What its like to fly a B-24 Liberator
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- Heres an inside look at what its like to fly a B-24 Liberator from the pilots point of view
I do not own the rights to the music
Music Rob Bailey and the Hustle Standard
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Hey guys, I reuploaded the entire video without music! Heres the link th-cam.com/video/5tRN7FP3xu4/w-d-xo.html
Hello Casey, On behalf of many B-24 fans, THANK YOU!
Liked the music. Who is it?
Thanks. I stopped this video as soon as I heard the piano.
.... and who's idea for the music is anybody's guess.. second Question : Why ?
Casey Walker Fr
My dad was a radio operator and waist gunner in 25 bombing missions on a B-24. He was shot down, taken POW, was in the Black Hunger March, and weighed 80 pounds when he was liberated. I have a world of respect for everyone who flew in them. If you want music, just about all of those guys were into Big Band. Songs by Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and Duke Ellington would have been in their heads as they hoped to return home.
My grandfather, Vernie Johnson, was a gunner on a B-24 crew. He was killed in action when his plane went down during disastrous raid on the Ploesti oil fields in Romania.
I want to say , Thank you ! Thank you for producing this video. I'm 48 year old who's father flew the 24 in WW2 . You have given me a chance to see what my father saw in that very cockpit and given me a little of my father to me as I watch this . Simply amazing and I can no thank you enough for shooting this first hand video !
The 24 was my Dad's "work truck" serving as bombader in WWII over Germany.
Later, as crew radio operator, he clocked over 50 trips across the Pacific, flying the sick and injured home, after the MASH units patched them up, in the Korean War.
Thanks for this video. Now I have something to show my son and his daughter. 😁
agreed, my dad was in the ball gun turret - wow ..what these men gave for all of us ..amazing
Great to see from this pov. My dad was a co-pilot and sat in the right seat. He flew 31 missions from 6-6-44 to 8-15-44.
My father was a pilot in the 492nd Bomb Group. He arrived in England on 6-5-44. Any chance they served in the same bomb group?
My uncle George went down in his Liberator Nov. 5, 1943 over Munster. They crashed off of Holland. The plane was founf a few years ago in 10 meters of water. He is buried in the Ardennes Military Cemetery outside of Liege.
As the grandson of a Liberator pilot, thank you. It’s refreshing to see a no frills, no BS view of the two pilots in action. Not pilot & copilot. It took a team to run these old multi-engine craft, and nothing better illustrates that than a real-time view of them in action. Personally I like the music; it fits 😁
My father was. B24 pilot squadron leader for 25 missions over Germany and France. 8 to 10 hour in the sub zero altitude being shot at by fighters and flak. They saw God on every mission. They were all heroes.
My father flew this remaining Liberator from Chicago to Indiana before he passed. His name is also painted on the plane Lt. Edward T Holum
My grandfather, Vernie Johnson, was a gunner on a B-24 crew. He was killed in action when his plane went down during disastrous raid on the Ploesti oil fields in Romania.
They once Ruled the Sky !.
God bless them all that flew in them and those who never returned.
Semper Fi
My mother worked at the Consolidated plant in Ft. Worth, Texas building B-24s during the war. She would have enjoyed this video.
My mother’s first husband Lt. J. B. Kirkpatrick flew 24s out of North Africa. He was shot down over Italy and is buried in Italy. Thanks for the video.
The sound of those engines.....great!
I just really wanted to hear the music of the engines...
She was a beauty to fly in, flew in her at Santa Ana this year along with the P51 Mustang, B17 and B25. The Collings Foundation do an amazing job to keep these war birds where they belong. Priviledged to have experienced them all .
Thanks for this video. I just finished watching the wartime film about the construction of the B-24 at the Willow Run Bomber Plant -- superb WW2 film -- and it sure was appropriate to follow with your fine film. My favourite bomber of that era was the Lancaster. As a Scot, a child of the forties, I was exposed to low pass bombing training over the nearby fields near our farm near Glasgow.
Lancasters rock!!!!
Dad flew these out of Rackheath; 789th the “Rackheath Aggies”. RIP dad, you’ll always be my hero.
Thank you for documenting this. My grandfather was a bombardier on a 24 in the pacific and flew 59 missions. Likely thanks to his training, his crew, some good luck and the B-24 itself I’m here and have many many cousins. God bless those young men who flew in WW2. The planes are beautiful but they were built for one purpose - war.
Really great. My Father in law was a navigator and bombardier on one of those. Shot down and lived to tell some story.
Thats awesome!
An amazing aircraft , i have a great respect and admiration for the crews who flew and the ground staff who maintained these aircraft. My great uncle was an observer who served in one of these with 224 sqadron RAF Coastal command in WW2. He and five other members of his crew lost his life in a flying accident, over Plymouth 30.10.1942 he was only 24 and the pilot was only 21. FK242 we will remember you.
My Dad flew one of these in WWII. Crashed in his last mission. Lived into his 70s.
My father was a Navigator in 223 Squadron RAF, flying in B 24 liberator the squadron was one of two. The other were B17’s 214 squadron He was part of what was known as 100 Group, based at RAF Oulton. The planes were fitted out with radio counter measures Electronic Warfare they would fly as a decoy known intruder missions towards the end of 1944. The front gun position was converted into a Navigator position. Their would be no co pilot, they flew at night in the British winter, taking off in the dark and landing in fog as likely as not. I found all this out recently, as I discovered a book about 223 squadron, entitled “ Special Ops Liberators” now consider the age of the crew, in 1944 my father was 22 years old!
How awesome it must be to be able to fly such a beautiful piece of history!!
My friend was a waist Gunner, only got one bf109, but he tells a good story. And it's true.
Great video! My father was a nose gunner in a B-24. He was credited with 50 missions and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster while with the 15th AF, 376th Heavy Bombardment Group, 515th Squadron (Satin's kids). They started in North Africa and then quickly went to bases in Italy. They bombed some pretty important places.... Sub pens in France, Ploesti oil fields, refineries in Austria and marshaling yards in Budapest. He never spoke of it until he was about 50 yrs old. PTSD I will assume. Then the most amazing stories of heroism followed. They we shot up over Vienna and ditch in the Adriatic. Got picked up by Italian fishermen and were in a new B-24 in about 10 days. He always said "they were just doing their duty". America's greatest generation for sure..... Thanks to every one of them!
Neal Chipoletti Where in Italy was the 376th based. My father flew with the 450th based at Manduria, Italy. I'm sure they flew many missions together.
Guys, my father was 451st BG - eventually based out of Castelluccio , Italy
This was absolutely epic! Beautiful landing, and such a beautiful sound that beast makes. Now going to watch the version with no music. :)
Thank you very much! Easy to find B-17 stuff, hard to find this amazing famous machine. My she fly forever! Thanks again.
My dad was a co-pilot on a B-24 during WWII. Planes name was Jere Linda. They were anti-submarine warfare during late 1942-1943: He died on September 4th 1943 in Morocco.
God bless your father..He fought for freedom.
Thanks for the Show, fun to watch. My father flew the 24 in the war, ted's traveling circus.
My Dad was a navigator with 392nd group in a B24 out of Wendling, England and made 35 missions from 1944 to the war's end. Great video.
To fly a piece of history like that is unimaginable, what a privilege that would be. That was cool to see the pilots working the controls.
So cool, my dad flew 17's during W W 2. Got tom go up in one at air show at Stewart, in New York,1979,before he passed.
My next door neighbor flew this "flying coffin" over Germany ! He passed away 10 years ago, but I know he would love this video ! RIP Bill !
These old girls need to be preserved and kept airworthy as a tribute to the whole generation who saved their freedom to pass on to us lesser mortals, the men who designed them, the just too old for war men who built them, the young housewives and girls who learned to make them, the ferry pilots who delivered them and above all the mere kids who took them to war for all our freedom.......LEST WE FORGET THEIR SACRIFICE!
My heart was racing on both takeoff and landing! VERY COOL
A neighbor of ours was a B-24 pilot during the war, he told us a story that was hilarious!
One day they got word that the neighboring base just recived a shipment of beer!
They decided to fly the B-24 there to pick up a load of beer for their squadron. They didn't get permission, they just took it upon themselves to go anyway.
They loaded up the cargo bay and proceeded to get back to their base. They decided to make a low level pass around the squadrons quarter's to let them know their beer mission was successful. But as they made a tight low level turn over the barracks, the cargo door opened and all the beer fell out, bombing the barracks with extreme accuracy!
Lucky, no one was hurt, but the base commander was not too pleased! He failed to see the humour in it!
I love the men and women who served or are still serving in our military !
May God bless you all and all that are dear to you! And may God bless America!
Dad, R/O with the 467th, flew 26 missions including Dec 24/25, 1944 to disrupt the Nazi Ardennes Offensive. I'm writing an imagined bio of the Dec 23 mission. He was a great guy and lived to 86, going back to the sky in 2009.
Thanks for the unique POV. Sure looked like you had your hands full...
MY DAD FLEW B 24 IN WW 2. IT WAS OUT OF ITALY. HE WAS LUCKY NOT TO LOSE ANY CREW. HE WAS A GOOD PILOT
Hi, from his bombader's daughter.
Much later we served in Germany, as part of the occupation forces, wondering if we were to blame for the extensive neighborhood remodeling. :(
My uncle Julius flew this type of plane in WWII. Must have been a 'liberating' experience! 35 missions.
Thanks for this video. Awesome.
Why the music and why so loud.?
My dad flew the B24 Liberator during 1944-45 in the Far East WW2. He was an RAF pilot. He loved the plane and has shared many memories of flying it with his crew. He still has his flying log of that time! He is 93. I cannot remember the squadron number but his badge had an elephant on it. Interesting film.
Music NOT required. Just the engine sound that is music to my ears is all that is needed.
Wasn't aware the B-24 came with on-board musical entertainment.
I had the opportunity to fly on the Collings Foundation B-24 back in 2016, instead of my annual flight on their B-17. I would tell anyone that the flight experiences are completely different and it all depends on which one you love the most. You can explore some areas of the planes during the walk-through tours, but when you fly on them you have access to areas that the general public doesn't. You can climb into the front and rear gun turrets on the B-24 and access the bombardier position through a narrow crawlspace alongside the front-nose landing gear. One thing about the B-24 is that the area behind the bomb bay is so large and open, unlike any other WWII warbird and it has small staircases of all things!
What a nice job! When I get a little more settled in my airline career, I’m going to try and affiliate with a CAF squadron. I used to fly with the CAF as a small child. What fun! Keep um flying!!
Pilot did do the checklist very well. Copilot read off the checklist and the pilot just said off or on never touched each switch.......
Thank you so much for this video. To see what my grandfather saw and did in Europe 30 something missions. I love you grandpa.
My Dad was a B-24 instructor, then flew 30 or so missions from England to Germany, his plane "Spare Parts" was the lead aircraft in the first 1,000 plane raid on Germany. He would always tell me about practicing "fighter in the landing pattern" basically a short final where you stand that B-24 on its' wing and get it on the ground.
Sweet old gal, flown in her many times.....Thank you Collings foundation.
A big and powerful airplane, one of the most famous flying fortress.
The sound of those big jugs on the radial engines cranking & revving up, there is nothing like them.
No music please. Keep all cockpit chatter and flight noise intact.
My mother was a "Rosie the Riveter" who worked at a subcontractor factory in Detroit that made components for B-24s assembled at the Ford Bomber Plant in Willow Run, MI. She started fabricating speed rings for mounting the engines and then was promoted to building wing sections. Edsel Ford developed improvements in the assembly and logistics processes that enabled the plant to produce "a bomber an hour" around the clock. Made the B-24 the most produced American aircraft.
Also once had a co-worker who was a ball turret gunner in a B-24. A very dangerous position on any airplane but especially hazardous on a Liberator. The turret retracted into the fuselage and the gunner could only enter or leave the turret when it was retracted. If battle damage or another malfunction prevented the turret from retracting, the gunner was stuck inside. This was a real problem when landing as the turret had the possibility of hitting the runway on contact causing serious injury or death to the gunner.
Some years ago I worked with a WW2 B24 pilot. I was allowed by him to read his flight log book. It told the story of his missions by how his writing went from being able to read it then with me having to ask him what he had written. He bombed Polesti oil fields...twice. I only hope his son has the log book or has donated it ....
Great video: "what's it like to fly the B-24?" watching the movement of the engine controls and hearing the appropriate response from the engines, except for stuff like smell and vibration, we, the interested viewers, have only sound and vision. Why, oh, why are half of our senses numbed by backing music? Help us discover what it is like without the band in the fuselage. If there is a lead guitarist and a big amp behind the pilot for real, especially in 1943, then I apologise!!
Barry Porteous a
My great grandfather was Reuben H Fleet. Founder of Consolidated. This is a sweet video. Thanks for making it.
My father was a radio operator for 16 flights on a B24 called the Sassy Lassy; he would've sat behind the co-pilot on left barstool type seat on the higher ledge as the cameraman was getting on the plane at the beginning. Across and down from him would be the navigator. This is the third video I've seen of a WW2 bomber here (a B29 and B17 were the others) and I'd to say this plane is the most cramped and uncomfortable looking of all of them, especially the pilot and co-pilots seats. No wonder my dad called this plane the "flying brick." God bless these guys for being able to fly 12 to 14 hour missions in these conditions.
great video! it's impressive to learn that this impressive machine was practically disposable, made not to last long.
I have Flown Collings B24 Many times over the years , Worked on her and Helped as a volunteer also
Shes a Sweetie ! Flies like a Dream , as long as you dont Push her too Hard : ))
I'd really like to hear ATC associated with any flight of this kind - ATC and engines = sweet music. Thanks for the video.
No Bitching from my house.As a former flight engineer on C-97G aircraft and others,I really enjoyed the rolling take-off.I've heard managing the fuel panel on this bird was complex.Thanks for the look-see.
Nice video ruined by ...... Guess what ..... Aviation fans love the music of engines
yes yes yes
Only if you want to keep hearing a loud obnoxious sound that just keeps going on and on.
And the dumb two in ...comment
What’s Obnoxious is the music
@@budmeister that’s just the music of machinery. A symphony to some.
Nice flying, lovely old bird.
I worked on this plane last august-october as a mechanic for Collings, it was a great time that was my favorite plane lol
Gary still working on those planes lol great guy
Awesome! Those boys that worked at Consolidated sure knew how to build a beautiful airplane.
I never got to meet my Uncle Lester Lock. He was the pilot of a B-24 that went down in world War two. All these years later it is interesting to see his view in and from the cockpit.
Nice video but could do without the music!
Yep. I'm taken out of the moment with that music. Feels a little douchey. It's short but first impressions.
SimmeringPotpourri the men who flew this machine would never think about playing songs like that
I’ll be honest I flew in this beast and there is nothing much your missing out.
@@jeffmaggard3694 It didn't exist then.
LOVE this one! Even with music. Yes of course I would also prefer "raw" sounds, because that is "original music", u c. Thanks!!
Just finished reading Steven Ambrose's "Into the Blue"..... anyone interested in B-24s should pick it up. Great read. The guys that flew and manned these planes in WWII were a tough and special breed. God Bless'em All.
BTW, this airframe was used as a cargo transport during the war and many of them were de-militarized and sold as civilian transports after the war. Its payload capacity and range made it profitable at that time. Wonder how many B-24's participated in the Berlin Airlift, carrying food and medical supplies into a city they had bombed just years before?
After serving as bombader out of Naples on missions in to southern Germany, my Dad and family were stationed in perhaps places he helped flattened.
In the irony of real life, I gave him a grand son, whose grand uncle served in the German Air Force.
I had my picture taken at the machine gunners positions a few years ago. The Liberator was on display at Paducah Kentucky. I never had the chance to fly in one but I will bet it's awesome.
Great video! I flew on this B-24 twice, can't tell you how amazing it was! My father was a Radio Operator on the B-24s. Stationed in Hethel, England he flew 15 missions and was involved in a mi-air collision with another B-24 over their airbase in England. 17 killed, my dad and his Bombardier made it out as well as the pilot from the other aircraft. My dad was shot down his very next mission on Christmas Day in '44 during the Battle of the Bulge. He made it back after hiding out a few days in the Ardennes. Unbelievably, in 2017 his airplane was discovered in LaFosse, Belgium! I went there with family members to take part in a dig to uncover more parts. Check out documentary on TH-cam named the GhostPlane of LaFosse.
don't need the MUSIC!!!
Great video. My dad was a waist gunner in B24s. In fact, his bombadier wrote a book about his plane and missions: TARGET PLOESTI: VIEW FROM A BOMBSIGHT.
Thanks.. Just ordered a copy on Amazon.
REALLY don't need the MUSIC!!! why, why, why, always with the music??
Impressive,3 men work together with all their hands to keep it flying.
Cool video! Always wondered what it would be like flying a Liberator. . . minus the whole getting shot at thing. 😊
What a soft landing for such a beast!
You've got to be a friggin' octopus to fly the damn thing...lol
My dad was instructing in this aircraft on June 6 1944 in Kansas. He was hated not being part of the invasion that day.
A friend of mine was delivering a brand new B-24 to the Pacific during WW2, It landed gear up. It was the best thing that could have happened. The airbase has lots of B-24's needing spare parts.
She delivered her last load of destruction long ago, now she flys as a reminder of the men and women who gave their all for God and Country.
Which B-24 is this? Diamond Lil?
This is Witchcraft, Collings Foundation's beautiful B-24. Took my son for a ride in it last year. Loud, uncomfortable ,scary, exciting, once in a lifetime experience we will never forget.
Not a computer in sight - the pilots are flying the airplane !! My dad was a B-24 combat pilot and had one shot out from under him by German AAA, and then they invited him to be their guest at Stalag Luft I., My dad loved the Liberator for the rest of his life.
The air war in Europe was largely one of attrition. It became clear that air defenses were a lot more effective than pre-war planning had predicted. The 'solution' was to throw more weight at the enemy than he could handle, and absorb losses of men and machines. What bomber crews toward the end of the war didn't know was that they were being sacrificed as bait to lure the Luftwaffe fighters up so that the Mustangs could clear the sky of them in preparation for the final ground assault on Germany. The targets they were sent to bomb were 'strategic' only in the sense that there were German fighter groups stationed in the flight path.
Those engines! Boy they sound great!
WOW, JUST PLAIN WOW!! Thanks for posting.. music or not, it's great!!
When preparing to land at a civilian airport the pilot generally identifies his aircraft by manufacturer and an FAA number. Imagine the surprise when the guy at the tower hears "Consolidated such-and-such requesting permission to land..." having no freakin' idea what's coming in, then seeing a B-24 touch down!
WHy, how many other Consolodated types do you expect to see flying around these days? Hearing "Consolidated" anything would be enough to cause interest.
My dad flew the 24 based in Italy.
You startup seem different then he told me but good video.👍
Where in Italy? My uncle was a B-24 pilot stationed at San Pancrazio Italy with 376th BG, 514th BS.. from June ‘44 till he was KIA Oct 14, 1944 on bomb run over Yugoslavia.
abmc.gov/decedent-search/hann%3Droland
i was looking over some of my dads pics he took when in flight training aboard a PB4Y2 Privatier during WW2 in florida he was a bomber air crewman (bombadier) in the navy the war ended, before he got out he was in california in a pilotless aircraft base in 1946
Wow. Am reading The Wild Blue (by Stephen Ambrose) re McGovern’s B-24 experiences. This gave a great insight into the CRM to get airborne and back down. Thanks!
Wow how exciting is this, restored and back in the air a war war 2 plane back form retirement .
My grandfather logged hours in this aircraft before being stationed in England as a B-17G pilot.
I wish it had more switches and buttons to press than it already has. Magnificent airplane.
Bringing it in at number 17 on my bucket list was my ride in a ww2 bomber flying fortress B-24. Liberator 4/18/1997 Shaw air force base Sumter S.C.
Awesome video! Thanks for sharing.
Loose the music, not needed
Thanks for posting, I also prefer without music, although the music is not bad, but still highly appreciated! Must not be easy flying with such bad visibility in the front direction.
I had the pleasure of working on Collins foundation b24 when it was still in stow in pieces.
Love all the videos about warbirds, and I've flown in this 24, but almost got sea sick from the rapid movements of his head-mounted GoPro video. Certainly also agree with the comments about the music.
And to think, back during the war, they were just kids flying those beautiful aircraft.
As I watch this, I'm trying to imagine what my father and his fellow crewmates must have been thinking as they climbed to assembly, then headed out to bomb Berlin. He survived 30 missions and won the DFC and six air medals. Imagine...25,000 ft at about 200kts, 40degs below and there are German aces coming at you at over 350kts shooting their cannons as they try to kill you and bring down your plane.
How many thousands of times in WWII did this scenario play out? Oh my!!