Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Maritime patrol



The Liberators made a great contribution to Allied victory in the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] against German [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

The decision to allocate some Liberator Is to Coastal Command in 1941 to patrol the eastern [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] produced immediate results.

The Very Long Range (VLR) Liberators "almost doubled the reach of Britain's maritime reconnaissance force".

This extended range enabled Coastal Command patrols to cover part of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], where U-boats had operated with near impunity.

For 12 months, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] of Coastal Command with its handful of much-patched and modified early model
Liberators, supplied the only air cover for convoys in the Atlantic Gap, the Liberator being the only warplane with sufficient range.

The VLR Liberators sacrificed some armor and often gun turrets in order to save weight, while carrying extra aviation [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in their bomb-bay tanks.

Liberator Is were equipped with ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) Mark II [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], which together with the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] gave them the ability to hunt U-boats by day and by night.

These Liberators operated from both sides of the Atlantic with the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] from the west; and with the RAF from the east, based in [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and beginning in mid-1943 from the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

This role was dangerous, especially after many U-boats were armed with extra [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] guns, some adopting the policy of staying on the surface to fight, rather than submerging and risking being sunk by ASW (anti-submarine
warfare) torpedoes and depth charges from the bombers.

In addition to flying from the East Coast of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], American Liberators flew from [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and from wherever else they could fly far out over the Atlantic.

The rather sudden and decisive turning of the Battle of the Atlantic in favor of the Allies in May 1943 was the
result of many factors.
However, it was no accident that it coincided with the long delayed arrival of many more VLR Liberators for maritime patrols.
Liberators were credited in full or in part with 72 U-boat sinkings.

In addition to very long range patrols, the B-24 was vital for patrols of a radius less than 1,000 mi (1,600 km), in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters where U.S. Navy [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and USAAF B-24s took a heavy toll of German and Japanese submarines, and also some Japanese surface shipping.

The Consolidated Aircraft
Company PB4Y Privateer was a World War II [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] that was derived directly from the
B-24 Liberator. The U.S. Navy had been using unmodified B-24s as the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and this type of patrol plane was
considered to be quite successful. However, a fully-navalized design was
advantageous, and Consolidated Aircraft developed a purpose-built long-range
patrol bomber in 1943, designated [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], that was visually distinguishable
from the B-24 and PB4Y-1 by having a single vertical stabilizer rather than a
twin tail.

Variants and conversions 1


U.S. Army Air Force Variants



[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] (Consolidated Model 32)

Designed in 1938 as an improvement on the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], at the request of the Army Air Corps. It had a wing specially designed for a high [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], tricycle [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], and twin vertical stabilizers. The XB-24 was ordered in 1939 March, and first flew on 29 December 1939. (Total: one)

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] Preproduction prototypes

Six examples were sent to Great Britain under lend-lease, designated LB-30A.

B-24

Service test version of the XB-24, ordered on 27 April 1939, less than 30 days after the XB-24 was ordered and before its completion. A number of minor modifications were made: elimination of leading edge slots, addition of de-icing boots. (Total: seven; only one used for actual testing)

B-24A/LB-30B

Ordered in 1939, the B-24A was the first production model. Due to the need for heavy bombers, the B-24A was ordered before any version of the B-24 flew. The main improvement over the XB-24 was improved aerodynamics, which led to better performance. Some sent to Great Britain under lend-lease as LB-30B. (Total: 38,20 LB-30Bs, 9 B-24Cs)

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

When the XB-24 failed to reach its projected top speed, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]-33 radials rated at 1,000 hp (746 kW) it carried were replaced with R-1830-41 turbo-supercharged radials rated at 1,200 hp (895 kW), increasing its top speed by 37 mph (59 km/h). The engine cowlings were made elliptical to accommodate the addition of the
turbo-superchargers. The XB-24B version also lacked the engine slots of the original. (Total: one converted XB-24)


B-24C

Conversion of the B-24A using turbo-supercharged R-1830-41 engines. To hold the supercharger and the intercooler intake, the cowlings were made elliptical and the new items added on the sides. The tail [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] position was improved by adding an Emerson A-6 power turret with twin .50 caliber (12.7 mm) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]; a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] power turret was added to the forward fuselage. (Total: nine converted B-24As)


B-24D

First model produced on a large scale; ordered from 1940 to 1942, as a B-24C with better engines (R-1830-43 supercharged engines). During the production run, the tunnel gun in the belly was replaced by a remote-sited [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] belly turret; this was later replaced by a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] ball turret. In late B-24Ds, "cheek" guns were added. (Total: 2,696: 2,381[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien],[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]; 305 Consolidated, [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]; 10 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]).


B-24E

A slight alteration of the B-24D built by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], using R-1830-65 engines. Unlike the B-24D, the B-24E retained the tunnel gun in the belly. The USAAF used the B-24Es primarily as training aircraft since this model was not current in
armaments and other technology as were the aircraft being produced by Consolidated / San Diego (CO). Ford also built sub-assemblies for [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]; these sub-assemblies were identical to Ford-built B-24Es, except that they used the
same engines as the B-24D (R-1830-43 radials). These sub-assemblies were called PK ships and were shipped by truck from Willow Run to the final assembly in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Total: 801)


XB-24F

A prototype made to test thermal de-icers instead of the standard inflatable rubber "boots". (Total: one converted B-24D)


B-24G

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] ball turret, three .50 caliber (12.7 mm) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] in nose. All B-24Gs were built by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien],
which was contracted in 1942. (Total: 25)


B-24G-1

Modified Emerson A-6 tail turret in nose instead of two–three .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns in earlier models.
The B-24G-1 was based on the design of the B-24H (Total: 405)

B-24H

Because of obvious vulnerability of the B-24 to head-on attack, the B-24H design made by Ford used a nose turret, generally a modified Emerson A-6 tail turret. The entire aircraft was redesigned to better fit the turret; 50 airframe changes were made, including a redesigned bombardier compartment. The tail turret was given larger windows for better visibility, the top turret a higher bubble, and the waist gunner positions were offset to reduce their interference during battle. (Total: 3,100)


B-24J

The B-24J was very similar to the B-24H, although the defensive improvements made in the B-24H were not incorporated in the B-24J. The B-24J featured an improved autopilot (type C-1) and a bombsight of the M-1 series. B-24H sub-assemblies made by Ford and constructed by other companies and any model with a C-1 or M-1 retrofit, were all designated B-24J. (Total: 6,678)

XB-24K

An experimental aircraft, made by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] by splicing a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] tail empennage onto a B-24D airframe. The aircraft was more stable and had better handling than other models, but changing the B-24 design was too expensive to do at the time. (Total: one converted B-24D)

Variantes, suite :

B-24L

Because of the immense weight of the B-24J, the Army pushed for a lighter version. In the B-24L, the ball turret was replaced by a floor ring mount with two .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns, and the A-6B tail turret by an M-6A. In later aircraft no tail armament was installed, and when they arrived at their airfields either an A-6B, an M-6A, or a
dual-mount manual .50 caliber (12.7 mm) gun was field-installed. (Total: 1,667)


B-24M

An enhancement of the B-24L with further weight-saving devices. The B-24M used a more lightweight version of the A-6B tail turret; the waist gunner positions were left open. For better visibility, the windshield was replaced by a "knife-edge" dual pane version. The B-24M became the last production model of the B-24; a number of the B-24s built
flew only the course between the factory and the scrapheap. (Total: 2,593)


XB-24N

A redesign of the B-24J, made to accommodate a single tail. It also featured improved nose and tail turrets. While 5,168 B-24Ns were ordered, World War II ended and there was no longer any need for them. (Total: one)


YB-24N

Pre-production service test version of the XB-24N. (Total: seven)

XB-24P

A modified B-24D, made by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] to test airborne fire control systems. (Total: one converted B-24D)

XB-24Q

A [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] conversion of the B-24L, using radar-controlled tail turrets. (Total: one converted B-24L).


XB-41

Because there were no fighters capable of escorting bomber formations on deep strike missions early in World War II, the Army authorized tests for heavily armed bombers to act as escorts for bombing missions. The XB-41 had fourteen .50 caliber (12.7 mm) [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], through the addition of a Bendix chin turret and a dorsal [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] power turret on the mid-fuselage and was completed in 1942. Performance changed drastically with the addition of more turrets. The escorts were also unable to keep up with bomber formations once the bombs had been dropped. The results of 1943 testing were very negative and the project was quickly cancelled. (Total: one converted B-24D)


AT-22 or TB-24

C-87 used for flight engineer training.


RB-24L: Developed for training B-29 gunners on an identical remote gun system installed on a B-24L.


TB-24L: As with the RB-24L, but with additional radar equipment.


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Passenger transports with accommodation for 20 passengers.


C-87A: VIP transports with R-1830-45 instead of -43 engines and sleep accommodations for 16 passengers.


C-87B: Projected armed transport variant with nose guns, dorsal turret, and ventral tunnel gun; never produced.


C-87C: U.S. Army Air Force/Air Force designation for the RY-3.


XC-109/C-109

Tankers with specialized equipment to help prevent explosions, used to ferry fuel from India to China to support initial
B-29 raids against Japan.


XF-7

Photographic reconnaissance variant developed from the B-24D.


F-7

Photographic reconnaissance variant developed from the B-24H; -FO block.

F-7A

Photographic reconnaissance variant developed from the B-24J; three cameras in the nose and three in the bomb bay.


F-7B

Photographic reconnaissance variant developed from the B-24J; six cameras in the bomb bay.

BQ-8

A number of worn-out B-24D and B-24Js were converted as radio-controlled flying bombs to attack Japanese islands. [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] was killed in a BQ-8 during [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]

U.S. Navy nomenclature and sub-variants


PB4Y-1

B-24D with different nose turret for U.S. Navy. Designation later applied to all G, J, L and M models received by the U.S. Navy.


PB4Y-1P

Photographic reconnaissance variant developed from the PB4Y-1.

PB4Y-2 Privateer

See [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]


P5Y

Proposed twin-engined patrol version of PB4Y-1. Unbuilt.


RY-1

U.S. Navy designation for the C-87A.

RY-2

U.S. Navy designation for the C-87.

RY-3

Transport variant of the PB4Y-2

British nomenclature and sub-variants


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B-24A, direct purchase aircraft for the RAF. (Total: 20) Considered unsuitable for combat, some rebuilt as the GR.1 and used in British anti-submarine patrol squadrons.

Liberator B Mk II

The first combat-ready B-24. The modifications included a three-foot nose extension as well as a deeper aft fuselage and wider tailplane – there was no direct B-24 equivalent but similar to the B-24C, built to meet British specifications with British equipment and armament. A small series of B Mk IIs were reconstructed as unarmed transports, designated the LB-30 with the USAAF. (Total production: 165)

Liberator B Mk III

B-24D variant with single .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine gun in the nose, two in each beam position, and
four in a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] tail turret – similar to that on contemporary British heavy bombers such as the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] – as well as other British equipment. The Martin dorsal turret was retained. (Total: 156)

Liberator B Mk IIIA: Lend-Lease B-24Ds with American equipment and weapons.

Liberator B Mk IV

Reserved for the B-24E, but there is no record of the RAF actually receiving any.

Liberator B Mk V

B-24D modified for extra fuel capacity at the cost or armor, with the same armament fit as the Liberator Mk III.

Liberator B Mk VI

B-24Hs in RAF service fitted with Boulton Paul tail turrets, but retaining the rest of their armament.

Liberator B Mk VIII

RAF designation for B-24Js.

Liberator GR Mk V

B-24D modified by [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] for the anti-submarine role with search [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] and [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]. Some were fitted with eight zero-length rocket launchers, four on each wing.

Liberator GR Mk VI

B-24G/H/J type used as a long-range general reconnaissance aircraft by RAF Coastal Command.

Liberator GR Mk VIII

B-24J modified by RAF Coastal Command for the anti-submarine role.

Liberator C Mk VI

Liberator B Mk VIII converted for use as a transport.


Liberator C Mk VII

British designation for C-87.

Liberator C Mk VIII

Liberator G Mk VIII converted for use as a transport.


Liberator C Mk IX

RAF designation for the RY-3/C-87C

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 Middle East.

excellent [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir cette image]

Bibliography

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Merci Danielle ! [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir cette image]

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j'aime cette photo,

on dirait un avion en bois [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir cette image]

Un tour en images du B 24

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