NAS Fort Worth JRB airshow 17 April 2011

A special treat was an overflight of the only flying B-29 from the
Commemorative Air Force.

Photo by Bill Guy

This airshow was held on the 69th anniversary of the delivery to the Army of
the first B-24 Liberator from this location in 1942.

An LB-30, the former "Diamond 'Lil", converted to B-24 configuration, stole
the show. The aircraft rolled from the north end of the assembly building
at Air Force Plant 4, taxied across the field to the airshow for review by a
crowd estimated to be 70,000 people, and then took off and buzzed the field
twice before departing.

Photo by Bob Adams


From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Sunday, 15 April 1951 Sec3pg1


A high dramatic point was reached on April 17, 1942. Just a day less that a
year from the groundbreaking of AFP4, the first Fort Worth-assembled B-24
Liberator was rolled from the plant and taken on its maiden flight, 100 days
ahead of schedule.

Lord Halifax, the British ambassador to the United States, and Lady Halifax,
were present for that first flight. All 2625 plant workers had been excused
from their jobs to watch Halifax, with Division Manager George Newman at the
controls, fly from the plant with the workers cheering loudly at the sight.

"This sight," observed Lord Halifax, furnishes some of the white heat of
conviction and determination that must burn in the hearts of people if they
are to win a war."