The original pic is just not clear enough to give what Mk of Spitfire.
As far as the B-24 is concerned, I was under the impression that prior to their construction, this serial batch was allocated to B-24As. When it was decided to substitute 20 B-24As for 20 LB-30s on the British contract, the aircraft were given British serial numbers and the AAF serials were reallocated to B-24Ds.
As far as I can tell right now – the B-24 ‘351 in the picture does not have the belly turret of the D model, and also has the mid-fuselage mounted pitot head of the A-model and also appears to have the ’round’ engines of the B-24A not the ‘oval’ engines of the D-model with the turbo-superchargers.
I’m trying – but failing right now – to discover a build date for the second D-model ‘351. If that date falls outside – ie later – than the change from the ‘meatball’ star, we know that this was the first A-model machine. According to Hamlin, who did a lot of work on the Air Britain Liberator book – the RAF ‘351 was delivered via Wright Field and Canada in the second half of April 1941.
It ‘feels right’ for Wright Field – either autumn or early spring, prior to leaves.
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