06/24/2026
Work continues on Diamond Lil in preparation for her joining the 2026 tour this summer. One of the big items was getting the fuel tanks resealed. You saw some of the prep work on a video a couple of weeks ago, but now the right fuel tank is 99% complete. Compare that prep video to the sealed tank in the photo. You can imagine how much work that was!
The B-24 Liberator used what were essentially integral fuel tanks built into the wing structure, commonly referred to as "wet wings." Unlike many later aircraft that relied heavily on removable rubberized self-sealing fuel cells or bladder tanks, much of the B-24's fuel was carried directly within sealed compartments formed by the wing structure itself.
This design was possible because of the Liberator's distinctive high-aspect-ratio Davis wing, which was thick enough to accommodate large fuel tanks within the wing. The arrangement provided excellent fuel capacity and contributed to the B-24's long range.
Importantly, early B-24As (and remember, Lil was 25th off the line) used integral wing tanks that were not self-sealing, making them vulnerable to battle damage. Combat experience led to the addition of self-sealing protection in many operational Liberators, particularly those intended for combat theaters. This protection typically consisted of laminated rubber walls, with vulcanized and raw rubber layers, that sealed bullet holes by swelling when fuel contacted the raw rubber layer.
