380th Bomb Group

380th Bomb Group Association
World War II Veterans Group
 

WE WENT TO WAR

PARTS V and VI:  THE PLANES WE FLEW

380th AIRCRAFT TYPES

B-24 - J MODELS

 

TYPE 4 - THE INITIAL J MODELS OF THE B-24

            These were the first B-24 with nose turrets installed at the factory before delivery to the USAAF.  These aircraft are identified by the Consolidated A6A nose turrets, by the use of twin braces on each pitot tube location, and by the fact that no fairing was applied to streamline the nose turret installation.  The Townsville installation on D1s and all later factory models had such a fairing.

            DOTTIE'S DOUBLE (080) was the first B-24J produced and came to the 380th.

            There are five distinct types of Js.  All had a turret incorporated into the design of the nose section and installed at the factory.  This added firepower would remain an integral part of the B-24's design for the remainder of its operational life.  The new "J" models coming into the 380th's inventory differed from each other with respect to pitot tubes, model of the nose turret installed, and bombardier side windows.

            This first batch of planes had braced pitot tubes and lacked side windows to the bombardier's compartment.  Above this position in the nose, the navigator's area now had narrow side windows that were sometimes fitted with sockets for a 30cal machine gun.

B-24J-5

Scrap port elevation

 Source:  Przeglad Konstrukcji Lotniczych, B-24 Liberator, p. 15, 1992, Warsaw .

 

Source:  Horton, Best of the Southwest, p. 238.

 

Source:  Horton, Best of the Southwest, p. 292.

STATISTICAL SUMMARIES
FATES OF OUR AIRCRAFT -- AUSTRALIAN AND NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN
380TH BOMB GROUP (H)
 

B-24J MODELS ONLY

TYPE

AIRCRAFT GROUP

R

C

CA

MA

AM

ASM

A

AS

WWS

RAAF

OG

PI

NT

TOTAL
(By Row)

4

Early J Models

 

3

6

 

1

 

1

2

2

 

 

16

 

31

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

5

6

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

10

7

 

 

1

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6

 

8

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

4

 

Totals

 

4

7

1

1

 

1

2

2

 

 

40

 

58

 

Action Summary

11 Enemy Action

2 Missing - Non Enemy

3 Accidents

2 Salvaged

 

40 Re-tained

 

58

 

 

13 Combat Losses

5 Non-Combat Losses

 

40

 

58

OVERALL SUMMARY

AIRCRAFT

R

C

CA

MA

AM

ASM

A

AS

WWS

RAAF

OG

PI

TOTAL

D MODELS

3

12

5

3

6

2

5

11

13

4

7

8

78

 

19 Enemy Action

11 Missing -
Non-Enemy

16 Accidents

13
Salvaged

11 Transferred

8 Retained

78

 

30 Combat Losses

29 Non-Combat Losses

19 Continued Use

78

J MODELS

 

4

6

2

2

 

1

2

2

 

 

40

59

 

10 Enemy Action

4 Mission Involvement -
Non-Enemy

5 Non-Combat Losses

40 Continued Use

59

 

14 Combat Losses

5 Non-Combat Losses

40 Continued Use

59

BOTH MODELS

3

16

10

4

9

2

6

13

15

4

7

48

137

 

44 Combat Losses

34 Non-Combat Losses

59 Continued Use

137


AUSTRALIA AND THE PHILIPPINES

AIRCRAFT GROUP

R

C

CA

MA

AM

ASM

A

AS

WWS

OG

TO PI /
RUS

TOTAL

Australia -
D Models

3

12

4

2

7

2

5

11

13

11

8

78

Australia -
J Models

 

4

6

2

2

 

1

2

2

 

40

59

REGION TOTAL

3

16

10

4

9

2

6

13

15

11

48

137

Philippines -
D Models

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8

 

 

8

Philippines -
J Models

 

 

1

3

6

4

 

 

16

2

9

41

Philippines -
Later Models

 

3

2

 

1

 

1

1

12

1

40

61

REGION TOTAL

 

3

3

3

7

4

1

1

36

3

49

110


AUSTRALIA AND THE PHILIPPINES

AIRCRAFT GROUP

R

C

CA

MA

AM

ASM

A

AS

WWS

OG

TO PI /
RUS

TOTAL

Australia - Overall

3

16

10

4

9

2

6

13

15

11

48

137

Action Summary

44 Combat Losses

34 Non-Combat Losses

59 Continued Use

137

Philippines - Overall

 

3

3

 

8

5

1

2

36

3

47*

110**

Action Summary

19 Combat Losses

39 Non-Combat Losses

52 Continued Use

115

WWII -Overall

3

19

13

4

17

7

7

15

51

14

49

199

Action Summary

63 Combat Losses

73 Non-Combat Losses

63 Continued Use

199

* Includes 8 transferred from Australia/New Guinea Campaign
** Includes 48 transferred from Australia/New Guinea Campaign

SYMBOLOGY FOR STATISTICAL SUMMARIES

R

Destruction As Result of Enemy Air Raid

C

Loss of Aircraft in Enemy Territory Due Directly to Enemy Action

CA

Accident and/or Salvage As Result of Enemy Combat Damage (In Friendly Territory)

MA

Loss While on Mission While in Enemy Territorybut Direct Enemy Action Not Involved

A

Accident in Friendly Territory Causing Complete Destruction of Aircraft - Not Combat Mission Related

AM

Same as A but Involved in Combat Mission

AS

Accident in Friendly Territory Resulting in Salvage of the Aircraft - Not Combat Mission Related

ASM

Same as AS but Involved in Combat Mission

WWS

Salvage of Aircraft as War Weary

RAAF

Transfer of Aircraft to Royal Australian Air Force

OG

Transfer of Aircraft to Other Groups

PI

Transfer to Philippines Islands for Continuation of War Service There

NT

Whether Nose Turret Installed (Applies Only to Initial Deployment Aircraft) During 1943 and While in 380th Service

RUS

Returned to U.S. at End of War

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Last updated:  07/08/2012 08:48 PM