The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was a heavy bomber used by the US Army Air Forces during World War II. It was designed for precision attacks from high altitude, using the Norden bombsight. Although the B-17 Flying Fortress was more famous, the B-24 was newer, more efficient and more versatile than the Boeing design. By 1945, around 20,000 aircraft had been built. Thus, more Liberators were built than any other American aircraft in US history. All in all, it was a good bomber, serving on every front of this armed conflict, attacking arm factories and communication centers. However, its most valuable work may have been the war against the German U-boats as it was also used as a maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft in the Battle of the Atlantic.
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator prototype, the XB-24, first flew on December 29, 1939. It took off the runway of the Lindbergh Field airbase, San Diego, California. It was flown by chief test pilot William Wheatley. Its power plant consisted of four Prat & Whitney R-1830 piston engines, each one generating 1,200 horsepower. These engines would be replaced by more powerful ones in the first production version. The first production aircraft, which was a batch of six bombers, were rolled out at San Diego in 1940. These would be transferred to the British RAF and they would be followed by another 110 bombers. After almost two years of flight tests, it would finally be introduced into service with the US Army Air Forces in November 1941, as the B-24D version. 2,738 B-24Ds were assigned to the US Army's 8th and 9th Air Forces in Europe and North Africa. However, most of the Liberators, especially the B-24G, B-24H, B-24J, and the B-24L variants, would be employed in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
Technical Description
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was a large, four-engine monoplane of all-metal construction. The fuselage consisted of semi-monocoque aluminum sheet. It was fitted with cantilever, shoulder wing, with straight leading edge and tapering trailing edge. The tail assembly consisted of a large, straight horizontal stabilizer and twin fins. The fuselage had twin bomb-bays and used roller shutter doors. The B-24D had a glazed 'green house' nose. The aircraft had self-sealing fuel tanks and tricycle-type landing gear. Having an ample fuel storage capacity, the Liberator had a very long range.
Specifications (B-24D)
Type: heavy bomber
Length: 20.22 m (66 feet, 4 inches)
Wing Span: 33.52 m (110 feet)
Wing Area: 97.36 m2 (1,048 square feet)
Height: 5.46 m (17 feet, 11 inches)
Power Plant: four 1,200-HP, Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 Twin Wasp, radial piston engines.
Maximum Speed: 488 km/h (300 mph)
Range: 2,896 km (1,799 miles)
Service Ceiling: 9,900 m (32,500 feet)
Crew: 10
Armament: ten 12.7-mm (.50-cal) M2 Browning machine guns mounted in four turrets on dorsal, tail, nose, and side positions. 3,629-kg (8,800-lb)
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| Above, the B-24D variant in flight. |
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| The prototype XB-24 flying over California around 1939. |
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| The B-24J model flying over the Pacific at the end of WWII. |