Tag: B-24 Liberator

Posted on by

The Navigator’s Letter: WWII’s Hidden Bond Ignited by One Doomed Flight

Soon to get its U.S. release is the new book The Navigator’s Letter: The True Story of Two WWII Airmen, a Doomed Mission, and the Woman Who Bound Them Together from author Jan Cress Dondi. The book deals with the costliest US air raid of WW2, which occurred over Hitler’s oil fields at Ploesti, Romania on August 1, 1943. It brings to light one of the best untold and dangerous stories of the war, chronicling a moving and heroic story of patriotic duty, familial bonds, brotherhood, and love.

A true story, The Navigator’s Letter is a tale of uncanny coincidences: two friends from the same small Illinois town; both joined the Air Corps; both became navigators; both were assigned to B-24 Liberators; both flew missions over Europe; both of their planes were forced down over Ploesti; and both went missing-in-action.

Intertwined with events of WWII, the story follows the two B-24 navigators coursing through wartime, both with ties to the same woman. Their lives unfurl with the Air Force’s darkest day, Operation Tidal Wave. It was the first-ever zero-altitude air raid, which lead to Operation Reunion, the largest evacuation by air in history repatriating 1,162 POWs from Romania back to American air bases in Italy.

The 400 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release scheduled for February 10.

Product Page

Please Note: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Posted on by

Midnight Flyboys: The Untold WWII Missions of American Flyers and Allied Spies

The new book Midnight Flyboys: The American Bomber Crews and Allied Secret Agents Who Aided the French Resistance in World War II shares the untold history of a top-secret operation in the run-up to D-Day in which American flyers and Allied spies carried out some of the most daring cloak-and-dagger operations of World War II.

In 1943, the OSS—precursor to the CIA—came up with a plan to increase its support to the French resistance forces that were fighting the Nazis. To start, the OSS recruited some of the best American bomber pilots and crews to a secret airfield twenty miles west of London and briefed them on the intended mission. Given a choice to stay or leave, every airman volunteered for what became known as Operation Carpetbagger.

Their dangerous plan called for a new kind of flying: taking their B-24 Liberator bombers in the middle of the night across the English Channel and down to extremely low altitudes in Nazi-occupied France to find drop zones in dark fields. On the ground, resistance members waited to receive steel containers filled with everything from rifles and hand grenades to medicine and bicycle tires. Some nights, the flyers also dropped Allied secret agents by parachute to assist the French partisans.

Though their story remained classified for more than fifty years, the Carpetbaggers ultimately received a Presidential Unit Citation from the US military, which declared: “it is safe to say that no group of this size has made a greater contribution to the war effort.” Along with other members of the wartime OSS, they were also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Based on exclusive research and interviews, the definitive story of these heroic flyers—and of the brave secret agents and resistance leaders they aided—can now be told. Written in Bruce Henderson’s “spellbinding” (USA TODAY) prose, Midnight Flyboys is an astonishing tale of patriotism, courage, and sacrifice. The 336 page book is available in hardcover, Kindle, audiobook and audio CD formats.

Product Page

Please Note: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Posted on by

New Book Series to Provide “Ultimate Look” at B-24 Liberator

Fonthill Media will soon release The Consolidated B-24 Liberator: Reuben Fleet, the Factories, and the Product – the first of a “massive two volume B-24 Liberator set” by Dr. William Wolf, which is described as “a meticulously researched, truly ultimate look at the B-17’s stablemate from the drawing board to its emergence as America’s preeminent blue-collar bomber.”

In addition to his personal 25,000-book library and microfilm collection, the author made extensive use of the massive document and photo collections at the NMUSAF, the Pima Aerospace Museum; and Consolidated and Ford Company design and production information. Described is the role of aviation icon, Reuben Fleet, for his and Consolidated’s contribution to the development of Liberator in context of American military and commercial aviation industry. The design evolution of the Liberator and the Davis Wing are highlighted. Since the B-24 was ultimately manufactured by five different factories, primarily Consolidated and Ford, using different manufacturing technics, these are described, contrasted, and pictured in detail. The Ford Knock Down Kits, their manufacture and transport are detailed for the first time. The final section of the book describes the various B-24 models and variants along with detailing today’s surviving B-24s. This book and Volume 2 intends to be the definitive look at the Liberator detailing every facet for the air enthusiast, historian, and modeler.

The 624 page first volume is currently available for pre-order with release set for December 23.

Product Page

Please Note: This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Posted on by

Flight Replicas to Release B-24 Liberator for FSX, P3D

Flight simulation developer Flight Replicas has shared an update on their upcoming B-24J Liberator, which will reportedly be “for all versions of FSX and P3D.”

The update states that the aircraft is coming along well with the external model nearing completion and the creation of the virtual cockpit to follow. In addition to the J version, D and H models will reportedly also be available, as will the C-87 cargo/passenger prototype.

The machine seen in the newly released images represents 44-40120, which operated with 492 BG/859 BS (where it completed its first 25 missions) and later 467 BG/ 788 BS (to complete 83 missions).

A final release date has not yet been announced. Click below to check out additional screenshots.

Continue reading Flight Replicas to Release B-24 Liberator for FSX, P3D

Posted on by

Kermit Weeks Releases Part 2 of B-24 Liberator Video Tour

Kermit Weeks has released part 2 of his video tour through his B-24J Liberator based at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.

This particular aircraft was one of four surplus Indian Air Force B-24 bombers acquired by collectors in the early 1970s before being purchased by Weeks and flown to Fantasy of Flight in the early 1990s. It will reportedly undergo a complete restoration before flying again.

The video consists of a walk-around and walk-through and includes an abundance of interesting details. Part 1 can be seen here. Click below to check out part 2.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Releases Part 2 of B-24 Liberator Video Tour

Posted on by

Kermit Weeks Films Tour of His B-24 Liberator [Video]

For his latest edition of “Kermie Cam” Fantasy of Flight owner Kermit Weeks conducted a video tour of his B-24J Liberator.

This particular aircraft was one of four surplus Indian Air Force B-24 bombers acquired by collectors in the early 1970s before being purchased by Weeks and flown to Fantasy of Flight in the early 1990s. It will reportedly undergo a complete restoration before flying again.

The video consists of a walk-around and walk-through and includes an abundance of interesting details. The tour will be covered in two parts, the first of which can be seen below.

Continue reading Kermit Weeks Films Tour of His B-24 Liberator [Video]