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B24 Liberator
The Consolidated B24 Liberator was designed during 1939 with the intention of creating an aircraft with superior performance to the B17. The first Liberator flew in prototype form near the end of December that year. This new aircraft featured a long high aspect ratio wing of 110 foot span, four Twin Wasp radial engines, twin fins and a deep fuslage designed to accomodate a vertically hung internal ordance load. The aircraft also had a tricycle undercarriage, this setting the Liberator apart form nearly all it's contemporaries which had what was then the conventional tail-dragger gear.
The aircraft was to prove a success in many different roles including use as a long range strategic bomber, reconaissance aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft and when redesignated the C87 a general transport plane.
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Initial production examples ended up in British hands after being diverted from their intended customers the French. These early examples were used by BOAC for Atlantic ferry operations and shortly after some were fitted out with radar and deployed to RAF Coastal Command units.
Major deployment of the type began later in 1941 to the USAAF. Small numbers of B24a and B24c were delivered but the first major deliveries were of the B24d, this having uprated engines and increased armament.
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B24 Liberators saw action in the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East where they served with the 9th Airforce. In Europe the planes flew alongside B17 Flying Fortresses on daylight raids but they came into their own in the expansive Pacific ocean theatre of operations where their great range was of major significance.
While the aircraft was faster than the Flying Fortress it had weaknesses relative to the Fort. Chiefly among these was a lack of robustness when under fire, the Liberator was unable to take the severe battering that a B17 could endure and make it back to base.
Later versions included the B24g and B24j these having increased defensive armament and better engines.
Well over 18,000 B24 Liberators were produced by the end of ww2 making the aircraft the most produced United States military type of the war. After ww2 the aircraft was soon taken out of service, the type being eclipsed by the advanced B29 Super Fortress.
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| B-24J Liberator |
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| Engine | 4x P&W R-1830-65 Twin Was 14cyl radials
1,200hp each |
Top Speed | 290 mph at 25,000ft altitude |
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| Weight | 56,000 lbs |
Wingspan | 110 ft |
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| Length | 67 ft 2 inches |
Weps | 10x half inch Browing mgs in various locations around the aircraft including tail, under-belly, nose, rear sides, top turret
5,000 lbs internal ordnance |
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| Country | USA |
Crew | |
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