The Liquidator took off from Naha’s Yomitan Auxiliary Airfield in Okinawa on Sep 10, 1945. It was headed for Nielson Field in Makati, Philippines, carrying 11 American, 4 Dutch and 5 Australian prisoners of war released by the Japanese. However, due to Typhoon Ursula, the Liquidator veered off course and crashed into the Xansazan Mountain. At least 2 other B-24 also crashed due to Typhoon Ursula.
After the crash, the Americans asked the Japanese Prefecture to form a search and rescue party. The first party confirmed all 25 onboard perished. A second party was sent to bring back the bodies. That’s when Typhoon Jean slammed into the island, killing 12 Pangcah (Amis), 1 Taiwanese, 1 Hakka, 1 Pingpu Aboriginal, 1 Bunun, 1 Puyuma members of the search team, and 2 Japanese police, and 7 Japanese Military Police. So more people from the second search and rescue team died than the actual plane crash.
Usually a B-24 would have 10 M2s, but since it was only delivering released POWs, the Liquidator only had 7 onboard. During the 228 incident, a police from Bul bul was sent to hide the 4 M2 Brownings strewn across the wreckage. He hid it in a cave. A recent expedition to the site rediscovered the M2 Brownings.
When I was in the military I was asked to take it out of the armory. It’s not stored in one piece because it would take up a LOT of room. I remember each the barrel and the receiver took quite some strength to carry. In fact it usually took 3 of us to take one out of the armory.
I just found it hard to believe it only weights less than 40kg. It felt heavier than this when I handled it.
