Liberator ID

Thanks everyone, I thought she looked special.:)

Doing some snooping, I found that the Liberator photo was taken at Boston’s airport, then called Jeffery Field, now Logan International Airport. An image from 1961 showing the same MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD text and the same buildings is found here:

https://www.massairspace.org/virtualexhibit/vex3/images/7a4d8279-765b-4a1b-adf1-923693502900.jpg

A crop of this is attached. The MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD text is just visible.

A Getty Images photo from 1932, also of the same buildings, is found here:

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/the-new-massachusetts-national-guard-hangar-and-building-news-photo/840215120#/the-new-massachusetts-national-guard-hangar-and-building-are-pictured-picture-id840215120

As the aircraft has a non-standard radome and AL596 was the only aircraft from this batch retained in the US for radar trials, I think the identification is fairly safe and a very interesting photo for that reason. I suspect that the aircraft was returned to standard before delivery, so the photo was taken during the trials period. A more maritime base than Wright Field Ohio does seem appropriate for trials of an ASV radar.

Possibly Otis Air National Guard base which is adjacent to the Massachusetts National Guard Camp Edwards training base on Cape Cod.

I can’t verify the serial in a blow up of the image — it certainly might be AL596, but the best I can guess is AL59(?). MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD can be seen on the building in the left background; see the enhanced cropped image. Doing a quick search of images via google, I tentatively conclude that the image was not taken at Westover Field in Massachusetts. I don’t know where the photo was shot.

C/n 94, retained in US after Pearl Harbour, used for radar trials at Wright Field with RAF crew. Crashed on first leg of delivery flight to UK at Westover Field, MA 31.1.43. Converted to ground trainer. Source Oughton’s The Liberator in RAF and Commonwealth Service from Air Britain.