This is a typcial scaffolding set-up which groundcrews would use to make repairs to larger aircraft. Covering sections of such large airframes to protect crews against the elements was always problematic in forward tropical airbases, and rarely achieved. Such facilities existed only in Australian locations such as Townsville where major repairs were made in huge hangars built by the 4th Air Depot, or even Charters Towers where the 35th Air Depot performed similar feats.

Incidentally, the digits 983 on the tail indicate to Aerothentic's specialist knowledge that this Liberator is B-24J-120-CO serial # 42-109983 which served with the Jolly Rogers' 400th Bombardment Squadron. The aircraft was named Ho Hum but was lost on 8th April 1945 when it exploded in mid-air during a bombing mission.

Want to know what happened to any Fifth Air Force aircraft ? See our Complimentary Aircraft Identification Service for details.

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