B23 Liberator restoration at Werribee near Melbourne

G'day Mr Pointyhead.

Do you know if this B24 Liberator bomber was based in Western Australia, at Corunna Downs air base ~ out of Marble Bar.

I am very curious as Corunna Downs air base has a brilliant WW2 history.

Safe Travels :

Joe

The B-24 model B-24D-53-CO , Nose Art name "Shady Lady" Serial No 42-40369 was based at Fenton with the 380th Bomb Group,528 Squadron, it was manufactured at the Consolidated Factory at San Diego, USA and was completed on 12/02/1943, it's first test flight was 17/02/1943, it was flown to Amberly unknown date in 1943.
Corunna Downs was not a regular Airstrip, It was mainly used I believe as a jump off point , where they would load up with Bombs and strike places in the Dutch East Indies. These aircraft had over 1.3 million parts and were turned out every 1 hour and 5 minutes.

Check out the 2 Sunday History Photo's on the subject at threads 66624 and the re visit SHP 89223 .

It was a pleasure to be in contact with FNF Films about the project.


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G'day Doug T

Thanks for your reply and information regarding the B24 bombers.

Living and working in the Pilbara, I get to travel to places that were of great importance to Australias history, in this instance the B24 Bomber air base on Corunna Downs.

The place still has a very real mystique about it even today, to learn more of its importance and place in our nations history, gives a better understanding to it all. Shame these places and the people who were part of it all are slowly being lost, in a historical sense.

Thanks again Doug, its always good to read your work.

Safe Travels :

G'day Joe

Yes..living not far from Fenton has created a huge interest in the B-24 for me, I now pay the $20 US dollars per year to be a guest member of the 380th BG, funny though, I went to Sydney in Oct 2010 to visit my Daughter at Orange, on the way back it a bit cool in Sydney and I had wondered what would happen if I wore my jacket with large words on the back 380TH BOMB GROUP, King of the Heavies into the airport and onto the plane , you know I didn't get challenged about it.

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