After a journey of 1200 miles from Benghazi, Libya, an air armada of 178 B-24 Liberators arrived at their destination in the early afternoon of August 1, 1943. 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. [citation needed]. The anti-aircraft shell hit the left wing from the bottom breaking it off, sending the plane spinning . Online by mid-1943, the new plant produced hundreds of B-24 Liberator bombers. 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. Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters. Plans originally called for 2,000 C-109s to support 10 groups of B-29s (approximately 400) in China, but the capture of the Mariana Islands provided a far more easily resupplied location for raids on mainland Japan, and the plans were greatly scaled back. The first Liberators in British service were ex-USAAF YB-24s converted to Liberator GR Is (USAAF designation: LB-30A). Originally formed as the Philippine Department Air Force in August 1941; Stationed in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Operating in the Far East, Australia, New Guinea and Philippines. Initially, these aircraft were to be given USAAC serials 39681 to 39-687. The story has made the rounds in books and on websites, on Wikipedia and in U.S. Missile Defense Agency reports: the only V-2 ever shot down in flight was destroyed by a B-24 bomber. Before the Leigh Light, not a single enemy submarine had been sunk in over five months, but in combination with radar, it was so overwhelmingly effective that many German submarine crews chose to surface during the day so that they could at least see the aircraft attacking them and have a chance to fire their anti-aircraft weaponry in defense.[26][27]. [37] Many C-109s were lost in flying the Hump airlift to China. The specification was written such that the Model 32 would automatically be the winning design. Only one B-24 was officially delivered to the USSR according to the Lend-Lease agreements, stranded in Yakutsk while flying a government mission to the Soviet Union in November 1942. The U.S. Navy received 977 PB4Y-1s (Liberators originally ordered by the USAAF) and 739 PB4Y-2 Privateers, derived from the B-24. Kane and Johnson survived the mission but three other recipients of the Medal of Honor for their actions in the missionLt. 373 BS attached, July 1945 to provide sea search capabilities to VII BC, FEAF. Consolidated's engineers sketched out a rough version of a bomber using Davis' wing in late 1938. Maximum Range: 2,850 miles Khalid Elhassan - October 17, 2018 "From my mother's sleep I fell into the State, And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze. The navigator and bombardier who could also double as a nose or wiggly ear gunners (guns mounted in the sides of the aircraft nose) sat in the nose, fronted on the pre-B-24H models with a well-framed "greenhouse" nose with some two dozen glazed panels and with two flexible ball-mounts built into it for forward defensive firepower using .30 caliber (7.62 mm) Browning M1919 machine guns. Crews flew with the bomb bay doors slightly open to dissipate potentially explosive fumes. First B-24 raid on Japanese Home Islands in 1943. This meant climbing to about 500ft (150m) above cruise altitude, levelling off, achieving a cruise speed of 165170mph (266274km/h), then descending to assigned altitude. [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. The B-24D on display flew combat missions from North Africa in 1943-1944, and was eventually sent to storage after the war to Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona. 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. An unusual four-panel set of all-metal, tambour-panel "roller-type" bomb bay doors, which operated very much like the movable enclosure of a rolltop desk, retracted into the fuselage. Doolittle Raid (April 18, 1942), during World War II, U.S. Army Air Forces bombing raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities. The 5,453 U.S. deaths from the disease in the week ending Monday is down from 12,263 who died in one week a month earlier - and down from 21,383 in one week just two months ago. The seventh aircraft was used by Consolidated and the USAAC to test armor installations as well as self-sealing fuel tanks. 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. At 59,524 pounds (27,000kg)[dubious discuss] (29.76 short tons) maximum takeoff weight, it was one of the heaviest aircraft in the world; comparable with the British "heavies", with fully loaded weights of 30 short tons for (and nearly identical to) the Stirling, the 34 short ton Lancaster and the 27 short ton Halifax. Lloyd H. Hughes, Maj. John L. Jerstad and Col. Addison E. Bakerwere killed in action. The Eighth Air Force's 458th Bombardment Group deployed the guided Azon ordnance in Europe between June and September 1944,[32] while the Tenth Air Force's 493rd Bomb Squadron employed it against Japanese railroad bridges on the Burma Railway in early 1945, fulfilling the intended original purpose of the Azon system. The aircraft used in the first allocation were B-24Ds retired by the 44th, 93rd and 389th Groups. In some groups an observer officer flew in the tail position to monitor the formation. One was written off due to battle damage and the other crash-landed on a beach. Post and five other reporters of The New York Times were granted permission. In the Pacific, to simplify logistics and to take advantage of its longer range, the B-24 (and its twin, the U.S. Navy PB4Y) was the chosen standard heavy bomber. The aircraft demonstrated unstable flight characteristics with all storage tanks filled, and proved very difficult to land fully loaded at airfields above 6,000ft (1,800m) MSL in elevation, such as those around Chengdu. Autry, Gene with Herskowitz, Mickey. The ordnance of 1,000lb weight, was deployed operationally by USAAF B-24s in both Europe and the CBI theaters. Fuel leaks inside the crew compartment from the hastily modified long-range fuel system were an all-too-common occurrence. The flight engineer sat adjacent to the radio operator behind the pilots; he operated the upper gun turret (when fitted), located just behind the cockpit and in front of the wing. In addition, 73 Liberators of various models that had force-landed on European airfields were recovered and 30 of them were repaired and used by the 45th Bomber Aviation Division. Giorgerini, Giorgio (2002). "The Spitfire had . Liberators were credited in full or in part with sinking 93 U-boats. The B-24 variants made by each company differed slightly, so repair depots had to stock many different parts to support various models. 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. [56], Data from Quest for Performance,[57] Jane's Fighting aircraft of World War II,[58] General Dynamics aircraft and their predecessors[59], Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era, "B-24" redirects here. . 2010.320, Date Introduced: 1942 Consolidated incorporated innovative features such as a tricycle landing gear and Davis wing. B-24s were also used by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps for ASW, anti-ship patrol, and photographic reconnaissance in the Pacific Theater, and by the U.S. Coast Guard for patrol and SAR. The wreckage of a World War II B-24 bomber has been discovered in Papua New Guinea, 74 years after it was shot down during a fierce battle with Japanese forces. It used differential braking and differential thrust for ground steering, which made taxiing difficult.[16]. In Eighth Air force combat configuration, the aircraft carried 8,000 pounds (3,600kg) of bombs. As a result, the mechanically supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-1830-33s were replaced with the turbo-supercharged R-1830s. 51820. (Later versions were fitted with a powered twin-.50 caliber (12.7mm) M2 Browning machine gun nose turret.) Continued development work by Consolidated produced a handful of transitional B-24Cs with turbocharged instead of supercharged engines. Primary USAAF Air Force in the China-Burma-India theater. Heavy bomber training organizations primarily under II Bomber Command in the United States and non-combat units are not included. ", "Old China Hands, Tales & Stories The Azon Bomb. 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130info@nationalww2museum.org A heavily loaded B-24 was difficult to fly at speeds of less than 160mph (260km/h). At its peak in 1944, the Willow Run plant produced one B-24 per hour and 650 B-24s per month. The attack became disorganized after a navigational error which alerted the defenders and protracted the bomb run from the initial point. The new Model 32 combined designer David R. Davis's wing, a high-efficiency airfoil design created by unorthodox means,[6] with the twin tail design from the Consolidated Model 31 flying boat, together on a new fuselage. B-24s leaked fuel. ", "B-24D-53-CO "Shady Lady" Serial Number 42-40369", US Army Air Forces in World War II: Vol. Transferred Liberators to Fifteenth Air Force in November 1943, becoming tactical air force in Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) primarily supporting Fifth Army (XII Tactical Air Command) in Italy, also operating in Southern France and Germany supporting Seventh Army. Sixth Air Force begin in February 1917, formally established as Panama Canal Air Force in October 1940. North American plant B in the city of Grand Prairie, Texas, produced aircraft appended -NT. [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. It holds records as the world's most-produced bomber, heavy bomber, multi-engine aircraft, and American military aircraft in history. This new fuselage was intentionally designed around twin bomb bays, each one being the same size and capacity of the B-17 bomb bays. The incident happened on August 26, 1944, two days after a Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber of the United States Army Air Forces was shot down by heavy anti-aircraft fire over Hanover. The B-24 was built by a consortium of companies. Collection of The National WWII Museum. 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. Primary strategic bombardment Air Force of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) operating from airfields in Southern Italy. [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]. Had 15 B-24 groups. Ultimately a total of twenty-one Liberator-equipped groups were deployed and operated with the Eighth Air Force 2d and 3d Bombardment Divisions. During a bombing mission against anti-aircraft installations in the Palau Islands, a B-24 bomber is hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and crashes in flames. The book. Two RAF bomber squadrons with Liberators were deployed to the Middle East in early 1942. All five plants switched over to the almost identical B-24J in August 1943. Consolidated finished the prototype and had it ready for its first flight two days before the end of 1939. Transferred B-24s to Twelfth Air Force in October 1943; reassigned to England to become tactical air force supporting American First Army (IX Tactical Air Command), Third Army (XIX Tactical Air Command), and Ninth Army (XXIX Tactical Air Command). The US Navys primary dive-bomber at the wars start, the Douglas SBD Dauntless earned its reputationand helped earn victoryat the 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking four Japanese carriers. Naval B-24s were redesignated PB4Y-1, meaning the fourth patrol bomber design built by Consolidated Aircraft. Aircraft had the ability to undertake surprise air attacks against surfaced submarines. The turbocharged engines were the reason for the flattened oval shape of the nacelles that distinguished all subsequent Liberator models. [20] Hendrix preferred the B-24 to the B-17. Shame. Manufacturer: Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft Corporation; Ford Motor Company; North American Aviation; Douglas Aircraft Company The bombsight was located below the turret. Along with the B-17, the B-24 was the mainstay of the US strategic bombing campaign in the Western European theater. The single fin was tested by Ford on a single B-24ST variant and an experimental XB-24K: it was found to improve handling. A host of famous fighters and bombers in the Allied arsenal spearheaded the aerial offensives that helped secure victory against the Axis powers in World War II. [8], The B-24 had a shoulder-mounted high aspect ratio Davis wing. As built, the XB-24 top speed was only 273mph instead of the specified 311mph. Knoke reported: "The fire spread out along the right wing. Bombing raids against targets in Italy, then took part in raids on Germany, Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Romania. This forward fuselage is made possible through a gift of Jim Sowell, whose father, Billy Z. Sowell, flew a B-24 with a photo reconnaissance squadron. . Thus the first six YB-24 were released for direct purchase under CAC contract # F-677 on 9 November 1940. At its inception, the B-24 was a modern design featuring a highly efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing. 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. Over 5000 orders for this version were placed in 1945, but they were cancelled due to the end of the war. 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). The Liberators made a significant contribution to Allied victory in the Battle of the Atlantic against German U-boats. 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). Supported the invasion of southern France. Initially formed as the Hawaiian Air Force in October 1940. The first Liberator mission from England took place on October 9, 1942. The low-altitude, nighttime operation was extremely dangerous and took its toll on these airmen. It had a short lifejust 22 months. While RAF Bomber Command did not use B-24s as strategic bombers over mainland North West Europe, No. 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. During the three large attacks the B24s were used in about half were lost each time. Ferry Command's Atlantic Return Ferry Service flew civilian ferry pilots, who had delivered aircraft to the UK, back to North America. [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. Such were the production numbers it has been said that more aluminum, aircrew, and effort went into the B-24 than any other aircraft in history.[45]. Twelve thousand saw service with the USAAF, with a peak inventory in September 1944 of 6,043. With that a second chart showing losses by month which is a small percentage when compared to the ETO. Some of the best known examples were the B17 Flying Fortress, B24, B25, B29 (all bombers), P47 and P51 . [13] Of the 177 B-24s that were dispatched on this operation, 54 were lost.[13]. 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. Liberators were the only heavy bomber flown by the RAAF in the Pacific. In January 1939, the USAAC, under Specification C-212, formally invited Consolidated[7] to submit a design study for a bomber with longer range, higher speed and greater ceiling than the B-17. Its lower altitude made it more vulnerable to flak. 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 Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. After the Fall of France the French orders were in most cases transferred to the United Kingdom. Hendrix claimed that a lightly loaded B-24 could out-turn a P-38 Lightning. Colonel Leon W. Johnson, the 44th's commander, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership, as was Col. John Riley "Killer" Kane, commander of the 98th Bomb Group. Early in the campaign, the C-87 was the only readily available American transport that could fly over the Himalayas while heavily loaded, rather than relying on circuitous and highly dangerous routes through valleys and mountain passes, but the type was not very popular with crews: they complained of various hazards including the fuel system, engines and cockpit accessories, while the type was notorious for leaking fuel tanks and mid-air fires a constant danger. [18], Early orders, placed before the XB-24 had flown, included 36 for the USAAC, 120 for the French Air Force and 164 for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Aside from these stories of miracles there were often stories of fellow pilots being shot down while flying a B-24 Liberator that might . Douglas Aircraft in Tulsa, Oklahoma, built airframes appended -DT. Despite disappointing action at Midway, the Avenger served as the US Navys primary torpedo bomber, effectively interdicting enemy shipping and delivering ordnance on enemy positions throughout the Pacific. Whereas the B-17 used 9-cylinder Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines, the Consolidated design used twin-row, 14-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-1830 "Twin Wasp" radials of 1,000hp (750kW). 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 Liberator originated from a United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) request in 1938 for Consolidated to produce the B-17 under license. 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. Additionally, the tail span was widened by 2ft (0.61m) and the pitot-static probes were relocated from the wings to the fuselage. The U.S. Navy had been using B-24s with only minor modifications as the PB4Y-1 Liberator, and along with maritime patrol B-24s used by RAF Coastal Command this type of patrol plane had been quite successful. Formed November 1942. Many B-24 missions were round trips of 1,500 miles and some extended ranges were near 2,000 miles. From LT Whittaker's unit, the 456th Bomb Group alone, six B-24's were downed. 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. [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. [citation needed], In all, 18,482 B-24s were built by September 1945. 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. Armament: Eleven .50 caliber machine guns. ANS 2. Aircraft losses were also grim: 10, 561 planes of varying types were shot down, 4754 of those were B-17 heavy . 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. It is currently at the American Museum at Duxford Aerodrome, England painted as 44-50492, a B-24M that was assigned to the 392d Bombardment Group, 578th Bombardment Squadron. 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. Later modifications gave it a single tail and yet another type of engine packages bring it to near C-87C configuration. The US policy at the time, despite neutrality, was that American requirements could be deferred while its Allies could immediately put US production into the war effort. For a time, it was on display at Lackland AFB, Texas, with the armament and gunner positions restored.
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how many b24 were shot down in ww2
