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Many thanks to Paul Stahl Jr, for sending us this modification manual for the C-109 fuel transport, an modified verison of the B-24 bomber. His father, Paul Stahl Sr, was the project engineer for the C-109.
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Page 2 - Section 1 - Introduction to C-109 Airplanes
To provide additional ventilation for the nose compartment the original factory installed ventilation louvers intended for the nose turrets are left open, and an additional exhaust scoop in installed on each side of the the nose.
FLIGHT DECK
The flight deck has been stripped of all unnecessary items such as flak curtains, navigator's table and chair, and bombing instruments. This was done as part of the weight deletion program and also to make room for the various items of radio equipment which had to be relocated from other parts of the airplane. The relocation of radio equipment is more completely covered in the radio modification section of this manual.
Overhead, in the centre of the flight deck the Martin Power Operated Turret has been removed. The hole left by its removal is capped with a reinforced circular plate held in place with Cherry rivets. The bottom of this platae is then upholstered to conform with the rest of the upholstering on the flight deck.
Immediately under the flight deck the auxiliary power unit has been removed and in its place the CO2 bottle rack for the purging system has been installed. This rack holds four CO2 bottles and the four pressure reducing valves for the purging system.
Four 1/4" CO2 pressure lines run from the bottles in this rack for each cargo tank with the cables from the release valves running directly overhead, through the flight deck floor, to the pull handles. See page 8 of this manual for a more complete description and operation of this system
FORWARD BOMB BAY
The forward bomb bay is stripped of all bomb shackles, electric bomb release devices, and attendant wiring, and is equipped with two 400 gallo aluminium cargo fuel tanks.
These tanks are installed in straps and cradles furnished as a kit originally delivered with the airplane from the factory. One tank is installed on either side of the catwalk and against the bomb rails. These tanks are droppable with all fuel and vent connections having breakaway coupling.
AFT BOMB BAY
The aft bomb bay is also stripped of the bomb shackles, electric bomb release devices, and attendant wiring and is equipped with two 425 gallon aluminum cargo fuel tanks. These tanks are also droppable and are installed in straps and cradles similar to the front bomb bay tanks except that the release mechanism differs in details.
