Liberator part

1960 was still almost still in the shadow of the war, too soon for many people to think much about preservation.

In 1960 they were still scrapping Lancs, and Mosquitos would still be destroyed into the mid 1960’s.

Dave and Caddy Dave,

Here in the US the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination passed on 22 Nov. Seems like yesterday to me (born in ’56). But your photo, Dave, predates that by three or so years — even more ancient! 1960 was [U]only[U] fifteen years after the war’s end, so in that context it’s much easier to understand why an ex-RAF Liberator forward fuselage hulk didn’t make enough of an impression upon others to have saved it. Dave, your “main problems” make perfect sense, of course.

Recently I contributed to a thread about AL557, the ex-RAF Lib sitting outdoors, disassembled but enclosed by a fence, at Ft Collins, Colorado. It’s value is better appreciated today than the forward fuselage you photographed in 1960, but it is still a sizeable financial undertaking to bring it in from the elements and store it. It makes one more grateful for those which have been saved, and stored indoors.

You make me feel old Dave! Yes, it was tragic that quite a few relics like this one weren’t saved. The main problems were lack of cash, suitable transport and somewhere to store them. The preservation movement had yet to get started …

Things are still no better, for the exact reasons the Comet 2 at an RAF base is currently being scrapped, 50 years on we seem to have learnt little!

You make me feel old Dave! Yes, it was tragic that quite a few relics like this one weren’t saved. The main problems were lack of cash, suitable transport and somewhere to store them. The preservation movement had yet to get started …

I took that Lib nose photo in Aug 1960 and later compiled the chapter in the Epics book at the request of Bruce Robertson. I had some correspondence with Jim Oughton but we could never pin down the serial. It had a unique circular aperture in the lower right of the nose glazing and you can just see the edge of it by the tree trunk. This may have been for an early experimental Leigh Light installation but again, no confirmation. The B-17 nose section at Warrington was partly buried in scrap but bomb mission symbols were painted on it so it must have been a combat veteran. It was next to the Marauder fuselage section which fortunately has survived. Not so the B-17; it went to Duxford and after a few years was scrapped. Not a thoughtful decision by IWM. Caddy Dave’s recollection of Dunkeswell may be confusion with a USN PB4Y Lib which had suffered a landing accident near the end of the war and was still there in the late 1940s.
Dave Smith

If you took that picture in 1960 that would explain why the trail has gone very cold.I wasnt born for another two years.
What a shame that would of made a nice exhibit for a museum or collection.Thanks for info Dave:

I took that Lib nose photo in Aug 1960 and later compiled the chapter in the Epics book at the request of Bruce Robertson. I had some correspondence with Jim Oughton but we could never pin down the serial. It had a unique circular aperture in the lower right of the nose glazing and you can just see the edge of it by the tree trunk. This may have been for an early experimental Leigh Light installation but again, no confirmation. The B-17 nose section at Warrington was partly buried in scrap but bomb mission symbols were painted on it so it must have been a combat veteran. It was next to the Marauder fuselage section which fortunately has survived. Not so the B-17; it went to Duxford and after a few years was scrapped. Not a thoughtful decision by IWM. Caddy Dave’s recollection of Dunkeswell may be confusion with a USN PB4Y Lib which had suffered a landing accident near the end of the war and was still there in the late 1940s.
Dave Smith

The remains of a Sea Hornet wing were scrapped at Failsworth in the early 1980s -its unfortunate that aircraft and parts do still slip through the gaps ! The Irish Catalina being a prime example.

That is the one in the Archaeology book.
I remember reading that book more than a few times too.
Be almost criminal if she was just scrapped. 🙁

Caddy Dave,

This would be the forward fuselage at Ingham in the 1960s. James D. Oughton’s book “The Liberator in Royal Air Force and Commonwealth Service” identifies it only as a Mk.I Liberator thought to be in the AM920 series.

Cheers,

Matt

The B-17 fuselage I am guessing would have been at Warrington. I think sections of it went to Duxford but didn’t survive in the long run. The book was an inspiration to me in my younger days!

Thanks for prompt reply, i am not sure what brought that image up in my memory,i was only about 14 at time, but i have just ordered that book from the internet to remind myself. I also remember a B17 fuselage being found in a scrap yard in the north , did that go the same way.

It would have been at Ingham in Lincolnshire and was believed to be AM910. The trail is long dead ! There is a picture of it in
‘Epics of Aviation Archaeology’ by Bruce Robertson 1978.