Hi Vets I was never in the Arm Services. However, I can't begin to tell you guys /gals who served that I have the highest respect for all you great guys / gals who served. Now about that B29 Liberator. My question(s) please. Which is the true Liberator my meaning is as follows, I've seen B29 Liberators with the gun turrets on the top of the bombs and on the bottom of the bombs. Which is the real authentic B-29 Liberator ? GOD bless you brave warriors. schooner
There was no B29 liberator, there was a Consolidated B24 Liberator and a Boeing B29 Superfortress and both had both upper and belly turrets (B29 had two of each) though placing a turret directly beneath the bombs is obviously unworkable.
One factor concerning Schooner's confusion would be that the Briggs Sperry ball turret was not introduced into production until later in the war -sources vary, some say that it was introduced with the B-24G, while other state that it was the B-24H. Another factor would be that the B-24's ball turret was retractable and could be fully withdrawn into the fuselage. Finally, in an effort to save weight, some crews chose to remove the ball turret and plate over the turret's opening. Now, what constitutes a "real authentic B-24 Liberator" is wide open to interpretation.
The Sperry ball turret was introduced in the middle of the B-24D production run beginning with s/n 42-41164. Most B-24Ds that actually saw combat carried the ball turret. All H, G and subsequent were produced with the ball turret.
Retractable ball turret: First photo shows the turret retracted, although the guns are pointed straight down to expose the entry hatch. This photo is early in the mission and the ball gunner has not yet boarded. B-24H-10-FO, s/n 42-52188. Second photo shows the turret down on the way home over the Adriatic on the same mission, same aircraft. Guns pointed down so the gunner has either exited or is about to.
