Warplanes of the USA: Louisiana, New Orleans, National World War II Museum

Warplanes preserved in New Orleans, in the National World War II Museum, 945 Magazine Street, 70130.

(Author Photos)

Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress (Serial No. 41-9032).  Built at Boeing Seattle as B-17E. Assigned to 342nd Bomb Squadron and named "My Gal Sal." During a ferry flight on 27 June 1942, crash landed in Greenland. All crew members survived and were rescued ten days later. Wreck discovered in 1964. Salvaged in the 1990s by Gary Larkins and stored at Tillamook Air Museum. Purchased by Bob Ready. Restoration began in 2000.  In 2013 transported to National World War II Museum for display.

(Author Photos)

Consolidated B-24D Liberator "Over Exposed” nose section.

Consolidated OY-1 Sentinel.

(Author Photos)

Douglas C-47A Skytrain (Serial No. 42-93096).

(Author Photos)

Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless (BuNo. 06508), 41.

(Author Photos)

General Motors TBM-3 Avenger (BuNo.).  This aircraft is depicted as Lt. (jg) Thomas C. Lupo’s Avenger at the Battle of Samar, the “Bayou Bomber.”  Flying from the USS Fanshaw Bay, Lupo made repeated attack runs on the IJN Yamato, one of the largest battleships in history.  After Lupo expended all of his ammunition, he continued making runs on Yamato, throwing a Coke bottle and other loose articles from his aircraft at the ship’s bridge trying to distract the Yamato from its attack on U.S. ships. The actions of Lt. Lupo, a number of other pilots, and a heavily outgunned group of U.S. Navy destroyers blunted an attack by a formidable Japanese naval force and saved the large U.S. force that was landing in the Philippines to dislodge Japanese occupiers.

(Author Photos)

Messerschmitt Bf 109G (Serial No.), replica, "Red 3".

(Author Photos)

North American B-25 Mitchell (Serial No. 44-29812), "Safe Return".

(Author Photos)

North American P-51D Mustang (Serial No. TBC), “Bunnie/Miss Kentucky State”.

(Author Photos)

Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. Vb, RAF (Serial No. BL370), SH-J, presentation aircraft, “Gungaon II Punjab”.  The fuselage is original but the wings are replicas without the radiator.

(Author Photos)

Vought F4U-4 Corsair (BuNo. TBC), 833.  This aircraft is a composite of different Marks of Corsair.

(Author Photo)

Waco CG-4A.

If you found this valuable, consider supporting the author.