B-24 J
Liberators in formation
The cockpit of a B-24J
A B-24D over the oil refinery in Ploesti, Romania on August 1, 1943. Of the 177 planes taking part in the low level raid, 55 failed to return, and over 500 crewmen were killed.
This Liberator lost its outer wing panel when it was hit by the body of an airman falling from another Liberator during the Ploesti mission.
B24J-from 464th
A plane from the 465th BG was hit in the fuel tanks during a bomb run over Blechhammer, Germany. Six crew members escaped, but the pilot was killed on the ground later that day.
One of the most famous photos of the war, this Liberator from the 779th
BS of the 464th BG took a direct flak hit to a wing while taking part
in the crew's 15th mission in support of the 8th army. Tom saw this
happen from his nose turret. Only one crew member survived.
A B-24J from the 451st BG trails smoke as it flies through heavy flak over Vienna
Liberators over the Ploesti oil refinery on May 31, 1944.
Not from the15th AAF, but a good shot of 500 pound Bombs being moved in the Pacific.
A radar, or "Micky" ship. The ball turret has been replaced with a radar dome. Traetta's crew often flew the lead plane. The radar allowed the lead ship to find the target even in heavy overcast.
A liberator cut in half by a direct flak hit.
A town in Germany, pummeled by B-24 bombers.
At the end of the line, being swung out of harm's way, is #36, the plane the
crew had flown the most often.
At war's end, with fewer valuable targets, B-24's from the 765th were pressed into service ferrying fuel. Here, on a runway in France, a Liberator has caught fire.
