KU Report – History, at Random

A B-24 Liberator, Up Close and Personal: German Photographs of a Downed B-24 in Holland – II

This page presents the 15 pictures of Tell Me More in Luftgaukommando Report KU 1679.

By scrolling down the post from top to bottom, you’ll first see images of the two pages in the KU Report listing the captions of the photos.

This is followed by verbatim transcriptions of the entire block of text on those two pages. Each German-language caption is followed by its English-language equivalent, in italics.

Then, scrolling down through all the pictures you’ll see that each photo has its pertinent caption – in both German and English – beneath it. The English-language translations are presented in italics.

Importantly, the images and their captions are not presented in the same numerical order as in the KU Report. Instead, I’ve arranged them to appear as if you were walking along and moving through the plane, from front to rear. I’ve also added some comments below the German-English paired translations.

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KU Report Photo Caption Pages

Bild 1 Ansicht der Maschine von Vorn.
Picture 1 View of the machine from the front.

Bild 2 Ansicht der Maschine von hinten. Man beachte das weggeknickte Fahrwerk.
Picture 2 View of the machine from behind. Note the bent landing gear.

Bild 3 Rumpfende mit Leiwerk und Staffelkenner.
Picture 3 Fuselage tail with body work and [squadron signal light].

Bild 4 Rumpfvorderteil:
a) Staurohr
b) Blister für Navigator beidseitig
c) Abtriftmesser
d) mit den Bewegungen der Waffen gekoppelte Panzerblickscheibe
e) Panzerplatten aussenbords, links und rechts
Picture 4 Fuselage front:
a) Pitot tube
b) Blisters for navigator on both sides
c) Drift [meter?]
d) Armored sighting window, coupled with the movement of the weapons
e) External armor plate, left and right

Bild 5 Linker Flügel mit Triebwerken.
Picture 5 Left wing with engines.

Bild 6 Blick über Waffenstand Rumpfoberseite, Antennenanordnung nach dem Leitwerk:
a) Rückspiegel für Schützen auf Rumpfoberseite
b) Revi N 6 A
Picture 6 View of the weapon stand [dorsal turret] top of the fuselage, antenna arrangement according to the control unit:
a) Rear-view mirror for gunner on fuselage top
b) Revi N 6A

Bild 7 Blick auf Führerstand:
a), b), c), d), Panzerglasscheiben
e) Panzerplatte
Picture 7 View of pilot’s seat:
a), b), c), d), armored glass panes
e) Armor plate

Bild 8 Ausgefahrener Notsporn
Picture 8 Extended emergency skid

Bild 9 Bugturm mit Panzerglasscheibe und Antrieb.
Picture 9 Nose spire [sic] with armored glass pane and drive.

Bild 10 Plexiglasverkleidung des Bugturmes mit aufgemalter
a) Sprung des Plexiglasses wurde durch beidseitige Lochung der Plexiglashälften und durch Einziehen eines Drahtes zickzackförmig verbunden.
Picture 10 Plexiglass covering of the nose spire [sic] with painted [markings]
a) Crack of the plexiglass was zigzagged by bilateral perforation of the plexiglass halves and by pulling in a wire.

Bild 11 Blick in rückwärtigen Kabinenabschnitt mit MK-Kugel und Rumpfseitenständen.
Picture 11 View in the rear cabin section with machine-gun bullets and trunk sides.

Bild 12 Unterbringung der Munitionskästen für Heckstand an der rechten Bordwand hinter dem rechten Fenster. Darüber Seenotsender mit Zubehöirbehälter.
a) Ausstiegklappe für Besatzung als auch Agenten und Sabotagebehältern.
Picture 12 Accommodation of the ammunition boxes for the rear deck on the right side of the vehicle
behind the right window. Above that, distress transmitter with accessory container.
a) The exit flap for crew as well as agents and sabotage containers.

Bild 13 Blick auf ferngesteuerte FT-Geräte
a) BC – 966 – A
b) Stromversorgungsgerät für TR 5043
c) Modulator Unit BC – 456 – E
d) Radio Transmitter Unit BC – 433 – G
e) TR 5043
Picture 13 View of remote controlled FT devices
a) BC – 966 – A
b) Power device for TR 5043
c) Modulator unit BC – 456 – E
d) Radio transmitter unit BC – 433 – G
e) TR 5043

Bild 14 Die schwenkbaren Rumpfseitenwaffen mit Kreiskornvisier ohne Rücklaufbremse.
Picture 14 The swivel[ing] fuselage side weapons with a circular horn sight without a return brake.

Bild 15 Hydraulicbrett an der rechten Bordwand vor Heckstand.
Picture 15 Hydraulic board on the right side of the vehicle in front of the tail.

Bild 16 Servomotor für Seiten- und Höhenruder der Kurssteurerg A 5. Sitz des Gerätes in Flugrichtung hinter der Trennwand des Heckraumes.
Picture 16 Servomotor for side and height control of the steering wheel A 5. Seat of the device in the direction of flight behind the partition of the rear compartment.

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THE PHOTOGRAPHS

Bild 1 Ansicht der Maschine von Vorn.

Picture 1 View of the machine from the front.

Comments: Note that none of the props appear to have been feathered, and the lower blades of two starboard props appear to be bent. The landing gear has been lowered.

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Bild 7 Blick auf Führerstand:
a), b), c), d), Panzerglasscheiben
e) Panzerplatte

Picture 7 View of pilot’s seat:
a), b), c), d), armored glass panes
e) Armor plate

Comments: The skin of the forward fuselage is crumpled. Armored glass and pilot’s compartment exterior side armor – of obvious of interest to the photographer – are clearly visible.

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Bild 5 Linker Flügel mit Triebwerken.

Picture 5 Left wing with engines.

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Bild 4 Rumpfvorderteil:
a) Staurohr
b) Blister für Navigator beidseitig
c) Abtriftmesser
d) mit den Bewegungen der Waffen gekoppelte Panzerblickscheibe
e) Panzerplatten aussenbords, links und rechts

Picture 4 Fuselage front:
a) Pitot tube
b) Blisters for navigator on both sides
c) Drift [meter?]
d) Armored sighting window, coupled with the movement of the weapons
e) External armor plate, left and right

Comments: Note the attention to co-pilot’s exterior side armor, and crumpled skin of the front fuselage.

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Bild 6 Blick über Waffenstand Rumpfoberseite, Antennenanordnung nach dem Leitwerk:
a) Rückspiegel für Schützen auf Rumpfoberseite
b) Revi N 6 A

Picture 6 View of the weapon stand [dorsal turret] top of the fuselage, antenna arrangement according to the control unit:
a) Rear-view mirror for gunner on fuselage top
b) Revi N 6A

Comments: An excellent view of the top of the rear fuselage. Note the furrows created by the impact of the starboard landing gear tire and fuselage bottom. These extend only a very short distance behind the aircraft into the adjoining field, implying a very abrupt stop.

The dorsal turret is probably the Martin A-3C version as opposed to A-3D, the latter of which commenced with Block H-25 Liberators. Ironically, the German technical analyst referred to the turret gunsight as a “Revi N 6 A”. (Revi?!)

More intriguingly – at least, as described in the caption – are two circular rear-view mirrors mounted within opposite sides of the turret, each located between the .50 caliber machine gun and turret bubble. The starboard inner turret mirror is also visible in photograph number 7.

Notice that the cover of the starboard emergency life raft compartment has been detached from the fuselage.

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TO RELEASE & INFLATE LIFE RAFTS
PULL RELEASE HANDLE HARD

PULL RELEASE HANDLE AS FAR AS
POSSIBLE WHICH RELEASES DOORS

PULL INSIDE RELEASE HANDLE…

Comments: This is an 800 dpi scan from the previous photo, showing instructions concerning release of the B-24’s life-rafts.

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Picture 10 Plexiglass covering of the nose spire [sic] with painted [markings]
a) Crack of the plexiglass was zigzagged by bilateral perforation of the plexiglass halves and by pulling in a wire.

Comments: Here’s a different way of looking at things: The photographer stood atop the front fuselage of Tell Me More, and pointing his camera down, photographed the top of the “dome” of the Emerson A-15 nose turret. Immediately apparent are numbers denoting the rotational azimuth of the turret – in gradations of 15 degrees relative to the fuselage center line – engraved or etched into the plexiglass. The overwhelming majority of photographs of the Emerson A-15 turret, where the turret is seen from the side, naturally don’t show this feature.

(Did the turret dome of the CAC / Motor Products tail turret have a similar azimuth scale?)

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Bild 9 Bugturm mit Panzerglasscheibe und Antrieb.

Picture 9 Nose spire [sic] with armored glass pane and drive.

Comments: Another view of the A-15 turret. Immediately apparent are the pane of armored glass and elevation drives for the guns. There’s a small mystery here: How was the turret dome shattered? Flak? Fighters? During the plane’s landing?

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Comments: An excellent side view of an Emerson A-15 turret, albeit not from the KU Report. Instead, from Air Force Photo 53584AC / A12599. This picture illustrates an interesting aspect of the general design of the A-15, as opposed to the structure of dorsal aircraft turrets: The guns are located well below the gunner’s head and torso.

Caption: “ENGLAND – S/Sgt. Edward J. Mickey, a B-24 nose turret gunner, of Kingston, Pa., has 30 missions to his credit and holds the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. (53584AC / A12599)”

Here’s an interesting video (at the website of Hugh Fenlon) of an Emerson A-15 in operation, albeit not (!) in a B-24.

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Bild 11 Blick in rückwärtigen Kabinenabschnitt mit MK-Kugel und Rumpfseitenständen.

Picture 11 View in the rear cabin section with machine-gun bullets and [trunk] sides

Comments: Fuselage interior, looking forward. This image provides an excellent view of the waist gun opening covers in their stowed positions, and, the location of oxygen bottles. The wind blast deflector for the port gun can be seen just ahead of the open waist window. These are the original “open” style B-24 waist gun positions that are neither staggered nor enclosed. According to Alan Blue’s book, that modification only commenced with Block H-20 Liberators.

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Bild 13 Blick auf ferngesteuerte FT-Geräte
a) BC – 966 – A
b) Stromversorgungsgerät für TR 5043
c) Modulator Unit BC – 456 – E
d) Radio Transmitter Unit BC – 433 – G
e) TR 5043

Picture 13 View of remote controlled FT devices
a) BC – 966 – A
b) Power device for TR 5043
c) Modulator unit BC – 456 – E
d) Radio transmitter unit BC – 433 – G
e) TR 504

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Bild 14 Die schwenkbaren Rumpfseitenwaffen mit Kreiskornvisier ohne Rücklaufbremse.

Picture 14 The swivel[ing] fuselage side weapons with a circular horn sight without a return brake.

Comments: The simple circular ring-and-bead gunsight mounted atop the waist machine guns.

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Picture 12 Accommodation of the ammunition boxes for the rear deck on the right side of the vehicle behind the right window. Above that, distress transmitter with accessory container.
a) The exit flap for crew as well as agents and sabotage containers.

Comments: Tail turret ammunition storage box, and ventral entry / escape hatch in open (stowed) position.

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Bild 15 Hydraulicbrett an der rechten Bordwand vor Heckstand.

Picture 15 Hydraulic board on the right side of the vehicle in front of the tail.

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Bild 16 Servomotor für Seiten- und Höhenruder der Kurssteurerg A 5. Sitz des Gerätes in Flugrichtung hinter der Trennwand des Heckraumes.

Picture 16 Servomotor for side and height control of the steering wheel A 5. Seat of the device in the direction of flight behind the partition of the rear compartment.

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Bild 8 Ausgefahrener Notsporn

Picture 8 Extended emergency skid

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Bild 2 Ansicht der Maschine von hinten. Man beachte das weggeknickte Fahrwerk.

Picture 2 View of the machine from behind. Note the bent landing gear.

Bild 3 Rumpfende mit Leiwerk und Staffelkenner.

Picture 3 Fuselage tail with body work and [squadron signal light].

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There ends the tail – literally (ahem! – pardon the pun!), and figuratively – of Tell Me More. The photos tell the story of a single B-24 Liberator – of very, very many – that was lost in the air war against Germany in the Second World War.

Certainly every man in the plane’s crew certainly had his own, much more human story, as well: Of attempted evasion, eventual capture, and ultimately liberation and freedom. I have no way of knowing if in the decades since 1945 those stories were recorded and preserved – especially as suggested by the inscription on the tombstone of Lt. Robert Willson – but it would be nice to think they have been.

So, let this collection of photos stand as a symbol of a past that should not be forgotten.

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References

The B-24 Liberator

Birdsall, Steve, B-24 Liberator in Action (Aircraft No. 21), (Illustrated by Don Greer), Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., Carrollton, Tx., 1975

Blue, Allan G., The B-24 Liberator – A Pictorial History, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, N.Y., 1975

Davis, Larry B-24 Liberator in Action (Aircraft No. 80), (Illustrated by Perry Manley), Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., Carrollton, Tx., 1987

Joe Baugher’s list of B-24 serial numbers, at JoeBaugher.com

B-24H 41-28754

American Air Museum in England

8th Air Force Historical Society

Luftgaukommando Report KU 1680

United States National Archives – Collection of Foreign Record Seized – Record Group 242: “Records of Luftgaukommandos: German Reports of Downed Allied Fighters and Other Aircraft – KU Reports”

Report KU 1680 at NARA: (In) Records Group 242, Entry 1022, Shelf Location 190 / 14 / 9-12 / 1-5, Box 231

Demonstration of Emerson A-15 Turret

Hugh Fenlon’s website

Modelling the B-24H Liberator

US-Aircraft.com History-Modelling-Forum

IPMS USA

Captive Technology: German Photographs of Electronic Equipment in a Downed Special Operations Squadron B-24 Liberator – II

This – and the next – page present the 19 pictures in Luftgaukommando Report 1054, for B-24D 42-63792. The format is identical to that followed in the blog post covering the Luftgaukommando Report for B-24H Liberator Tell Me More:

By scrolling “down” the post from top to bottom, you’ll see images of the two pages in the Report listing the captions of the photos.

This is followed by a verbatim transcription of the block of the German text in those two pages. The German text is followed by its English-language translation (in italics) which I transcribed from the MACR.

Then, moving “down” through all the pictures…

Each photo has its caption – in both German and English – below it. The English-language translations are presented in italics.

The images and their captions aren’t presented in the same numerical order as in the KU Report. They’re arranged as if you were moving along the plane (or, er, uh…in this case, what’s left of the plane…) from front to rear. I’ve also added comments below some captions.

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DESCRIPTION OF AIRCRAFT 42-63792, AND PHOTO CAPTIONS

Feindgerät-Untersuchungsstelle 5
RLM GL C-Rü O.U. den 23.4.44
Feldpostnummer: L 50825 FW, Lgp. Brüssel.

Untersuchungsbericht Nr. 5/2021:

Am. 2.3.44 um 23.30 Uhr wurde in Fienvillers (8 km s.w. Doullens) eine Liberator durch Flak abgeschossen. Von der Besatzung wurden 2 Mann gefangen genommen.

Das Flugzeug war als Sabotagematerialträger eingesetzt und sehr stark zerstört.

Die Typenbezeichnung des Flugzeuges lautete: B 24 D, Ser. 42-63792. Bemerkenswert an diesem Flugzeug war die FT-Ausrüstung. Es befanden sich beiderseits des Rumpfbuges die im Bild 1 u. 2 dargestellten Antennen. Ferner befanden such nachfolgende FT-Geräte an Bord, die grösstenteils bereits durch Kurier nach dem RLM GL C-Rü gesandt wurden:

1. RT-3 / APN-1
27 Volt
D.C. N.X.S. – 2424
1341 C.R.V.

2. T-7 / APN-1
110 DB / 25
N.X. – 23763
1237 C.R.V.

3.    Anzeigegerät mit Braun’scher Röhre, vermutlich Suchgerät (Bild 12, 13, 14, 15 u. 16). –
4.    BC-433-C, Ser. Nr. 14506
5.    BC-966-A, Ser. Nr. 45327
6.    BC-454-A, Ser. Nr. 140
7.    BC-455-B, Ser. Nr. 20162
8.    BC-445-B, Ser. Nr. 52370
9.    BC-929-A

Trotzdem bei diesem Flugzeug verschiedene neue Geräte dabiei waren, waren sämtliche FT-Geräte von der Funkmeisterei des Fl.H. Rosiéres weggenommen worden. Die FT-Geräte mussten erst dort abgeholt und zur Entnahme der Stecker und Kabel wieder in das Flugzeug eingesetzt werden. –

Ferner wurden mehrere Agenten-Empfänger des Musters Miniature Communications Receiver (M.C.R.1.) festgestellt.

Als Anlage zum Bericht werden 18 Fotos übersandt.

Erläutering zu den Bildern:

Bild 1 u. 2:     Antennen an beiden Seiten des Rumpfbuges
Bild 3:           Gerät mit Braun’scher Röhre. Rechte oben im Bild ist die Kabeleinführung der im Bild 1 u. 2 gezeigten Antennen ersichtlich.
Bild 4:          Kabeleinführung in grösserem Masstab.
Bild 5, 6, 7: zeigt den Lageert der Geräte RT-7 / APN-1
Bild 8, 9, 10: RT-7 / APN-1
Bild 11:         RT-3 / APN-1
Bild 12, 13, 14, 15, 16: Suchgerät mit Braun’scher Röhre.
Bild 17, 18:   zeigt den Agenten-Kleinempfänger.

Engelhard
Stabsing. Und
Sondering. GL

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Enemy equipment investigation center 5 KU 1154
Ministry of the Air Force GL C-Rue Local Quarters, 23 April 1944
Field postal No L 50825 FW
Air District Post Office Brussels

Investigation Report No 5 / 2021

On 2 March 1944 at 2330 a Liberator had been shot down by anti-aircraft over Fienvillers (8 km southwest of Doullens). Two members of the crew had been captured. The plane was equipped as sabotage material-carrier and therefore very seriously damaged.

The type markings of the plane were as follows: B 24 D, Serial No. 42-63792. This plane was equipped with remarkable radio equipment. There were aerials on both sides of the front of the fuselage as pictures 1 and 2 show. Further, there was the following radio equipment on board, the greatest part of which has been sent by messenger to the Ministry of the Air Dorces GL C-Rue.

1. RT-3 / APN-1
27 Volt
D.C. N.X.S. – 2424
1341 C.R.V.

2. RT-7 / APN-1
110 DB / 25
N.X. – 23763
1237 C.R.V.

3.    Indicator-set with Bruan’scher tube, probably search-equipment (see picture 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16)
4.    BC-433-C, Ser. No. 14506
5.    BC-966-A, Ser. No. 45327
6.    BC-454-A, Ser. No. 140
7.    BC-455-B, Ser. No. 20162
8.    BC-445-B, Ser. No. 52370
9.    BC-929-A

Though this plane was equipped with different kinds of new radio equipment, all radio equipment had been taken out by the radio office of the Air-base Rosieres. The radio equipment had to be obtained from that office, and for the purpose of the removal of the plugs and cables had to be installed again into the plane. Also, several agent receivers of the type “Miniature Communications Receiver (M.C.R. 1)” were found.

Enclosed in this report 18 photographs.

Photo explanation.

Picture 1 and 2:     Antenna on both sides of the front of the fuselage.
3:     Equipment with Bruan’scher tube. In the right upper corner of the picture the cable installation of the antenna (shown in picture 1 and 2) can be seen.
4:     Cable installation on larger scale.
5, 6, 7:     shows the location of the equipment RT-7 / APN-1
8, 9, 10:   RT-7 /APN-1
11:            RT-3 / APN-1
12, 13, 14, 15, and 16     Search equipment with Braun’scher tube.
17 and 18:     Shows the Miniature-Communications-Receiver.

Enclosures:

Instructions for the
“Miniature Communications Receiver”
and 18 photographs.

Signed: Engelhard
Staff-Engineer and Special Engineer

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Photos: Crash Site, APN-1 Antenna, and BC-929-A “Rebecca” Radar Interrogator Unit

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These three un-numbered images show the scope and scene of the plane’s crash. Most of the airframe and wings have been destroyed (the tail and left wing broke off during the crash) but ironically, several components of the plane’s special electronic equipment, situated in the central fuselage and nose, survived relatively or completely intact. These have been extracted from the fuselage and placed in front of the wreckage.

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Bild 1 u. 2: Antennen an beiden Seiten des Rumpfbuges

Picture 1 and 2: Antenna on both sides of the front of the fuselage.

Bild 1 u. 2: Antennen an beiden Seiten des Rumpfbuges

Picture 1 and 2: Antenna on both sides of the front of the fuselage.

Bild 3: Gerät mit Braun’scher Röhre. Rechte oben im Bild ist die Kabeleinführung der im Bild 1 u. 2 gezeigten Antennen ersichtlich.

Picture 3: Equipment with Bruan’scher tube. In the right upper corner of the picture the cable installation of the antenna (shown in picture 1 and 2) can be seen.

Bild 4: Kabeleinführung in grösserem Masstab.

Picture 4: Cable installation on larger scale.

Comments for Photos 1, 2, 3, and 4: Close-ups of nose-mounted external receiving antenna associated with the APN-1 radar altimeter, and, the interior electrical connection of an APN-1 antenna within the fuselage. Notably, the nose-mounted BC-929-A “Rebecca” Radar Interrogator unit and its attached cables (in photo 3) are completely intact.

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Bild 12, 13, 14, 15, 16: Suchgerät mit Braun’scher Röhre.