Hi again,

I’m actually in the U.S. and am an engine and systems guy for one of the airlines here. I’ve spent a good many years working on 757s and 767s. 

Cheers,

Scott

It’s from a Boeing 767 but I’ll have to do a little digging on the actual part and it’s location. It looks familiar–I worked on the 767 for many years but I’ll have to dig in the parts catalog to jog my memory.

Yes, I agree. Consolidated must have been thinking in postwar terms when it came to designing the Liberator-Liner and the U.S. Navy gave them the impetus to actually construct the airframe. It wasn’t nearly as good a concept as the York but I reckon it’s all that Consolidated could come up with! 

Is that the U.S. Navy version or the American Airlines airplane? I have never seen this photo of the Liberator-Liner before!

Ian,

The names correspond exactly with the history that the CAF has in their historical accounts of AM927.

We had always thought that Consolidated came out to Eagle Nest and inspected the airplane, then decided to temporarily repair it for a ferry flight back to San Diego for permanent repairs. However, the new info you’ve unearthed makes good sense also–that TWA was responsible for repairing the airplane since they had damaged it. Perhaps a decision was made at Kansas City that Consolidated should have this particular airframe bailed back to them and that’s when it became a company airplane.

Cheers, 

Scott

I scan this subject occasionally and tonight it paid off handsomely. Ian Woodward’s post with the news clipping titled “Bomber Damaged” is the first 1941 account I’ve read of “our” old bomber’s accident. I’m quite certain the airplane in the article is Liberator I AM927, now with the CAF. AM927 was damaged at Eagle’s Nest in a landing accident and the nose was damaged in the mishap. Consolidated took her back and the rest is history. The reason I call the airplane “ours” is that my wife and I worked on AM927 in 2007/08 during the refurbishment led by Gary Austin. 

Everyone keep up the excellent research, and hopefully someone, one day, will be able to unearth a photo of AM927 in her original state.

The Fw 190 landing gear is electrically operated by independent actuators. Only at the very end (Ta 152) was the gear modified to a hydraulic system.

I spent a fair number of hours around WL790 when it was stored/parked at Midland, Tx. and was glad to hear that the airplane was going to Pima (though I wish it had been possible for it to be kept airworthy). The Pima folks will take good care of him!

Scott