B-24 Liberator...any experts?

[airdave]

One of my B24 reference images has, what appears to be, a round window or opening in the fuselage...on the side, near the rear, where the large rectangular open window normally appears on many B24s.
This is a very early B24 and has been modified from combat use.

Is this a window? (ie glass, bubble, etc?)
is it just an opening?

or is it something else, round, that is not a window?

(no, I don't want to post the image yet...trust me, it wouldn't help anyway)

[willygoat]

Could be an escape hatch. The b-25 has one too.

[Paperbeam]

Have you seen this walkaround of a B-24 on youtube yet? Might help...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d1goXDjTM4

Terry

[airdave]

thanks paperbeam
unfortunately thats a J model, a much later version.


the "window" that I am questioning, is in fact not a window!

I did some searching for early B-24 / LB30
and found they have different openings and windows on the fuselages,
depending on the use of the aircraft.
Anyway, I just happened to come across a photo of a B-24 with a large circular logo on the fuselage.
The dark and light pattern matches exactly to what I thought was a window...
and is in fact a painted logo (or large decal?).

Does anyone recognize this logo?
is it a Northrop logo?

[willygoat]

That's not a Northrop Logo. That looks like the pic below. Besides, the B-24 was a Consolidated aircraft. I wonder if the plane in the pictures was bought by a private company and that was its logo?

[airdave]

yeah, I just thought there was a similarity with the swoopy thing in the Northrop logo.



the logo shown, is the same logo that appears on my "reference" plane
but it is not the same plane.
They are both B-24s but different in every other aspect.

This plane is obviously a non-combat modified plane
as were so many B-24s, even during WW2.

...so, if its a corporate logo, then both planes have the same connection?


My "reference" plane IS a combat plane, that has been modified for corporate use, but still retains much of its combat appearance,
and was involved in combat related activities.

[Texman]

Judging by the solid nose, I believe that is a cargo version of the B-24. Perhaps a lead there? What is the tail number of that aircraft? Might be able to track it down that way.

[airdave]

More searching, and eventually you find things!
Ray...thats exactly how I tracked down some info on "Consairways" (from the tail serial number).
When I went hunting for some info on Consairways, I found this:


[Quote] In June 1942, the Air Corps Ferrying Command was reconstituted and redesignated as the Air Transport Command. [Quote]




From what I have read, many B-24s were part of the "Consairways" serving the South Pacific ferrying men and equipment (during WW2).
"Consairways" is Consilidated Airways, the manufacturer of B-24s, doing their part for the war effort.
I guess the Army Air Corps created their own name for the same service.

Many of the first B-24s went to the RAF and the particular plane I am "repainting" is US Army (Air Corps) plane
which was commandeered from the RAF and used in this regard. Thats obviously why it carries this logo.


Thanks for everyone's interest...sharing this stuff is a lot of fun!

[Texman]

Well done Dave. This is fun, I love research. It leads to learning.

[hawkman67]

Hi AirDave; Does the logo look anything like this? hope the pic helps. I have another pic that shows it on an early Libby in the Squadron book.
Jeff