company transport. After the war she ended up with Consolidated Can, and you've included a photo of her during that time:

Consolidate B-24 Liberator

Later she was flown by the Mexican company Pemex and then sold to the Confederate Air Force. She became the desert sand colored Diamond Lil for many years until the late Gary Austin did a reconversion project in 2007 that brought her partway back to the bomber configuration. The Ol'927 nose art was designed and executed by a great artist named Chad Hill. The art doesn't try to replicate an original scheme, rather it is something that is friendly to all ages and done in a style similar to WWII era artwork. The airplane became known as Ol'927 during the war hopscotching around the United States on Consolidated company business.

Consolidate B-24 Liberator

Sorry I don't have a better photo of the artwork.
Scott

[No.1]

Thank you for this detailed explanation

[Second Air Force]

I've got a funny (to me, anyway) story that goes along with the nose art. When Chad, his father, and two friends of Chads were painting the nose art I was in the fuselage installing the bomb racks we'd acquired. We had worked out a deal where I would be able to do structure work without moving around too much while they painted. If I had to move more than a little I was supposed to let the paint crew know about it, but I forgot a couple of times....... There are a few little flaws in the nose art that were caused by my clumsiness! Chad and his crew said it added character to the artwork as they were doing it just like the painters would have back in WWII at a combat station. Incidentally, the nose art is all hand-painted with brushes exactly like it was done back in the day. No airbrushes for those guys!

Scott

[No.1]

Nice story Actually many hard core artist still work with classic brushes. Even I have set up my brushes in Photoshop to work as artist brushes.

Cheers

[Letipapa]

Wow!

[Wingman81]

http://www.ark-angel.de/deu.htm