Also: B-24 has greater bombload and can cruise faster. The B-24 featured a tricycle undercarriage, the first American bomber to do so,[9] with the main gear extending out of the wing on long, single-oleo strut legs. Avro Lancaster Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Range (km) 4,070 3,220 CEILING 24,508 ft (7,470 m) [Diff.-11,089 feet] CEILING 35,597 ft (10,850 m) [Diff.+11,089 feet] Avro Lancaster Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Ceiling (m) 7,470 10,850 ARMAMENT STANDARD: 2 x 0.303 caliber (7.7mm) Browning machine guns in nose turret. Sharing production with the Douglas, Lockheed, and Vega companies, Boeing oversaw the manufacture of some 12,730 Flying Fortresses, nearly all of them committed to high-altitude bombing over Europe. Continued development work by Consolidated produced a handful of transitional B-24Cs with turbocharged instead of supercharged engines. After the transfer of the B-29s, the C-109s were reassigned to the Air Transport Command. [40], Two squadrons of the South African Air Force (SAAF) also flew B-24s: 31 and 34 Squadrons under No 2 Wing SAAF based at Foggia, Italy. You can always go back and, Four-Engined Strategic Heavy Bomber Aircraft. [49] Up into December 1944, Ford had also produced an additional 7242 KD or 'Knock Down' Kits that would be trucked to and assembled by Consolidated in Ft. Worth and Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa. Maximum payload is the difference between maximum zero-fuel Weight and operational empty weight . These aircraft became known as Judas goats.[34]. B-17 wing . 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. 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 RAF and later American patrols ranged from the east, based in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Iceland and beginning in mid-1943 from the Azores. ". Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). The tailplane featured two large oval vertical stabilizers mounted at the ends of a rectangular horizontal stabilizer. 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. Radar Counter Measures (RCM) was code-named CARPET, however, this should not be confused with agent and supply drops, code-named "Carpetbaggers". Additionally, the Liberator equipped a number of independent squadrons in a variety of special combat roles. These aircraft flew between the United Kingdom and Egypt (with an extensive detour around Spain over the Atlantic), and they were used in the evacuation of Java in the East Indies. The Liberator peak overseas deployment was 45.5 bomb groups in June 1944. The bombsight was located below the turret. However, whereas a combat-loaded B-24 could safely take off with room to spare from a 6,000ft (1,800m) runway, a loaded C-109 required every foot of such a runway to break ground, and crashes on takeoff were not uncommon. The Liberators flew a shorter 3,077mi (4,952km) over-water route from Learmonth to an airfield northeast of Colombo, but they could make the flight in 17 hours with a 5,500 pounds (2,500kg) payload, whereas the Catalinas required 27 hours and had to carry so much auxiliary fuel that their payload was limited to only 1,000 pounds (450kg). Some RAAF aircrew were given operational experience in Liberators while attached to USAAF squadrons. This role was dangerous, especially after many U-boats were armed with extra anti-aircraft guns, some adopting the policy of staying on the surface to fight, rather than submerging and risking being sunk by aerial weapons such as rockets, gunfire, torpedoes and depth charges from the bombers. Leutnant Heinz Knoke (who finished the war with 31 kills) shot down the Liberator. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. The pilot and co-pilot sat alongside each other in a well-glazed cockpit. The radio/radar operator sat behind the pilots, facing sideways and sometimes doubled as a waist gunner. [citation needed]. The design was simple in concept but, nevertheless, advanced for its time. The XB-24 was then re-designated XB-24Bthese changes became standard on all B-24s built starting with the B-24C model. Ferry Command's Atlantic Return Ferry Service flew civilian ferry pilots, who had delivered aircraft to the UK, back to North America. Post and five other reporters of The New York Times were granted permission. Some were fitted with a belly pack containing fixed, forward-facing cannon. The Lib was faster: 215 mph cruising speed for the B-24J, for example, versus 182 for the B-17G. 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. The maximum takeoff weight was one of the highest of the period. In the China Burma India Theater (CBI), the C-87 was used to airlift cargo and fuel over the Hump (the Himalayas) from India to China. By the end of the conflict, over 18,500 B-24s had been constructed making it the . Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Its lower altitude made it more vulnerable to flak. The blazing wreckage landed just outside Bad Zwischenahn airfield. 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. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The B17 was a sedate aircraft and placed fewer demands on the flight deck crew. Cruising speed: 170 mph. [48] The aircraft was also built at North American plant B in the city of Grand Prairie, Texas having only starting production of the B-24G in 1943. Armament: Thirteen .50-cal. 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. Then came a firestorm of antiaircraft cannon shells, rockets and air-burst bombs, turning the skies into a hellish expanse of bullets, smoke, and flak. It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time. Subject: Acceptance Performance Tests Section: Flying Branch . B-17s couldn't carry as heavy a payload as the B-24, nor fly as far or as fast. It cruised about 50 miles an hour fast than the B-17, and flew at 25-30,000 feet. It had turbocharged engines and increased fuel capacity. And that was even if the US had bases nearby! According to the history of the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, at least one squadron was assigned to the IX Troop Carrier Command in Europe to transport gasoline to advancing ground and air forces on the Continent after the Normandy invasion. These aircraft were redesignated LB-30A. Helicopter widths include main rotor diameter. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) took delivery of its first B-24As in mid-1941. After the Fall of France the French orders were in most cases transferred to the United Kingdom. Fifteen of the 15th AF's 21 bombardment groups flew B-24s. Within weeks, the First Provisional Bombardment Group formed from the remnants of the Halverson and China detachments. The Privateer had non-turbosupercharged engines for weight savings and optimal performance at low to medium patrol altitudes, and was visually distinguishable from the B-24 and PB4Y-1 by its longer fuselage, single tall vertical stabilizer (rather than a twin tail), two dorsal turrets, and teardrop-shaped waist gun blisters (similar in appearance to those on Consolidated's own PBY Catalina). Early versions were fitted with a single .50 caliber (12.7mm) Browning machine gun in their tails, and a XC-87B version proposed two .50 caliber (12.7mm) fixed machine guns for the nose, operable by the pilot, though these were eventually removed. 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. Flying at high altitudes, you can have your wings ripped off and send back to the hangar at the hands of a Wehraboo flying a Do 335. Among the specialized squadrons were the 20th RS (RCM), 36th BS (RCM), 406th NLS, 63rd BS (SB) SeaHawks, 373rdBS (LAB) and 868th BS (SB) Snoopers. Hendrix did not permit smoking on his B-24, even though he was a smoker. This was a major component of the USSTAF and took a major role in strategic bombing. [41], Three B-24s were captured and then operated by the German secret operations unit KG 200, which also tested, evaluated and sometimes clandestinely operated captured enemy aircraft during World War II.[42]. Munson, Kenneth, "Bombers 1939-45, Patrol and Transport Aircraft", Macmillan Publishing Company, Inc., New York, Blandford Press Ltd., 1969, LCCN 77-92035, page 156. The added advantage was the American types could be assessed in the European war zone earlier. Your selected aircraft are compared in side-by-side arrangement below. 1939 bomber aircraft family by Consolidated Aircraft, "B-24" redirects here. The defensive armament of the B-24 varied from transport variants, which were usually unarmed, to bombers armed with up to ten .50 caliber (12.7mm) M2 Browning machine guns located in turrets and waist gun positions. In Eighth Air force combat configuration, the aircraft carried 8000lb (3600kg) of bombs. Arrangements for signal lighting varied from group to group, but generally consisted of white flashing lamps on both sides of the fuselage arranged to form the identification letter of the group. The payloads for the B-52H and B-2 are usually given as about 70,000 lbs. In April 1939, the USAAC initially ordered seven YB-24 under CAC contract # 12464. It could manage an altitude of no more than 25,000ft (7600m), three or four thousand feet less than a B-17, but it flew 10-15mph (16-24 km/h) faster. 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. B-17 data. The seventh aircraft was used by Consolidated and the USAAC to test armor installations as well as self-sealing fuel tanks. [9] The wing was also more susceptible to damage than the B-17's wing, making the aircraft less able to absorb battle damage. "Misadventure at Mauritius.". In the period between 7 November 1942 and 8 March 1943, the 44th Bomb Group lost 13 of its original 27 B-24s. Milano: Mondadori. [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]. At Willow Run, Ford produced half of 18,000 total B-24s alone. As built, the XB-24 top speed was only 273mph instead of the specified 311mph. Because of their special skills, they were called upon to fly fuel to General George Patton's army during the summer and early autumn of 1944 when it outran its fuel supply. The B-24D was the first mass-produced series. Although the B-24 did not meet Project A goals, it was a step in that direction. Knoke reported: "The fire spread out along the right wing. [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. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. 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. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber that entered service in 1941. One major failure of the prototype was that it failed to meet the top speed requirements specified in the contract. [43] The regiment concerned appears to have been the 890th Bomber Aviation Regiment at Baranovichi until 1944, and then Kazan. 2023 Lockheed Martin Corporation. ", Bhargava, Kapil, Group Captain (ret'd). 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. 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; . After initial testing, the XB-24 was found to be deficient in several areas. 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. Hendrix figured that Germans understood it was easier to hit, and that it carried more bombs. Kane and Johnson survived the mission but three other recipients of the Medal of Honor for their actions in the missionLt. The Liberators range proved invaluable in scouting and destroying German U-boats, creating safe passage for Allied transports and destroyers across Europe. The success of the Mosquito as a pathfinder or tactical bomber is without challenge. In total, a stunning 18,482 B-24s were produced to wage war against the Axis powers. 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. One of these was captured at Venegono, Italy on 29 March 1944. . The attack became disorganized after a navigational error which alerted the defenders and protracted the bomb run from the initial point. [28] The B-24 was vital for missions of a radius less than 1,000mi (1,600km), in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters where U.S. Navy PB4Y-1s and USAAF SB-24s took a heavy toll of enemy submarines and surface combatants and shipping. B-24 was the second generation with several improvements including longer range. Australian aircrew seconded to the Royal Air Force flew Liberators in all theatres of the war, including with RAF Coastal Command, in the Middle East, and with South East Asia Command, while some flew in South African Air Force squadrons. I: Plans & Early Operations, January 1939 to August 1942, Consolidated B-24D page, USAF National Museum, WWII photos of the 7th AAF Heavy Bombardment Group Liberators, SP-468 Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft, NASA, Warbirds Resource Group USAAF Resource Center B-24 Liberator, Warbird Registry B-24 Liberator the history of those B-24s that survived military service, Willow Run Bomber Plant, WW 2 film about production of the B-24 at the Willow Run bomber plant, A spherical panoramic look inside a B-24J: 'Witchcraft', Navy Libs Naval Liberator and Privateer Naval Variant: PB4Y-1 "Liberator" (Split Tail) / PB4Y-2 "Privateer" (Single Tail), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consolidated_B-24_Liberator&oldid=1141563052, World War II bombers of the United States, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from May 2015, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from December 2011, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pages semi-protected from banned users, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016, Articles needing additional references from December 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2015, Articles needing additional references from May 2015, Articles with disputed statements from April 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Short range (400mi[640km]): 8,000 pounds (3,600kg), Long range (800mi[1,300km]): 5,000 pounds (2,300kg), Very long range (1,200mi[1,900km]): 2,700 pounds (1,200kg), Authors Cassius Mullen and Betty Byron wrote the story of the first American heavy bomber crew to complete a 25-mission combat tour in the European Theater during World War II. 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