Great detective work smirky. Yes a nose turret sight would fit in with other items found, although I had no idea RAF transport command Libs had any sort of defensive armament still fitted postwar, especially as 102 squadron were involved in the repatriation of POW’s from Asia. And I would of thought that any weight saving made possible by removing unnecessary equipment would of been beneficial to getting more men on board!

Rob

Well spotted smirky, the left cam is a definite match I would say. The smaller cam I have is marked K-11 so possibly a slightly different model of turret sight!?

Rob

Astrodome top nipple.

For info, Parts with numbers showing a 32 in them such as “GK-32D 1229” that you posted, are generally liberator specific part numbers.

Any other bits you have please post and I’ll see if I can help?

HTH

Thanks Bomberboy. Sadly I can’t find any part numbers on it, so possibly they’re on the inside faces. Any idea what was the reason for this ‘astrodome nipple’?

Smirky – I know from the accident report that it was a GR MKVIII built by the Ford motor company at Willow Run, Michigan, and was first certified fit for flight on the 5/12/44. Modifications were incorporated by the Consolidated Vultee Corporation at Louisville, Kentucky – presumably for its role with RAF Transport Command. But I have no idea what type of navigation equipment or bombsight (if any regarding the latter) that it had fitted at the time of its delivery to 102 Squadron (Ceylon) on the 26/4/45.

Rob

Rob, could H T be heat treatment?

Not sure, but that part I s definitely one of the engine cowling ring support brackets – as seen centre right

Rob[ATTACH=CONFIG]231943[/ATTACH]