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 8 - REPLACING THE A6B TURRET WITH THE
EMERSON A-15 TURRET

            Replacement of the A6B turret by the Emerson A-15 turret.  The Emerson turret was electronically powered, while all previous turrets were hydraulically powered.  It was shaped somewhat like a soup can and was more responsive with its two rotational speeds for tracking incoming aircraft.  This change necessitated the installation of an aphidian converter in the nose to convert aircraft power to that acceptable by the motors of the turret.  This further required that the nose wheel doors had to open outwards below the fuselage since there was no space for them to retract inwards because of the aphidian

            Another standard piece of equipment was the small, flush fitting G-2 pitot tube on the lower left side of the nose.  These aircraft also carried a different model of Martin upper turret, the so-called "high hat" model for better visibility for the gunner, and was sloped raised in the back and sloped forward to give the gunner more head room.

            This was the last model of the B-24J.

            "L'IL NILMERG" (134) represents this model of the B-24.

 

B-24 Emerson Turret, A-15

Source:  S. Birdsall, B-24 Liberator in Action, Aircraft No. 21, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1975, p. 21.

 

 

Source: Kinzey, B-24 Liberator in Detail, Squadron/Signal Publications, Volume 64, p. 55, 2000.
 

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:  03/30/2006