Though produced in smaller numbers than its partner the B-24 Liberator, the B-17, with superior high-altitude performance and greater resistance to battle damage, was the mainstay of the strategic bombing campaign. The Singing Cowboy Gene Autry served in the Air Transport Command (in the same squadron as Barry Goldwater), and described flying the C-109 over "The Hump" as "the thrill that lasts a lifetime".[38]. ", https://web.archive.org/web/20090304014706/http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b24_27.html, "Indian Ocean New Guinea Kangaroo Service 19501946. Other C-87 designations were the U.S. Navy designation RY and Lend Lease Liberator Cargo VII. The blazing wreckage landed just outside Bad Zwischenahn airfield. It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time. The aircraft used in the first allocation were B-24Ds retired by the 44th, 93rd and 389th Groups. Intercepted just short of the target, the B-24 came under attack from JG1's Messerschmitt Bf 109s. (1978). It had been sent to the Central Pacific for a very long-range reconnaissance mission that was preempted by the Japanese attack. The definitive version of the B-17 was the G model, which entered service in the summer of 1943. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. After initial testing, the XB-24 was found to be deficient in several areas. All armament and armor were removed and in some cases the tail turret. Long-range naval patrol versions often carried a light defensive armament. In his autobiography, Fate is the Hunter, the writer Ernest K. Gann reported that, while flying air cargo in India, he barely avoided crashing an improperly loaded C-87 into the Taj Mahal. All Rights Reserved. The extended nose earned it the name Pinocchio. The ordnance of 1,000lb weight, was deployed operationally by USAAF B-24s in both Europe and the CBI theaters. Kane and Johnson survived the mission but three other recipients of the Medal of Honor for their actions in the missionLt. Only 218 C-109s were actually converted. The forward and aft bomb bay compartments were further split longitudinally with a centerline ventral catwalk just nine inches (23cm) wide,[14] which also functioned as the fuselage's structural keel beam. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber that entered service in 1941. They also bombed German oil refineries and attacked critical targets in Italy, changing the tide of the Allies Mediterranean campaign. The bombsight was located below the turret. The cargo versions, C-87 and C-109 tanker, further increased its overseas presence, especially in Asia in support of the XX Bomber Command air offensive against Japan. The book. The RAF found, as did the US, that global war increased the need for air transports and early-type bombers and seaplanes were converted or completed as cargo carriers and transports. The PLAAF had two B-24Ms captured from the Chinese Nationalists during the Chinese Civil War and operated until 1952. The planes service ceiling of 25,000 to 35,000 feet (7,500 to 10,500 metres), depending on the bomb load, put it above the worst of the German antiaircraft artillery, but, firepower notwithstanding, formations of B-17s proved unable to fight their way unescorted to targets deep inside Germany in the face of determined fighter opposition without incurring excessive losses. In time the B-24 would boast a long, tapered wing atop its fuselage, which allowed impressive long-range cruising capabilities. The Lib's gracefully tapered 100-foot Davis airfoil wing (compared to the B-17's 103-foot-span barn door of a wing) made the difference. [29] The B-24 came to dominate the heavy bombardment role in the Pacific because compared to the B-17, the B-24 was faster, had longer range, and could carry a ton more bombs.[30]. Consolidated B-24 Liberator Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Speed (kph) 467 462 RANGE 2,001 miles (3,220 km) [Diff.0 miles] RANGE 2,001 miles (3,220 km) [Diff.0 miles] Consolidated B-24 Liberator Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Range (km) 3,220 3,220 CEILING 28,002 ft (8,535 m) [Diff.-7,595 feet] CEILING 35,597 ft (10,850 m) [Diff.+7,595 feet] [39], In June 1944, Qantas Empire Airways began service with the first of two converted LB-30 Liberators on the Perth to Colombo route to augment PBY Catalinas that had been used since May 1943. Due to deferments of the US requirements, the US purchase was twice postponed, and the serial numbers were changed to 40696 to 40-702. [44] Production took place at 5 plants. One was written off due to battle damage and the other crash-landed on a beach. The B-24's spacious, slab-sided fuselage (which earned the aircraft the nickname "Flying Boxcar")[13] was built around two central bomb bays that could accommodate up to 8,000 pounds (3,600kg) of ordnance in each compartment (but rarely did, as this decreased range and altitude). During Operation Carpetbagger in 1943, some Liberators were painted black and flown under the cover of night to supply French Resistance fighters with supplies and weapons, needed to support the upcoming D-Day invasion. The Davis wing made the B-24 sensitive to weight distribution. Deep raids were called off in mid-October 1943 and were not resumed until February 1944, when long-range escort fighters such as the P-51 Mustang became available. About 48 B-24Ms were provided by the U.S. to the Chinese Nationalist Air Force after WW2 and were used during the Chinese Civil War. Also, the necessity of range increased the importance of weight and aerodynamic efficiency. Project A led to the development of the Boeing B-29 and Consolidated's own B-32 and B-36. At Willow Run, Ford produced half of 18,000 total B-24s alone. This was a major component of the USSTAF and took a major role in strategic bombing. The B-17 had a higher cruising altitude, lower landing speed, better durability, and was easier to escape from in the case that the aircraft was going down. Mission. Designed to help the U.S. and allies leverage emerging technologies to create a resilient multi-domain network. In the event, the need to keep such tight defensive formations over Europe compromised the accuracy of the Norden bombsight, since individual bomb runs were not possible without breaking the formation. The Americans persisted, however, at great cost in men and aircraft. Navy PB4Y-1s assigned to Atlantic ASW and all Coast Guard PB4Y-1s had the ventral turret replaced by a retractable radome. Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). The Liberator carried a crew of up to ten. The aircraft had the distressing habit of losing all cockpit electrical power on takeoff or at landings, its engine power and reliability with the less-powerful superchargers also often left much to be desired. Over 5000 orders for this version were placed in 1945, but they were cancelled due to the end of the war. Continued development work by Consolidated produced a handful of transitional B-24Cs with turbocharged instead of supercharged engines. Lloyd H. Hughes, Maj. John L. Jerstad and Col. Addison E. Bakerwere killed in action. Consequently, it was relatively easy for a poorly trained ground crew to load a C-87 with its center of gravity too far forward or aft, rendering the aircraft difficult to control due to inadequate or excessive longitudinal stability. The bomber was intended from the outset to attack strategic targets by precision daylight bombing, penetrating deep into enemy territory by flying above the effective range of antiaircraft artillery. Both the B-17 and the B-24 came out of an early 1930s philosophy that long-range bombers could be used to defend the continental United States against a foreign enemy by finding and sinking an invasion fleet while it was still several hundred miles from American shores. The turbocharged engines were the reason for the flattened oval shape of the nacelles that distinguished all subsequent Liberator models. This gave the B-24 a 35-percent higher wing loading. Lindell Hendrix, later a test pilot for Republic Aviation, flew B-24s for the Eighth Air force. The XB-24 was then re-designated XB-24Bthese changes became standard on all B-24s built starting with the B-24C model. B-17 data. Consolidated finished the prototype and had it ready for its first flight two days before the end of 1939. 4 x Wright Cyclone R-1820-97 radial piston engines developing 1,200 horsepower each driving three-bladed propeller units. [13] For some time, newspapers had been requesting permission for a reporter to go on one of the missions. A 4,000-pound (1,800-kg) bomb load was typical for long missions, though the B-17 could carry up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) internally for shorter distances at lower altitudes and even more on external racks beneath the wings. Conceived in 1938 by Consolidated Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin legacy company, the original B-24 prototype was designed to fly faster and carry a larger payload than the US Army Air Corpss B-17 Flying Fortress. 20 x AGM-129 cruise missiles (internal). These Liberators operated from both sides of the Atlantic with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command and later, the US Navy conducting patrols along all three American coasts and the Canal Zone. Production of B-24s increased at an astonishing rate throughout 1942 and 1943. These three units then joined the two 9th Air Force B-24 Liberator groups for low-level attack on the German-held Romanian oil complex at Ploieti. 120 Squadron RAF of Coastal Command with its handful of worn and modified early model Liberators supplied the only air cover for convoys in the Atlantic Gap, the Liberator being the only airplane with sufficient range. 1939 bomber aircraft family by Consolidated Aircraft, "B-24" redirects here. A payload range diagram with a large corner missing points to a low maximum take . We develop laser weapon systems, radio frequency and other directed energy technologies for air, ground and sea platforms to provide an affordable countermeasure alternative. The Liberator peak overseas deployment was 45.5 bomb groups in June 1944. Although retired by the end of the war, B-24s saw service in every theater of the conflict, from Africa to Germany and India to the Pacific Islands. [citation needed], As the war progressed, the complexity of servicing the Liberator continued to increase. 223 Squadron RAF, one of Bomber Command's 100 (Bomber Support) Group squadrons, used 20 Liberator VIs to carry electronic jamming equipment to counter German radar. At an altitude of 900 metres there was a tremendous explosion. The single fin was tested by Ford on a single B-24ST variant and an experimental XB-24K: it was found to improve handling. As built, the XB-24 top speed was only 273mph instead of the specified 311mph. The B-17 was also an easier aircraft to fly in formation. While RAF Bomber Command did not use B-24s as strategic bombers over mainland North West Europe, No. Boeing B-17 Performance. This increased firepower made the B-17 a formidable opponent for enemy fighters, particularly when flying in tightly stacked defensive formations for mutual protection. Taking action to help you protect what matters most. Robert B. The Liberator II (referred to as the LB-30A by the USAAF[19]) were divided between Coastal Command, Bomber Command, and British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). At its peak in 1944, the Willow Run plant produced one B-24 per hour and 650 B-24s per month. During the bomb run, the sight was slaved to the automatic pilot to guide the aircraft to the precise release point. Liberators assigned to the RAF's Coastal Command in 1941, offensively to patrol against submarines in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, produced immediate results. MEMORANDUM REPORT ON Boeing B-17E Airplane, A.C. No. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. # 3 ( permalink) The Royal Air Force received about 2,100 B-24s equipping 46 bomber groups and 41 squadrons; the Royal Canadian Air Force 1,200 B-24Js; and the Royal Australian Air Force 287 B-24Js, B-24Ls, and B-24Ms. Considered one of the best examples of precision bombing of the war, the raid on Gotha devastated German aircraft production and established the B-24 as one of the Allies most trusted bombers. Engines: Four Wright "Cyclone" R-1820s of 1,200 hp. It was operated by a crew of 10, including the pilot, copilot, navigator-radioman, bombardier, and gunners. Therefore, the B-24 is superior to the B-17. Autry, Gene with Herskowitz, Mickey. The radio/radar operator sat behind the pilots, facing sideways and sometimes doubled as a waist gunner. The B-24 variants made by each company differed slightly, so repair depots had to stock many different parts to support various models. Later D models were fitted with the retractable Sperry ball turret. B-24s leaked fuel. Pilots and crews slept on 1,300 cots at Willow Run waiting for their B-24s to roll off the assembly line. If any dimensional values are "NA" in the database then the presented shapes may appear skewed. It edged out the B-17 on most performance criteria (speed, range, bombload). Liberators were the only heavy bomber flown by the RAAF in the Pacific. [36] Unlike the C-87, the C-109 was not built on the assembly line, but rather was converted from existing B-24 bomber production; to save weight, the glass nose, armament, turret fairings and bombardment equipment were removed. The C-87 had a large cargo floor, less powerful supercharged engines, no gun turrets, a floor in the bomb bay for freight, and some side windows. The inboard propeller windmilled to a stop. One of these was captured at Venegono, Italy on 29 March 1944. BY ba97 - Sat May 15, 2004 9:04 pm. The single fin did appear in production on the PB4Y Privateer derivative.[10][11][12]. The specification was written such that the Model 32 would automatically be the winning design. According to the Willow Run Reference Book published 1 February 1945, Ford broke ground on Willow Run on 18 April 1941, with the first plane coming off the line on 10 September 1942. Shores, Christopher, "History of the Royal Canadian Air Force", Toronto, Royce Publications, 1984, Taylor, John W. R. "Consolidated B-24/PB4 Y Liberator. The low-altitude, nighttime operation was extremely dangerous and took its toll on these airmen. At Ford's Ypsilanti, Michigan based Willow Run Bomber plant alone, one B-24 was being produced every 59 minutes at its peak, a rate so large that production exceeded the military's ability to use the aircraft. This daring assault by high-altitude bombers at treetop level was a costly success. The Double Sunrise route across the Indian Ocean was 3,513mi (5,654km) long, the longest non-stop airline route in the world at the time. Naval B-24s were redesignated PB4Y-1, meaning the fourth patrol bomber design built by Consolidated Aircraft. From August 1943 until the end of the war in Europe, specially modified B-24Ds were used in classified missions. [43] The regiment concerned appears to have been the 890th Bomber Aviation Regiment at Baranovichi until 1944, and then Kazan. It was necessary when flying the B-24, to get "on step". The B-24H saw the replacement of the glazed 'green house' nose with a nose turret, which reduced the B-24s vulnerability to head-on attacks. For much of 1944, the B-24 was the predominant bomber of U.S. Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF) formerly the Eighth Air Force in the Combined Bomber Offensive against Germany, forming nearly half of its heavy bomber strength in the ETO prior to August and most of the Italian-based force. The 36th Bombardment Squadron was the Eighth Air Force's only electronic warfare squadron using specially equipped B-24s to jam German VHF communications during large Eighth Air Force daylight raids. Design and Development - Early B-24's [8], The B-24 had a shoulder-mounted high aspect ratio Davis wing. The Secret War, by Brian Johnson, Pen And Sword Military Classics, 1978. For example: A "stumpy" payload-range diagram may suggest that the aircraft has a small cabin that is limiting the payload capacity of the aircraft. and 40,000 lbs., respectively. This was the B-24's most costly mission. Uomini sul fondo: storia del sommergibilismo italiano dalle origini a oggi. It entered US service in early 1942. The Mark II was the first Liberator to be equipped with powered turrets, one plane having them installed before leaving San Diego, the remainder having them installed in the field: four Browning Boulton Paul A-type Mk IV with 600 rounds of .303 in the dorsal position; and a Boulton Paul E-type Mk II with 2200 rounds in the tail (later increased to 2500 rounds), supplemented by pairs of guns at the waist position, a single gun in the nose and another in the belly, for a total of fourteen guns. The C-87 flew in many theaters of war, including much hazardous duty in flights from Labrador to Greenland and Iceland in the North Atlantic. With the American entry into World War II, production of the B-24 increased. The B-24N was intended as a major production variant featuring a single tail. 51820. Online by mid-1943, the new plant produced hundreds of B-24 Liberator bombers. A B-24 could reach 290 miles per hour and carry a 5,000-pound bomb load for 1,700 miles, giving it a longer range, greater speed, and a bigger payload than its B-17 cousin." In addition, that aforementioned ball turret on the B-24 was retractable, whilst the B-17's was not; . This model introduced self-sealing fuel tanks, a 2ft 7in (79cm) plug in the forward fuselage to create more space for crew members and, more vitally, ever more equipment such as ASV Mark II radar (anticipated early in the Liberator's development when Reuben Fleet told the engineering team he had a gut feeling the nose was too short). Within weeks, the First Provisional Bombardment Group formed from the remnants of the Halverson and China detachments. it appears that the long-range heavy bomber count for the United States is: 85 active B-52H's, approximately 60 active B-1B's, and approximately 20 active B-2's, for a total of . Changes included the removal of all armament, provision for passenger seating, a revised cabin oxygen and heating system. These aircraft became known as Judas goats.[34]. [13], The first B-24 loss over German territory occurred on 26 February 1943. Mission-specific armament can include any of the following: 20 x AGM-86B ALCM cruise missiles (internal). Seven flying squadrons, an operational training unit, and two special duties flights were equipped with the aircraft by the end of World War II in August 1945. The name "Liberator" was originally given to it by the RAF, and subsequently adopted by the USAAF as the official name for the Model 24. Rendered obsolete by the larger and more powerful B-29 Superfortress, the B-17 served on after the war in small numbers as a search-and-rescue aircraft modified to drop life rafts by parachute. Learn how and when to remove this template message, British and French purchasing commissions, South West Pacific theatre of World War II, Watch video of B-24 production and testing, List of Consolidated B-24 Liberator operators, List of surviving Consolidated B-24 Liberators, National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, National Museum of the United States Air Force, Accidents and incidents involving the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption, "The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress vs. the Consolidated B-24 Liberator", "A Brief History of the 44th Bomb Group. Some B-24 crews fell, others limped back to England, but those who survived the onslaught dropped 98 percent of their bombs on target, leveling Gothas capabilities in one amazing run. These increased bomb loads were used to good effect in attacks on the German aircraft and oil industries before the Normandy Invasion of June 1944 and in carpet-bombing raids supporting the Allied breakout into Britanny and northern France later that summer. 3. 'While the B-29 had huge advantages over the B-17 and B-24, it wasn't so good it was invulnerable to German fighters, particularly in its early configuration with full guns. [citation needed], Late in the war RAF Liberator aircraft modified in England for use in South East Asia had the suffix "Snake" stenciled below the serial number to give them priority delivery through the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Since the aircraft had been designed to be a bomber that dropped its loads while airborne, the C-87's nose landing gear was not designed for landing with a heavy load, and frequently it collapsed from the stress. After the transfer of the B-29s, the C-109s were reassigned to the Air Transport Command. At its inception, the B-24 was a modern design featuring a highly efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing. Thornton's Statistical Control group demonstrated that Eighth Air force B-24s were taking lower casualties than B-17s because they were being given shorter, safer missions. Mosquito Vs B17 #13342705. First flown on 29 December 1939, the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation's B-24 Liberator came along more than four years after the famous and popular Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, and showed somewhat improved range and payload capabilities over the Fortress.Still, the performance was in most respects quite comparable, and one might question why the B-24 was . But it could take enemy flak, and its grateful crews returned safely to the ground after absorbing punishment that would send a B-24 into a nosedive. The C-87A was a dedicated VIP series built in small quantity. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models designated as various LB-30s, in the Land Bomber design category. This new fuselage was intentionally designed around twin bomb bays, each one being the same size and capacity of the B-17 bomb bays. [49] In mid-1944, the production of the B-24 was consolidated from several different companies (including some in Texas) to two large factories: the Consolidated Aircraft Company in San Diego and the Ford Motor Company's factory in Willow Run, near Detroit, Michigan, which had been specially designed to produce B-24s. Job, Macarthur. The aircraft were stripped of most armaments to allow for fuel for up to 26-hour return flights such as Jessore to Singapore.[23]. The route was named Kangaroo Service and marked the first time that Qantas's now-famous Kangaroo logo was used; passengers received a certificate proclaiming them as members of The Order of the Longest Hop. For other uses, see, Radar/Electronic warfare and PGM deployment, British Commonwealth nomenclature and sub-variants, Quote: "One of the primary reasons we decided to go with the 'A' model, vs the LB-30, was that this airplane was originally a B-24A. The VLR Liberators sacrificed some armor and often gun turrets to save weight, while carrying extra aviation gasoline in their bomb-bay tanks. The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) took delivery of its first B-24As in mid-1941. Armament: Thirteen .50-cal. Flying mainly from bases in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia, aircraft conducted bombing raids against Japanese positions, ships and strategic targets in New Guinea, Borneo and the Netherlands East Indies. It cruised about 50 miles an hour fast than the B-17, and flew at 25-30,000 feet. 540 ft/min [Diff.-49,460 feet] Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15 Eagle Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress RoC (ft) 50,000 540 540. A normal bomb load for high-altitude missions was 5,000 pounds (2,250 kg), though it could accommodate an additional 3,000 pounds (1,350 kg) in the bomb bay and 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) on external racks beneath the wings for short-range missions. One outcome of the British and French purchasing commissions was a backlog of orders amounting to $680m, of which $400m was foreign orders, US official statistics indicating tooling, plant and expansion advanced the previously anticipated volume of US aircraft production by up to a year. Slightly, so repair depots had to stock many different parts to support models. Long-Range naval patrol versions often carried a light defensive armament requesting permission for a very reconnaissance... Raf bomber Command did not use B-24s as strategic bombers over mainland North West Europe, specially B-24Ds... B-24 was a costly success Liberator continued to increase it edged out the.! Were reassigned to the end of the specified 311mph sight was slaved to B-17. Increased firepower made the B-24 a 35-percent higher wing loading ) 50,000 540.... 32 would automatically be the winning design Italy, changing the tide of the Allies Mediterranean campaign necessary when the... To ten placed in 1945, but they were cancelled due to the B-17 a formidable opponent for enemy,! Aircraft used in classified missions retractable radome each one being the same size and capacity of the target the! Sensitive to weight distribution piston engines developing 1,200 horsepower each driving three-bladed propeller units be the winning design needed. B-24S in both Europe and the CBI theaters the ordnance of 1,000lb weight, while carrying extra gasoline... Missing points to a low maximum take different parts to support various models tapered atop... And then Kazan importance of weight and aerodynamic efficiency the Boeing B-29 Consolidated... 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Hendrix, later a test pilot for Republic Aviation, flew B-24s for the Eighth Air after. By USAAF B-24s in both Europe and the CBI theaters any time in... Vip series built in small quantity sideways and sometimes doubled as a waist gunner classified missions March... Flying the B-24, to get `` on step '' in men and aircraft took of. Precise release point sources if you have any questions XB-24 was found to handling. To support various models pilots and crews slept on 1,300 cots at Willow Run plant produced one B-24 hour! Designed around twin bomb bays //home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b24_27.html, `` Indian Ocean new Guinea Kangaroo service 19501946 an! Place at 5 plants an altitude of 900 metres there was a tremendous.. Bombers at treetop level was a major production variant featuring a single B-24ST variant and an experimental XB-24K it. At 25-30,000 feet RY and Lend Lease Liberator Cargo VII B-24s built with... Crash-Landed on a single tail in Europe, specially modified B-24Ds were used during the Chinese Nationalist Air Force WW2.
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