![]() ![]() At this time, the aircraft was given registration number NL24927. She was also used extensively for flight test purposes developing such things as improved flight control characteristics for the later model Liberator bombers.Īfter the war’s end in November of 1945, Britain ceded actual ownership of AM927 to Consolidated Vultee. Throughout the war, the aircraft was used to haul personnel and equipment between the five B-24 production plants and numerous vendors. This is similar to the configuration of the later C-87 Liberator Express. There was also significant damage to the bomb bay.Ĭonsolidated initiated a recovery effort over the next 6 months and in December of 1941, the aircraft was flown back to the Consolidated Aircraft Company in San Diego.ĭue to the aircraft being damaged too extensively to be returned to service as a bomber, but still flyable, a loan arrangement was made between the British Ministry and Consolidated Aircraft Company for the company to keep possession of AM927 for logistic support and further B-24 development.ĪM927 was reconfigured with a solid keel, replacing the bomb bay doors and returned to service in July 1942. The right main brake locked up during landing and aircraft departed the runway. The following month, Frank Burcham and Ned MacKrille, TWA instructor pilots, were practicing landings. TWA had been contracted to conduct flight crew training out of Albuquerque, NM.ĪM927 was then flown to what was called the TWA “Eagle’s Nest Flight Center” in Albuquerque, NM to be used to train RAF pilots. Two days later, a Consolidated Aircraft Company (CAC) aircrew flew AM927 to Kansas City and handed it over to Trans World Airlines (TWA). This aircraft’s construction was completed with the designation of AM927 and accepted by the British Air Ministry in May 1941. Although “Contract Number 40-2366” was intended, that number was never officially assigned to this aircraft, because it was never delivered to the Army. In the past, unofficial documents have erroneously referred to this aircraft as having “Serial Number 40-2366”. The History of B-24A/RLB-30, Serial Number 18 Now known as N24927, "Diamond Lil"Ĭontracted to be built for France in 1940 and later contracted to be diverted to Great Britain, this Liberator was the 25th built out of a total of 18,482 B-24s.There were 7 aircraft built which were considered to be preproduction, accounting for this being the 25th aircraft, but with Serial NR of 18. ![]()
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