Martin Maryland.
Here’s a clue: under it’s original engine, it was reasonable, but, after just a few, a change was made to Merlin engines. This gave a better than exepected performance. The airframe was a pre-war design, but, in use pre-war to post war. This unique version of the aircraft though had a unique interior, which also resulted in a unique looking front fuselage.
I’ve been searching all day, the only thing I can come up with is the Wellington. How about another clue?
I want to say Bristol Blenhem, but I don’t think they ever had merlins did they?
Lancaster? Though I don’t know what version he’s talking about.
The only other planes I can think of that were re-engined with Merlins were the Beaufighter, but it went back to the original engine after the Mk II and the Mustang, but it doesn’t fit the second part of the question.
Bill
I think acmodeler01 may have hit the proverbial on the head with the pressurised Wellington Mk. VI? Looks like the same asthetic design team worked on the Nimrod AEW
You shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss your research acmodeler! Yes, as Milair says, it’s the pressurised Wellington. 3 were built with Bristol engines, 60 more with Merlins, as they boosted it to 40,000 feet. The design had some origin with pre-war Farmen attempts at pressurisation, which resulted in the deaths of the pilots. That is, it used a fuselage within a fuselage., with a dome for the pilot. Some aspects of the design came from pre-war American airliner attempts at pressurisation. The technology developed was then given to the Americans later.
So, acmodeler, over to you!
Haha! How about that! It wasn’t really a shot in the dark, but I wasn’t able to find any pics of the pressuruzed version, I just read a few discriptions of it and it sounded about right… I’ll be back with my Q in a bit…
OK, the challenge here is to consolidate all the clues and come up with a way to liberate the answer from the puzzle…[sml…]
I’ve seen this type called the most produced American combat aircraft. Although I only found it from one source, with over 18k produced, I’m sure that isn’t an unreasonable claim.
Even though the plane I’m looking for was lost on the way home from Poland, it is (or was) close to me. I’d like you to tell me why, what Its name was, and what made it unique.
Happy searching!
Long shot here;
B-24 “Flying Finger” was made at the Tulsa Aircraft Plant & lost while on a mission to the Polish border. Jack Cody was a gunner on this aircraft & was thrown, unconscious out of “Flying Finger” by another crew member after he ha been injured during an attack by German fighters.
Jack Cody survived & was taken POW, later to be “liberated” & go on to be recognised & properly distinguished?
You are getting pretty close.
Tulsamerica, 42-51430 - The last B-24 made in Tulsa, similar mission, lost on return.
The aircraft had a special connection with Tulsa, was paid for by war bonds from Tulsa & was signed by everyone involved in the making & funding of her.
On a sideline, right or not, I see that this aircraft may have been found. Some interesting info here;
You got it! It’s a pretty neat story. Here is some local perspective on it:
thats a cool story…you threw us off with the reference to “returning from Poland” because this plane’s target that day was in the center of Germany.
I think Blechhammer was at one point Polish?
This combat aircraft had a porcelain WC & a bollard & it wasn’t much liked by the enemy either?
forgive me for this, but what is a WC?
WC is water closet, aka toilet.
I’m going to take a shot with the Short Sunderland flying boat. It had a porcelain toilet, and a detachable bollard. It was also not liked by the enemy at all, the Germans called it “flying porcupine” because of the number of guns it carried. It was not a target that the Luftwaffe fliers were eager to engage. I found an account where one Sunderland was attacked by no less than 6 German Ju-88s…one Ju-88 was shot down, one was heavily damaged and the others ended up giving up the fight.
Sorry, we would usually call it a toilet, but I thought over there WC was a more common name for it?
Anyway, spot on with the with the German pilot & submariners favourite, the Sunderland.
