B-24 Gun Upgrades to Attack Submarines

In Spring of 1943, German U-boats were engaging Patrolling Aircraft rather than diving. US Anti-Submarine command upgraded the B-24 maritime patrol Aircraft’s forward facing guns to effectively engage the submarines deck crews. The aircraft gunners would shoot at the Submarines deck crews trying to suppress their return fire. The WWII modified aircraft were designated as the PB4Y-1 and later PB4Y-2s.

[danielchurchill]

My father was plane Cap and flight engineer on the Y2 VPB111 and is still kickin as a matter of fact we are going to my parents 75 anniversary June 18!

[larrycorn]

My dad was stationed in P'cola during WW2. He was assigned to a PB4Y2 aircraft unit that flew over the Caribbean searching for submarines. They found and sank a few.. I loved his stories until I went into the military myself. I then learned that what I thought was neet fun, was often long boring hours followed by gut clenching horror. He's gone now, but I respect what he and several thousand others did to keep us free. I only served 22 years but I saw enough to know it wasn't a fun war.

[neilwilson]

These wonderful planes plugged the gap in the Atlantic and were a game changer.

[cgross]

The firepower on that PB4Y-2 Pioneer looks very impressive! Thanks for sharing about an aircraft with which I was not familiar!

[daverooneyca]

Thanks for this!! During the war my Father-in-law worked as an engine mechanic on Canadian anti-sub Liberators, and my Grandfather was a Chief Stoker Officer in the RCN on convoy escort duty. One kept 'em flying and the other benefitted from it.

[cjhenry]

Can't believe you don't have more subscribers, this is great content, glad this came up in my feed.

[NathanDudani]

Thanks for your historical contributions!

[markbuterbuagh]

My dad build part of the Nordon gun site for the plane. He worked at the gun factory in DC during the war.

[BlacktailDefense]

Very few PB4Y-2 Privateers were ever built in the first place, and fewer still survive to this day. I've had the fortune of seeing an even rarer example of an airworthy Privateer up close at the Planes of Fame Air Show in Chino, California. It's by a very wide margin my favorite warbird at that event, because it looks like it flew straight out an an alternate reality.

[MrCellophane]

I am pleased to hear you say bullet resistant rather than bullet proof. Many people have been mighty disappointed to learn that things that were said to be bullet *_proof_* … Weren't!

[jaex]

I love the detail and historical info in your videos. Thanks again for a great job.

[Chilly_Billy]

I'm trying to build a model of the dedicated B-24 U-boat killer and this detailed information is fantastic.

[indyjones]

LOVING this series. Keep 'em coming Sir!

[neeandertallllatrednaeen]

V514 is on display at the Naval Air Museum at Pensacola, FL. I was informed this was my Grandfather's plane as it's Crew Chief. Thanks for explaining why it had B-24 ancestry though he was patrolling in the Pacific at the time.

[albertjurcisin]

Solid, dependable information on attractive yet generally unrecognized topics. Excellent work!

[TempusFugit]

Thanks for another fine feature. Aviation History Nov. 2002 mag. has a great account of a 30 minute running battle between two Privateers and about a dozen N1K2 George fighters of the 343rd Kokutai.

[willbraxton]

I love your work. I learn so much thank you for all you do

[gregcollins]

You should check out the B-24 commerce killers that Pappy Gunn modified.

[marchutchings]

Hi from Sydney Australia, your videos are very informative and entertaining for those like me interested in history. Your work is much appreciated. Please keep these videos coming. Kind regards Marc.

[MegaBloggs]

there was definitely a coastal command modification liberator used by 120 squadron(terry bullocks unit) that had the ball and rear turret removed and the weight replaced by a fuel bladder. The front turret was removed and replaced by a quad 20 mm mount. There are two interviews with terry bullock (who sank at least 5 u-boats) and damaged several others where he describes attacking a uboat with this aircraft