Two B-24's fly in formation at Thunder over Michigan 2008

[theirondukesboy]

they nicked our plane no fair we want our lancasters back

[orika001]

how do you own this plane guys? is it even legal??

[Ichiban7]

Difference between the B-24 and B-25 is larger bomb loads, the '24' has 2 more engines and its a larger plane. What confuses people are the twin tails but really the planes are totally different.

[The506thParatrooper]

whats the difference between B-24 and B-25?

[RexKarrs]

Only two flying B-24s?  What happened to Diamond Lil?

[SgtGrant23]

@RexKarrs OLE 927 is Diamond lil

[onefugowie]

brings back the days i was in wwII

[fatman10666]

thats what willow run looks like....looks small

[SteveSeabee]

@fatman10666 The actual Willow Run Bomber Plant is on the other side of the airfield.

[thewwiiguy]

very cool!! the only 2 flying b-24s in the world TOGETHER!!! WOW

[manfromswe]

i love the b-24 its a beautiful one =)

[jimbo2317]

that is really cool!

[SgtGrant23]

@jimbo2317

[Auggie56]

Your actually looking at the cargo version of the B24. The C 82. It's solid nose was replaced years ago with the "greenhouse." And the paint job was done a few years back. It was in desert pink for years.

[greenseaships]

Diamond Lil (Now 'Ol 927') left the factory as a B-24A. Damaged in Canada on it's way to England, it was converted into an LB-30 and used by Consolidated as a transport in the US. After the war, it was used as a transport for 2 other owners before picked up by the CAF and named Diamond Lil. Then a couple years ago, CAF converted it back into a B-24A.

[Auggie56]

Where did you find that information ? I'm pretty sure of what I posted.

[greenseaships]

@Auggie56

From a publicity brochure distributed by the CAF before she was converted back into a B-24. Oddly, this conflicts with CURRENT CAF info that the plane was damaged in NEW MEXICO, not Canada, and built as an LB-30 on purpose (THIS info you can find on the CAF B-24/B-29 homepage). Like a classical movie actress, her true origins are somewhat shrouded in mystery :P

Also, while she is currently advertised as a B-24A, detailed online photos show she has no bombay. A work in progress.

[SgtGrant23]

@greenseaships

[SgtGrant23]

@greenseaships when i flew in the CAF B-24A i sat in the Bombay for take off.

[twinbeechdotcom]

Actually the aircraft you are looking at was originally built as a B-24 complete with guns, bomb bays and a Sperry bombsight. She was converted to one of the very first transport B-24's as a test ship at Consolidated. Today she still has her upper gun ring and the tracks for the bomb bay doors. Gary Austin has done a great job of bringing her back toward what she once was.

[twinbeechdotcom]

For some awesome reading about her history, and the documentation to prove it and a running account of her transformation back toward a bomber check out the thread about it on the warbird information exchange-forum-hangar. Its right on top as a sticky under the name diamond lil.

Everyone owes a great debt of gratitude to Gary Austin and his awesome volunteer crew at the CAF HQ in Midland, Texas.

Well done guys!

[linksys01112]

"Sperry bombsight" it was the norton bombsight. sperry made the ball turret

[twinbeechdotcom]

This aircraft had a Sperry O-1 bomb sight installed in her when she was manufactured. I have seen the documentation myself. Sperry did make bomb sights for both the US and our allies. The Sperry S-1 sight (the offspringto the O-1) was, according to bombardiers and instructors at the time, just as good as the Norden M series sight. Norden won out as the standard bombsight for the duration of the war.'

[twinbeechdotcom]

Sperry made a lot more than ball turrets. They made top turrets, gun sights auto pilots, instruments and tons more. Sperry was a major contributor to the war effort.

[Jahbless222]

its weird how its so different looking down on a flying plane the looking up at it

[NOSMOJEFF]

Nice shots looks like Willow Run down there with the B52 on deck.

[slam19baller]

yeah its a b 52 but its fake

[Auggie56]

That 52, I think was a Vietnam veteran.