Shot from control tower. Short history: 5/41: Given via Lend-Lease to the RAF as LB-30A AM927. Damage and returned to Consolidated and was used as a prototype for the C-87, with a cargo door cut in the side and operated by Consolidated for several years. 4/1/47: Registered as NL24927. 11/48: Continental Can Co. of Morristown, NJ, with c/r N1503. 4/11/59: PMEX-Petroleos Mexicanos, Mexico. 1967: Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX, with c/r N12905. 10/90: Re-registered as N24927.

Flying by the Control Tower. Short history: 5/41: Given via Lend-Lease to the RAF as LB-30A AM927. Damage and returned to Consolidated and was used as a prototype for the C-87, with a cargo door cut in the side and operated by Consolidated for several years. 4/1/47: Registered as NL24927. 11/48: Continental Can Co. of Morristown, NJ, with c/r N1503. 4/11/59: PMEX-Petroleos Mexicanos, Mexico. 1967: Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX, with c/r N12905. 10/90: Re-registered as N24927.

5/41: Given via Lend-Lease to the RAF as LB-30A AM927. Damage and returned to Consolidated and was used as a prototype for the C-87, with a cargo door cut in the side and operated by Consolidated for several years. 4/1/47: Registered as NL24927. 11/48: Continental Can Co. of Morristown, NJ, with c/r N1503. 4/11/59: PMEX-Petroleos Mexicanos, Mexico. 1967: Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX, with c/r N12905. 10/90: Re-registered as N24927.

5/41: Given via Lend-Lease to the RAF as LB-30A AM927. Damage and returned to Consolidated and was used as a prototype for the C-87, with a cargo door cut in the side and operated by Consolidated for several years. 4/1/47: Registered as NL24927. 11/48: Continental Can Co. of Morristown, NJ, with c/r N1503. 4/11/59: PMEX-Petroleos Mexicanos, Mexico. 1967: Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX, with c/r N12905. 10/90: Re-registered as N24927.

Not a very clear slide, but it does show "Diamond Lil" in the configuration as acquired from PEMEX Oil Co. of Mexico in 1968. 1972 was the first year this paint scheme was used. N24927 had an interesting history, having been built as part of a B-24A order for the RAF. After a mishap while still in the U.S., the a/c became the prototype for the C-87 version of the Liberator. After the war N24927 went through several civilian operators before joining the CAF, and is still on flying status with them.

Originally built for the RAF as AM927 (USAAF contract s/n 40-2366.) After a mishap while still in the U.S. it was rebuilt and became the prototype for the C-87 cargo version of the B-24.

Handed over to the RAF in May 1941, but remained based at Albuquerque, NM for training of RAF pilots by TWA instructors. Damaged in a landing accident in Jun 1941. Rebuilt as an RLB-30 with a solid keel (no bomb bay doors) and loaned to Consolidated for pax & cargo flights between their production plants in the USA. Operated with USAAF roundels as seen here, but reason unknown as still British-owned. Ownership transferred to Consolidated and registered to them as NL24927 on 1 Apr 1947. Sold to the Continental Can Company as an executive aircraft on 10 Nov 1948 as N1503. Became XC-CAY with PEMEX on 4 Nov 1959, then to N12905 with the Confederate Air Force in Jun 1968. Reregistered N24927 in Oct 1990 and was still flying as such by 2019.

Executive aircraft for the Continental Can Company, with their CCC logo on the nose. It served them from 1948 until 1959, when it was sold to PEMEX as XC-CAY, again as an executive aircraft. Acquired by the Confederate Air Force in 1967 and became N12905 the following year, flying as "Diamond Lil". Reregistered to N24927 in 1990, this Liberator was still flying with them by 2019.

In 1951, the Continental Can Company built a large timber hangar at Morristown to house its executive Liberator Express. Barely visible in this photo is the company's logo on the forward fuselage. The aircraft went to Mexico as XC-CAY in 1959, and became the Confederate Air Force's N12905 Diamond Lil in 1968. It was reregistered as N24927 in 1990 and was still flying as such by 2019. Photo from: Library of Congress

With the Continental Can Company's logo on the forward fuselage. Sold in Mexico as XA-CAY in 1959. Still flying as the Commemorative Air Force's "Diamond Lil" N24927 by 2019. Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

"Diamond Lil" at the Biggin Hill Air Fair during her 1992 European tour. The guy with the cam-corder certainly seems to be having a good look at the nose art !

"Diamond Lil" with flags flying at the 1992 Biggin Hill Air Fair

Built for USAAF as 40-2366 but transferred to the RAF as AM927 and used as a transport in WW2. Later N1503 and XC-CAY. Airworthy with the Confederate Air Force since 1968.