"Diamond Lil" To Be Outfitted As Army Air Corps Bomber

Aero-News has learned the B-29/B-24 Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force has begun restoring the CAF's  B-24/LB-30, AM-927, to its originally-intended B-24A bomber configuration.

Squadron members have done extensive research on the airplane's history, and discovered that it was originally part of an order B-24As for the United States Army Air Corps. However, the British desperately needed a long-range bomber for use in coastal patrols and for defense, and Consolidated received permission to divert 20 planes from the Army Air Corps order for the British. The CAF's plane was one of those.

The decision to reconfigure "Diamond Lil" was made in early October by the elected staff of the B-29/B-24 Squadron. Work began October 31, 2006.

B-29/B-24 Squadron Crew Chief Gary Austin said crews began at the front of the airplane, and are working their way back. The nose has been removed and sent off for new glass. The wooden cabinets in the cockpit have been removed to make way for the original navigation station. All of the floorboards have been removed from the bomb bay area so that bomb bay doors can be simulated.

"We simply don't have the time or facilities to install bomb doors at this time," said Austin, "but it is being discussed for the future."

The radio operator's floor has been lowered to its original position, and the right-hand waist gunner's position has been exposed. Work has started on raising the floor on the waist gunner's position.

The tunnel gun position has also been exposed. The structure was already present, and Austin estimated that 95 percent of the components for the tunnel gun position have been fabricated.

Work has also begun on fabricating the tail gun.

An official unveiling of the B-24 has been scheduled for May 12, 2007 during a Twin Tails Fly-In to be held at CAF Headquarters in Midland, TX.

FMI: www.commemorativeairforce.org