What plane was called The Liberator?
B-24
B-24, also called Liberator, long-range heavy bomber used during World War II by the U.S. and British air forces. It was designed by the Consolidated Aircraft Company (later Consolidated-Vultee) in response to a January 1939 U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) requirement for a four-engined heavy bomber.
How many crew were on a Liberator bomber?
ten
The Liberator carried a crew of up to ten. The pilot and co-pilot sat alongside each other in a well-glazed cockpit.
Did the RAF fly liberators?
Liberators were used by RAF bomber squadrons in the Middle East, and from January 1944 became the principal RAF strategic bomber in the Far East. Liberators were also deployed by RAF Coastal Command, playing a key role in the war against Germany’s submarine fleet….Consolidated B-24L Liberator.
| Museum: | London |
|---|---|
| On Display: | Yes |
Where can I see a B-24 bomber?
Surviving aircraft
| Serial | Geographic location | Institutional location |
|---|---|---|
| 44-44175 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | Pima Air and Space Museum |
| 44-44213 | Delhi, India | Indian Air Force Museum |
| 44-44272 | Polk City, Florida, United States | Fantasy of Flight |
| 44-48781 | Bossier City, Louisiana, United States | Barksdale Global Power Museum |
How many crew are on the B-24?
The most common Liberators produced were the B-24D and the aircraft dad was shot down on during his tenth mission, the B-24J. A B-24 carried a crew of eight to ten men (a ten man crew was most common) comprised of both officers and enlisted men.
How many bombers did Ford build?
Ford built 6,972 of the 18,482 total B-24s and produced kits for 1,893 more to be assembled by the other manufacturers. The B-24 holds the distinction of being the most produced heavy bomber in history.
What kind of bomber was the Consolidated B-24 Liberator?
Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. 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.
What was the belly turret on a B-24 Liberator?
The B-24D initially featured upper, belly and tail turrets, plus swiveling single guns in the waist and on either side of the nose. The belly turret was a periscopically sighted Bendix model. The turret proved unsatisfactory and was soon replaced by a tunnel gun, which was itself omitted.
How did the B-24 Liberator reduce aerodynamic drag?
The B-24 used two vertical stabilizers at the rear and featured two bomb bays. Reducing aerodynamic drag was one of Consolidated’s main goals with the B-24. The B-24’s bomb bay doors retracted into the fuselage when open, rather than unfold into the oncoming air like rivals.
What kind of undercarriage did the B-24 have?
The B-24 featured a tricycle undercarriage, the first American bomber to do so, with the main gear extending out of the wing on long, single-oleo strut legs. It used differential braking and differential thrust for ground steering, which made taxiing difficult. This section needs additional citations for verification.