Flight Aboard A B-24

[RManBB2010]

My now departed father-in-law flew B-24s in WW2. He said flying them loaded with fuel and bombs was like flying a dump truck. Just flying straight and level was a challenge. Trying to stay in formation with flak, fighters, and people trying to kill you was a real adventure, especially considering that he and most of the pilots were only in their early 20s at the time.

[MrSunlander]

mega thanks for sharing this......

I miss those dirigible hangers at Tustin

[pawtclean]

*turret gunner..

[pawtclean]

He was in the air force

[pawtclean]

My Grandfather that just passed this week was a turrent gunner. Do you know which air museums have one on display. He flew in a liberator b-24 .

[MrEzlon]

nice vid =)

is that the same plane that is in the movie Pearl harbor when the Americans are attacking the japs ?

[paralleler]

@MrEzlon Nope..., those were B-17s. Search for "Flight Aboard A B-17" for my flight aboard one of those.

[captainparady]

@paralleler werent those B-25 in the movie ?

[paralleler]

@captainparady How many engines does a B-25 have?

[captainparady]

@paralleler 2?

[deltabtry]

@paralleler Two

[jef934]

@paralleler b25 has 2 engines

[paralleler]

@captainparady The B-25 was a twin engine medium bomber.  The aircraft in this video is a B-24 heavy bomber which has four engines. If you were asking if the aircraft in this video was of a B-25, the answer is no.

[captainparady]

@paralleler no in the movie pearl harbor where their is the dolittle raid...

[elms91]

@paralleler they were actually B-25's

[potctk]

@paralleler no, in the movie "Pearl Harbor" those were B-25's, and this is inside of a B-24, right? where did talk about B-17's come from?

[Austineh13]

@MrEzlon Na, that was the B 25, same tail, but the B 25 was much smaller, lighter, only had two probs, couldn't carry as much nor did it have as much fire power. :)

[hectiky]

The men who designed, built, tested and operated these planes were truly something else. They contributed to making great aircraft decades after these. The aircraft created in the fifties, sixties and early seventies were truly amazing and far too numerous to list. Plus, most of them never made it past the prototype stage!

[acepilot1997]

My great uncle Fred was a navigator on a B-24 in the Pacific.

[glasgoggomobil]

Thank you for this video. I've never seen one fly until now.

My mother, now 88, worked the midnight shift, riveting the tail sections on the Liberators in building B, in the Ford Rouge complex. The tail sections were then shipped to Willow Run where her brother worked. He later fought in Luxembourg and points east, cutting soldiers' hair when the bullets weren't flying.

[1966omc]

great video!

[faronthefiddler]

The B-17 is beautiful, but the B-24 is just plain awesome. I love the way they look. So tough and rugged. A flying tank, heavy bomber.

[AnachroCat1]

Thank you. I really appreciate your taking the time to share this with us :)

[tonytonytonyargh]

Fun and thrills! I paid about $300 in 1996-97 to go on a ride on the Collings Foundation's B024 out of King County's Boeing Field. Oh, those radial engines!

[mickeypopa]

Kick ass ride :) I wish I could fly in one of those some day....and then jump out! :D

With a parachute, of course ;P

[Buffalosharps]

Great video, thank you. I had a relative who flew B-24 named Exterminator. He and his crew were lost on their twenty-fifth mission, the low-level raid on the Ploesti Oil fields of Romania, August 1, 1943.

[Groningen1954]

This was a flight onboard a B-17

[paralleler]

@Groningen1954 To see my B-17 flight, put Flight Aboard A B-17 in the Search box, click on Search, and then double-click on the video.

Enjoy.

[PlaneAndTVtechfan]

@Groningen1954 This is clearly a B-24 Liberator. The B-17's tail is totally different!

[wallace1545]

será que um dia irei voar em um desses!!

[impCaesarAvg]

If, like me, you're not too sophisticated, try to remember that the B-17 had one vertical stabilizer and conventional landing gear, while the B-24 had two vertical stabilizers and tricycle landing gear.

[gunny556fly]

you lucky... well you know! id love to fly in a b17 but atleast a b24! i like fighter also but theres not too many two seat fighters there is crazy horse though

[slenderbill1]

My dad flew in the navy B-24 in WW2, I believe he was the radioman and the name of the plane was the Kamikazi Miss. My dad passed in 91, but I could feel him standing at my shoulder as I watched your video, Thanks.

[paralleler]

@slenderbill1 Wow..., what gentlemen these were.

You might also want to watch Flight Of A B-24, search for "B-24 PB4Y Waterloo IA" and see how my mother became a war-widow allowing her to meet my father who survived the war.

Yep..., strong memories.

[miamad]

Thank you, America!

[snakeoil62]

I actually got to ride in this fantastic aircraft back in the 1990's in Columbus Indiana.

She was the "All American Girl" then....the thought of it still makes me smile.

The Collings Foundation does this country a great service in keeping these planes flying....a fitting tribute to those who served in them.

[Dionysos37]

What great images and editing and sound! I flew in the Collings B-24 some years ago, in honor of my Dad (15th AF, 464th BG via Pantanella, Italy, 44-45). You really captured all the elements of the whole experience

[auerstadt06]

"Witchcraft" flew over my house a couple of hours ago.

[kingfisher76971]

He got shot at everytime, 20mm cannon or 1/2inch rounds off Germans as he went up. I asked him about and all he could say was "The 8th got all the glory and the 15th got all the replacements", and "It is very bad to see a good pal get shot down in flames". He was pilot and ops man. See YOutube 1943 low level Ploesti and you all get a nice one for video. Rare stuff.

[kingfisher76971]

This is beautiful to see. My great uncle was LTC Nance, groups ops commander, also pilot, for 464th heavy bombardment group, 15th USAAF out of Italy, 1944. I love the hum of the props on her, so nice to see.

[pheediddy23]

This video is awesome. My grandfather who recently passed away piloted a B24 in WW2 and it is great to see one in action and to get a sense of what my grandfather saw when he flew one.

[BusterKoala]

Many thanks. My late father was a bomb aimer in RAF Liberator IVs in Egypt 1944.

Sounds corny (not given to that sort of thing), but whilst watching that, I felt that he was seeing it at the same time...

The closeness of those ruddy great props comes across in the clip - lose one of them, you lose your life!!! One day I hope to get round the interior of a B24 - even better go up in one - to experience/understand where my Dad spent his time as a terrified twenty year old.

Thanks again.

[paralleler]

You are certainly welcome.

I had similar thoughts of my mother's first husband. He made it through the Guadalcanal Campaign but died stateside while searching for U-boats off our east coast.

It can be a hard book to read but if you're interested in more stories or thoughts of men like your father, check out "Masters Of The Air" by Donald Miller.

I agree that these men were of "The Greatest Generation." We tip our hats to them.

[TheLimbReaper]

@paralleler Another great read is "One Damned Island After Another" - The Saga of the 7th

[Dealit707]

amazing!!

[X6insane6X]

I don't think the Liberator gets nearly as much attention or praise as it should.

Most people don't realize that it still holds the record as the most-produced American military aircraft not just of WW2, but of all time.

(Over 18,400 built!)

Looking at WW2 aircraft such as (but not limited to) the B-17, B-24, C-47, B-25, etc.. is like looking at a work of art. They just don't build airplanes like that anymore. =/

[ftp2leta]

@X6insane6X

Your right, but in some ways it's not sexy :-) Look at the B-17, it as more style.

Cheers

[PlaneAndTVtechfan]

@X6insane6X Agreed. 

[AliceInWonderland85]

Thanks for posting, I was scheduled to go up in this plane today but one of the engines caught on fire before takeoff.

[videoguy837]

Its better the engine caught on fire before takeoff than after takeoff. ;-)

[freakgeeky]

A flying museum...I will one day pay to a ride in it. I just hope it continues flying. What a beauty.

[Canadimexican]

B-17's B-29's B-2's

I love em...

[Sooksawaspakdee961]

During the war they used the airfield where my grandmother lives for bombers who got damage during the raids in europe and could not make it back to england. The low flying B-17 that day sure brought back some memories to her but she laughed at it later the same day.

[Sooksawaspakdee961]

The very first time a saw aww2 bomber was in Sweden many years ago in a town called västerås. They had an airshow at the airfield their and a B-17 did a low pass over my grandmothers house, a very low pass lol. I just fell in love with those planes at the spot. My grandmother fought the war was coming back and actually hide under the kitchen table screaming air raid lol.

[paralleler]

At least we can agree on loving the aircraft, they are majestic.

Your grandmother would have been about your age when WW-II was occurring. Try reading "Masters Of The Air" to get an idea of why possibly you should be thinking "unfortunately it brought back memories of the war" instead of LOL.

[MattytheDem]

@paralleler my grandfather was a B-24 vet

[GBJPhotoWorks]

The first time I ever saw this plane I was on a golf course, home hole, and my buddy's eyes, looking past me, got really wide. "b... b... b... B-17", was what he managed, with some effort to say. As I turned, I was face-to-nose with this bird, low and in a left-hand pattern for KGAI in Maryland. "No, " I said. "That's a B-24." Just as I said that the Collings' B-17 came over the treeline. "Now THAT'S a B-17." I ended up on the tarmac, still in my golf spikes. Took a flight on the B-17.

[amilcardario1976]

great video, give you some idea of what it`s been inside ,thanks for posting it ,and thanks to all those sponsors ,hope to see those planes flying for long long time.,,,,

[82abnoff]

We Officers, we men, we always fail.

[michaelwright999]

Would you care to enlarge on that statement.

[82abnoff]

I would be happy to enlarge. An old dead friend was a 24 pilot that bombed Saigon. My dead close friend, Doug died in 2000. A Marine who got the CMH on Iwo. I was an Infrantry Officer with the 101st in Vietnam. We always fail.

[michaelwright999]

Dont be like that, 101st is as good as you get, and we cant fail in Afganistan or Iraq, This time losing is not an option.

[82abnoff]

The 101st ?? The 82nd at Bragg. We were just Infantry. My 2/505 was 2bn, 505 Parachute Infrantry Regiment.. We just kill.

We can can lose in Afgan. The are filth.

[michaelwright999]

Fort Bragg I know what you saying, Afgan we will not lose even if we have to nuke it on the way out, maybe thats what we should have done on the way in.

[82abnoff]

I just saw my post. Geez. I would not nuke Afgan,,that would kill their poppy. Perhaps a tailored genetic thing like ebola may work. But, who cares?

Just get out.

[michaelwright999]

To late to get out, we are all in it to deep or maybe we could do a deal ?

[82abnoff]

It is never too late. Perhaps I was remiss, re: ebola. I think that a potent stain of the Pig Flu would be OK.

[michaelwright999]

Pig flu yes that would suit them, Mohammed married Aisha when she was 9 tells you everything about them.

[82abnoff]

Winston summed it up. Was that 1900???

They are filth.

[buidseach]

which is better the B-24 or the B17 ?

[18greene]

b-24,my grandfather flew one in the war and they have a better top speed, range, and bomb load. but caught fire easier and was harder to fly

[Tubes12AX7k]

I used to know someone who flew both the B-24 and the B-17 in military service, and he said that the B-24 was a better plane: faster, more maneuverable, longer range. But other sources state that the B-17 might have been a more effective combat weapon. This question has been up for discussion for many, many years.

[arf15beagle]

I just did my flight on the B-17 out of Moffett on Friday. Absolutely amazing, once in a lifetime experience. Standing in the nose during a 45 degree turn was thrilling. The Collings Foundation does a great service to keep this history alive.

[livingjokessuck]

where did you fly in your B-24 / B-17?

[paralleler]

I did the B-24 out of Moffet Field near San Jose, CA, and the B-17 out of Livermore, CA. What fantastic experiences they were!

I also took a ride in a Lockheed Super Connie that has since moved to Europe and a C-47/DC-3.  God I wish I had my video camera for that Connie -- imagine a left bank turn in the late afternoon approaching the Golden Gate Bridge with it being reflected in the polished propellors. It was IMPRESSIVE!

[livingjokessuck]

WOW you got to fly in some great areas, I flew my B-17 ride in the Liberty Belle in Fresno, CA, not quite as glamorous but millerton was pretty nice, haha! Hope the B-24 comes here sometime.

[paralleler]

There should be a B-24, B-17, and P-51 in Stockton, CA in just over two weeks (May 27-29); do a Google search on Collings B-24 Tour. Temptations...

[joniki23]

i got to see these planes while they were in minnesota

[HKBM45]

These two guys, along with the P51, have been flying directly over my house this whole weekend. Amazing to see and hear.

Almost eerie watching these huge lumbering WWII beasts fly directly overhead... probably the last sight of many back in the day.

[moparman7400]

This is an awesome video! My grandfather is still alive and was a top-turret gunner on a B-24 in the South Pacific. He was an elite member of the 868th "Snooper" Squadron, which flew night bombing runs. Their planes were all painted solid black. I'm very proud of him, his plane and all veterans that made it possible for me to live free. God bless each of you, and thanks for letting me "fly" on one of the "ladies" that kept our country free.

[dd4119]

I had a chance to walk thru both this b-24 witchcraft and the b-17 nine-o-nine from the collings foundtion 2 weeks ago. Both aircraft were gorgeous.

[Dangurt]

My Dad flew the great Ploesti Mission. He was the youngest pilot to make Capt. R.I.P.

[andywarh0l]

That was one of the best vids on B24s I've ever seen! Well shot- the B17 was the glamour girl but the 24 was the true workhorse. Whoever shot the vid, mate, if you're ever in Perth Western Australia, you're welcome here!

[evildingle]

really spender so did my dad he flew a B-24 as well to japan

and my bro did somthing to the millitary which pissed them off

he stoled a b-24

[Spenderson50]

Thanks,my dad flew B-24 to Japan during WW2 it gave idea what it was like.

[dLimboStick]

Hey, you flew right over my house! :D

[Andyb2379]

wow what a ride

[theguillecompany]

I`m from Argentina and I´ve never had the oportunity of being with a plane of the WWII.I really love that kind of planes.I´m pilot and I fly a PA-18 but I prefer flying that amazing plane.

[bsneaky33]

When the "Witchcraft" came to Waukegan Regional for a show, they were kind enough to let my grandfather co-pilot the plane because that is what he did on many missions in WW2. The ol man teared up. God bless his resting soul, he was so happy flying that bird for one last time.

[Wingdoss]

Was he based in the ETO?

[bsneaky33]

Geez, I'm not sure of the details Wingdoss, I would have to ask my pop. He knows all the nitty gritty of gramp's war stories, where he was, what he did, and such.

[Wingdoss]

The reason why I asked is that I run a mobile AAF exhibition over here in the U.K which tours museums and old bases when work and funds permit. So when I see opportunities to share information with folks such as yourself I tend to leave a comment. I'd certainly appreciate any information that you'd care to share, when you had the time.

[hihahenkie]

the crews who flew in these aircrafts give us oure freedom,they were heroes and i respect them somuch.sorry about my english but you know what i mean.respect from holland.

[Detoyato]

It usually sounds like two DC-3's because of the same engine used.

[RichRite]

TErrific!!! I heard some engines that were distinctive and looked-up and saw a B24 coming in for a landing at Spirit of STL airport...man, could have been more thrilled than my first date with my 2nd wife! Hope I get a chance to fly in one of those birds before I croak! thanks for putting in on U-tube!

[philpill98]

hey im a kid and belive it or not i know all the controls of a b-24 liberator bomber

[JimHowes02]

I don't think flight simulator is really the same as reality.

[SusanMV2]

My father was stationed in the Azores during WWII, and worked as a mechanic on the B-17 and B-24. He loved these planes -- especially the B-24. A few years after he went to Heaven, I celebrated his life -- and my 50th birthday -- by going up in this plane. It was AMAZING. Thanks for enabling me to relive the experience.

[srstacy]

I love the sound of those big radials. When I was a kid in the 60's I used to hear them fly over every night.

[GrandpaBrownie]

Yes, a beautiful sound. In the 60's I think you heard the sound of the B-36 Bomber flying over head. I know I did.  Gpa B

[RockBass91]

My flight instructor flew a 24 in wwii (yeah, I've done the math too, he's old). Very very cool to see it from his point of view. Thanks.

[guspech]

what a greast video. they stop here in chicago eery year at the dupage county airport in west chicago. i think in august. they bring their b24 b25 and b17. for $10 you can walk in all 3 for hours all day. i cant wait till this year.

[morpheusduvall]

I don't think there's a sound more beautiful in the world than that.

[ctriverman]

Great video... ceck out the collings foundation website, they have a great T-shirts and other gifts, or you can take a flight on one of these great war birds, they are out of stow MA. but go to many airshows around the U.S.A. ....

[agentolshki]

interersting bomb door mechanism.

[elli782]

My family has an extensive history in the military but not in aviation, unfortunially.

[MarksCoffeehouse]

Great video, well done. My Grandad helped build these during the war. I wish that one day I'd get to ride in a WW2 era plane.

[pilotwes247]

mine did bomb sighting and photography when they were bombarding

[skpade51]

Fantastic video! I owe my life to this plane - if it hadn't carried my dad safely back from WWII Italy, I wouldn't be here! (He was lead navigator of his squadron...

[Heepster1]

My father was the lead in his squadren in Italy as well in the 454th ! His planes were Late Frate and Hare Power

[skpade51]

Do you know where in Italy? My dad was stationed in Cerrignola (Adriatic side of Italy). If you dad was stationed there, too, maybe they were leads at different times - My dad was there from 1942 to 1944.

[geraaaard1]

great and interresting vidéo, i'd like once fly aboard a WW2 bomber...Somebody knows how many B-24, B-17 and B-25 still FLYING in 2007 in the world??

Here in Switzerland we have one B-25 that stille flying.

[Strabax]

NIce Video !

[TheFreshest3]

Excellent video and a good insight. Are those engine Pratt and Whitney or Wright cyclones? They dont sound really noisy like I would have expected, but maybe its just the video sound.

[ausnorge]

They are P&W R-1830s.

GREAT Video, my best friend's dad was an RAAF gunnner in the bottom ball turret.... I have to find a way for him to see this video!

[Lockbar]

Thank you for sharing your B-24 experience. Nice presentation.

[JerrysTube]

Thanks for allowing Us aboard..! Quite a Bird to experience. My Father flew in the 744th/456 Bombadier Squadron during WWII. I wish more people would tell their storys of what happened during all of those flights during the war. Great video. Didn't they top out at about 305 miles per hour?

[Wingdoss]

I collect stories of veterans and use them in an AAF exhibition I take on the road, when work and fnds allow. Folks always appreciate us so we must be doing something right.

[AlexWantsToHaveFun]

An Outstanding Flight!

[trechan]

my favorite

[jhrollison]

Enjoyed that! I am the pilot of the B-24 during that flight and the Co-pilot is Jeff Whitesell. Fun flight, and I hoped you made it out to Moffett last week. Thanks again.

[paralleler]

Thanks for a FANTASTIC flight into the past! I'll see you at Livermore this year and pass you some DVD's. The DVD version includes a nice engine start sequence in the Dragon And His Tail colors. Many thanks to you and the Colling's Foundation for keeping this beautiful plane flying! Keep the dream alive, Paralleler

[greenhornet59]

My Dad was a radio man in a B-24 in the Pacific; Loved this Video!

[Northside777]

Thanks for the glimps of what few people under age 80 have seen - flying inside a B-24. (Plus the B-17, which my late father flew in - ball turret.)

[Wingdoss]

Was he based in the ETO?

[rnogier]

this is beautiful

[Heepster1]

My Dad was a Navigator in a B-24 J - Late Frate and Hare Power He passed away 2 weeks ago, and never let the memories fade...thanks for posting this

Dave White

[Wingdoss]

Was he based in the ETO?

[FireSarge30]

Loved the video. My dream is to fly or at least ride in a B-24. My late Father was a Royal Air Force, Ferry Command and later, Transport Command, B-24 pilot. I have many memories of flying with him after I was born and he really instilled a love of aviation in me. I guess the Lib is a link to him and this video was a peek at what Lib flight is like. Thanks again for the great video.

[paralleler]

Yeah, I hear you. A gentleman named "Jack" ended up making my mother into a war widow flying in one of these. When my father returned from WW-II in the Pacific, he found her and the rest is history. My father died a year ago today. Wow..., such memories. Keep The Dream Alive!

"Witchcraft" is the sole surviving flyable B-24 that I am aware of. It is based out of Stow, Massachusetts. Gotta' love these birds and their stories!

Thanks for the positive vibes!

[FireSarge30]

Brother, I am very sorry for your loss. My Dad has been gone for twenty years this October and would have been 94. He was one of the pilots to fly the AL-504, Commando....Churchill's aircraft...and I have many stories that he related about Churchill and other's. It is indeed about keeping the memory and dream alive. You know our Dad's are up there probably talking about flying right now.

[squiza70]

Awesome stuff!Cant wait for the Aussie restoration to fire up and go!!

[TankCarl]

What are they restoring? A B24 or a navy PB4Y?

[Bomberguy]

Loved every minute of this!