PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – A rare 1940s B-24 Liberator bomber will highlight this year’s World War II Heritage Days, hosted by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing on April 18-19.
The CAF’s B-24, “Diamond Lil,” one of only two still flying, will be on display at Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field (KFFC) in Peachtree City for the event. Rides will also be available in the B-24, which is the same type of aircraft featured in the recent hit movie “Unbroken.”
The 2015 event will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory and end of the Second World War in 1945. The program provides a living history experience, bringing together historic aircraft, vintage military vehicles, antique cars, educational displays and demonstrations, including mock military ground battles staged by war re-enactors.
The CAF Dixie Wing’s fleet of WWII aircraft also will be on display for the 12th annual World War II Heritage Days weekend. Visitors will see the Wing’s Corsair, P-51 Mustang, SBD-Dauntless dive bomber and other restored aircraft.
Rides on the B-24 and other aircraft can be scheduled in advance at WWIIDays.org.
Former B-24 crew members and other World War II veterans will be on hand to share their experiences through a series of panel discussions. Joining the airmen will be Mustang and Corsair pilots; award-winning author Bruce Gamble, noted for his series of books on the famed Black Sheep Squadron; women veterans and Rosie the Riveters (women who served in the manufacturing facilities that produced unprecedented, massive amounts of U.S. war equipment).
Saturday night, “Keep ‘em Flying,” a World War II-theme hangar dance and dinner, will feature the Peachtree Jazz Edition, joined by the Freedom Belles, a female trio that performs songs by the Andrews Sisters and other stars. World War II veterans will be hosted as guest of honor.
Proceeds from the dance cover costs associated with hosting WWII Heritage Days, as well as the ongoing preservation of the group’s historic aircraft and “Education Through Living History,” a World War II history program made available by CAF Dixie Wing volunteers to schools and youth groups free of charge.
Tickets for “Keep ‘em Flying” are $55 before April 13, $65 at the door. Reserved tables and group discounts are available.
Suggested donation for WWII Heritage Days is $5. World War II veterans, active duty military in uniform and children 5 and under are admitted free. WWII Heritage Days will take place rain or shine.
Technically, Diamond Lil is registered with the FAA as an LB-30 Transport plane. She left the plant as a B-24 but crashed on delivery. She was rebuilt as a transport instead of a bomber. I think the war was already over. Note: she was not rebuilt with guns nor bomb bay doors.
It’s really a bit of a stretch to call Diamond Lil a Liberator. She’s much closer to the cargo version, and a “bomber” that has no way to drop bombs is a bit of hyperbole. The only flying true B-24 in the world is the one owned by the Collings Foundation, with bomb racks and bomb doors and gun positions, etc. She’s on her third paint job, and is currently painted to match Witchcraft, one of the most successful B-24s in WWII, with over 140 missions.
Where is the FAA on the 3rd class.
Diamond Lil is a B-24A. The oval shaped nacells did not come along until the B-24B. See the web site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-24_Liberator
My understanding is that the air force rejected Diamond Lil and the factory kept her as test mule. She underwent many modifications and changes, including conversion to cargo configuration and partway back. Various engine, turrets etc etc etc were mounted at various times.
Is it just me, or do those engines not look like the typical B-24 engine? Is that a later model, or did they re-engine it with something more easily available? Or, I could just be crazy.
Lee,
That was a good observation. I checked into it and found out that ‘Diamond Lil’ has “hybrid built custom engines”. And because of that, I assume, the engine nacelles no longer have that distintive oval shape we’re used to seeing.
Don Cluck
Diamond Lil is a B-24A. Later B-24s had a different engine.