B-24 nose gunner William Deary reunited with rare, airworthy Liberator heavy bomber at Air Zoo

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on August 06, 2014 at 2:00 PM, updated November 21, 2014 at 11:53 AM

PORTAGE, MI – "It's beautiful, I like it."

89-year-old William Deary, a B-24 nose gunner during World War II, was all smiles as he walked around and then through the inside of an airworthy Consolidated B-24A Liberator, called 'Diamond Lil,' at the Air Zoo on Tuesday morning.

Climbing up a flight of stairs into the rear of the aircraft and then down onto a catwalk through the bomb bay leading to the cockpit, it was apparent that Deary knew the plane that he flew into combat nearly 70 years ago like the back of his hand.

Handling a .50 caliber machine gun at the waist gunner's position brought back memories about training flights, running his hand along propeller blades attached to the four radial engines along the wings reminded him of what flying in a B-24 was like and standing near the nose of the aircraft brought back memories of his harrowing experience parachuting from his damaged aircraft and then becoming a prisoner of war.

At every turn, both inside and outside the bomber, Deary's recollections about World War II and his time in B-24s flowed forth like water out of a spigot.

There was just one small problem that Deary noticed as he ducked, crouched and weaved his way through the bomb bay and cockpit of the B-24A.

"I don't remember having to duck down this much during the war," he joked.

The B-24A that Deary toured is owned and operated by the Commemorative Air Force, a non-profit organization committed to preserving and displaying historic aircraft throughout the United States.

The CAF, based in Texas, sends certain aircraft in their collection on "AirPower Tours" where they visit airshows and airports around the country during the summer months in order to educate the public about the role that the aircraft played during the Second World War.

In addition to being allowed to get up close and even walk through certain aircraft, rides are offered for those wishing to experience what flight in an aircraft produced more than 70 years ago is like.

A ride in the CAF's B-24A costs $399, $375 when booked online.

Jim Neill, the loadmaster on the CAF's B-24A, said that the Liberator always attracts veterans with a connection to the aircraft wherever they go.

"We usually get 10-15 per city," he said. "It's mostly vets with a connection to the B-24. They want to come out and show family and friends the aircraft they flew in."

In addition to interacting with veterans, families and their friends, Neill said that the sheer emotion associated with educating people and offering rides wherever they go is incredible.

"It's touching," he said. "It's emotional for all of us. We know that we've done something good."

The B-24 was the most widely produced heavy bomber during the Second World War, with more than 18,000 "Liberators" of all variants rolling off production lines.

Today, only two B-24s remain airworthy.

The CAF's B-24A was the 18th Liberator to roll off assembly lines and is considered especially unique because of the fact that it is one of only a handful of early war aircraft that are maintained in flying condition.

Following service in World War II, the CAF's B-24A served as an executive transport for the Consolidated Can Company and Pemex-Petroleos Mexicanos before the CAF purchased the aircraft in 1968.

While not the exact variant of the B-24 that he took into combat during the war, simply seeing a Liberator bomber sitting on the ramp at the Air Zoo stirred a lot of memories for Deary.

"It definitely has lots of memories," Deary said, looking up and down the aircraft's length. "It was such a part of my life as an 18-to-20-year-old."