The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American four-engine heavy bomber used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and other allied air forces during World War II. Of the 19,256 B-24, PB4Y-1, LB-30 and other model variants in the Liberator family produced, thirteen complete examples survive today, two of which are airworthy. Eight of the thirteen aircraft reside in the United States.
The B-24 was quickly declared obsolete by the USAAF and the remaining stateside aircraft were flown to desert storage in the US Southwest. In the Pacific theatre, many were simply parked, the oil drained from their engines and the aircraft left for reclamation by scrappers. The last flight of a B-24 in US military service was on 12 May 1959 when Strawberry Bitch left Bunker Hill Air Force Base (now Grissom Air Force Base), in Peru, Indiana following an Armed Forces Open House. It was bound for the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where it is now displayed.[citation needed]
Lend-Lease
While at the end of the war both the British Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force were willing to continue operating the B-24, the terms of Lend-Lease agreements stipulated that these aircraft had to be either paid for or returned to the US, and vast graveyards of aircraft accumulated in India as well as Tarakan and Australia.[citation needed]
India
When India gained independence in 1947, 39 abandoned Liberators were refurbished by Hindustan Aircraft for the Indian Air Force and served until their retirement in 1968. It is to this that six of the remaining thirteen B-24s owe their existence.[1]
Built at Consolidated San Diego as twenty-fifth LB-30/B-24 series aircraft, contract number 40-2366.[3] Originally ordered by France, then order taken over by Royal Air Force (RAF) and manufactured as RAF serial AM927. Delivered to Transcontinental and Western Air (TWA) for use at a TWA flight school in New Mexico to train RAF crews; involved in landing accident during training flight. Returned to San Diego for repairs and not sent to Britain. Kept by Consolidated and converted to similar standard as C-87, then used as transport aircraft, flying between production facilities; and as flight test aircraft, to help development of later models. Following WW2, ownership formally transferred from Britain to Consolidated in November 1945; sold to Continental Can Co. in 1948 and used as executive aircraft until 1955, then sold to Petroleos Mexicanos for further use as executive aircraft. Purchased in 1969 by Confederate Air Force (now named Commemorative Air Force). In 1971 restored in livery of 98th Bomb Group, Pyramiders of the 9th Air Force. Converted in 2006 to B-24A. Since 2012 wears livery of "Diamond Lil." Along with 44-44052, one of only two airworthy B-24s.[4]
Built at Consolidated San Diego as B-24D-10-CO. Sent to Fort Worth in late 1942 for modifications for Alaskan service. Assigned to 21st Bombardment Squadron at Adak Army Airfield. Crash landed on Great Sitkin Island 18 January 1943 due to bad weather. Located in summer 1994 by Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah. Recovered during summer 1995 and sent to California for restoration. Restored fuselage arrived at Hill Aerospace Museum 17 May 2002. Wings now completed and ready for final assembly.[5]
Built at Consolidated San Diego as B-24D-160-CO. Assigned to 512th Bomb Squadron. Flew 56 missions between 20 September 1943 and 10 June 1944.[6] Named as "Strawberry Bitch" at Herington Air Force Base by Flight Engineer Sergeant Haberman. Nose art painted at San Pancrazio, Italy. Returned ZOI 6 July 1944. Stored at Freeman Field, Illinois after WW2. Ferried to United States Air Force Museum in May 1959.[7]
Built at Consolidated San Diego as B-24M-5-CO. Converted to a US Navy PB4Y-1, BuNo 90155 for use by the United States Marine Corps as transport for the commandant. After the war, flown by Salem Engineering Company as a C-87 until 1951. Flown by Compañía Boliviana de Aviación and Bolivian Overseas Airways until 1973. Purchased by Castle Air Museum in 1982. Wears livery of 42-40369 "Shady Lady." Wears spurious serial 44-41916 on tail.[8]
Built at Consolidated San Diego as B-24M-10-CO. Assigned to RAAF No. 7 OTU as A72-176 at East Sale Airfield. Struck off 23 March 1948. Wings and tail scrapped. Purchased in 1948 by George Toye, and moved to his property in 1952. Stored outside. Under restoration at the former RAAF Werribee by B-24 Liberator Memorial Restoration Fund. Tail and wings taken from 42-41091 "Bunny Hop/Flying Wolf."[9]
Built at Consolidated Fort Worth as B-24J-85-CF. Delivered to USAAF October 1944. Assigned to the RAF in India and flown as a Liberator GR.VI serial number KH191. Abandoned in Khanpur, India following WW2. One of 39 B-24s restored Hindustan Aircraft and used as T-18 and used at the Indian Air Force Technical College at Jalahalli, India until December 1968. Abandoned in India following service. In 1982, purchased by Doug Arnold and sent to England and stored at Blackbushe until 1986. Purchased by Collings Foundation and rebuilt by Tom Reilly Vintage Aircraft in Kissimmee, Florida, using livery of 42-78444 "All American." First flown 8 August 1989. Repainted as 44-40973 "The Dragon and His Tail" in 1998. In 2005 repainted as 42-52534 "Witchcraft." Along with 40-2366, one of only two airworthy B-24s, although not currently flying.[11]
Built at Consolidated Fort Worth as B-24J-90-CF. Delivered to the RAF South East Asia Command and was flown as a Liberator GR.VI serial number KH304. Stricken off charge on 11 April 1946. One of the B-24s used by the Indian Air Force No 6 Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron as serial number HE877 and was operated until 1968. Placed in storage at Poona Air Base. Donated to Pima Air and Space Museum, arriving March 1969. Painted as "Paisano/Shoot You're Covered." Later painted as "Bungay Buckaroo."[12]
Built at Consolidated Fort Worth as B-24J-90-CF. Delivered to the RAF as a Liberator GR.VI serial number KH342. Abandoned in India in 1946. One of 39 B-24s restored by Hindustan Aircraft for use by the Indian Air Force as serial number HE924 and was operated until December 1968. Put on display at the Indian Air Force Museum at Palam following service.[citation needed]
Built at Consolidated Fort Worth as B-24J-95-CF. Delivered to the RAF South East Asia Command as a Liberator B.VI serial number KH401. One of 39 B-24s restored by Hindustan Aircraft for use by the Indian Air Force as serial number HE771 and flown until December 1968. Acquired by Yesterdays Air Force of Chino, California in 1973. Restored by Military Aircraft Restoration Corporation in 1982. Loaned to March Field Air Museum in 1984 and to Mid-America Air Museum in 1987. Acquired in 2001 by Fantasy of Flight. Although not airworthy, it is registered with FAA as N94459.[13] Wears livery of 42-50551 "Joe."[14]
Built at Ford Willow Run as B-24J-20-FO. Struck off 7 December 1945. Purchased by Spartan School of Aeronautics, Tulsa, Oklahoma and used as and instructional airframe. Later stripped and left derelict. Sold as scrap in 1960 and stored at Tulsa Airport. Purchased in 1978 by National Museum of the United States Air Force. Transferred to Barksdale AFB in December 1978. Restored in 1982 with livery of "Laiden Maiden." Later painted as "Louisiana Belle II." Now wears livery of "Rupert The Roo II",42-73076.[15]
Built at Ford Willow Run as B-24L-20-FO. Delivered to RAF in 1944 as a Liberator B.VIII serial number KN820. Abandoned in India after WWII. One of 39 B-24s restored by Hindustan Aircraft for use by the Indian Air Force as serial number HE773 and used until December 1968. After a Lysander from the National Air Museum was given to the Indian Air Force, the Indian Air Force reciprocated with HE773. Arrived in Canada June 1968. Wears livery of 44-50186 (RCAF 11130) of RCAF Eastern Air Command.[16]
Built at Ford Willow Run as B-24L-20-FO. Held in operational reserve until April 1945. Sent to Louisville, Kentucky in April 1945 for modifications. Flown to Dorval Field, Montreal, Quebec 2 June 1945. Sent to the RAF 231 Group in Dhubalia, India as a Liberator B.VI serial number KN751. Served with 99 Squadron at Cocos Islands. One of 39 B-24s restored by Hindustan Aircraft for use by the Indian Air Force as serial number HE807 until December 1968. Presented as gift to RAF Museum on 1 July 1974. Flown to UK and arrived 7 July at RAF Lyneham. Moved to Cosford in 1976. Painted in 99 Squadron markings with the "Flying Bee." motif.[lower-alpha 1] Transported to Hendon in September 2005.[17]
Built at Ford Willow Run as B-24M-20-FO. Assigned to Wright Aeronautical Development Center for ice research. It was retired in 1953 as the last B-24 Liberator in USAF service. The aircraft was moved to Lackland AFB Museum in Texas for display in 1956. Acquired by IWM in 1999 in exchange for several other aircraft. Wears livery of 44-50493 "Dugan." Dedication ceremony in March 2001 attended by George H. W. Bush.[18]
Built at Consolidated San Diego as a Liberator II (LB-30). The aircraft was part of a batch of 165 Liberator IIs ordered directly by the RAF without USAAF contract numbers. AL557 was taken on charge in Dorval, Quebec, Canada on 13 October 1941. Beginning 17 March 1942, the aircraft was assigned and operated with 224 Squadron and 120 Squadrons of the RAF Coastal Command. AL557 also flew with the 511 Squadron with British Overseas Aviation Corporation (BOAC) for the North Atlantic Return Ferry Service for the RAF Ferry Command where it was used as a freighter and to bring RAF crews to Canada, where they picked up lend-lease aircraft to ferry back to England. On 14 November 1942, the aircraft was operated by the RAF 1445 Flight. On 10 July 1943, it was flown to India and was assigned to the Southeast Asia Command with 159 Squadron for use as a transport. It left India on 23 May 1944 and was taken on charge with the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces on 22 February 1945. In April 1945, it was flown to Scotland to Scottish Aviation Ltd for conversion to passenger use. It was registered as G-AGZI with Scottish Aviation. On 1 March 1948, the aircraft was sold and was re-registered as SX-DAA "Maid of Athens" with Hellenic Airways in Athens, Greece. On 11 December 1951, the aircraft was sold to the Morrison-Knudson Company Inc out of Seattle, WA. It was re-registered as N9981F, then re-registered again as N68735. The aircraft was damaged when it skidded into a ditch on landing at Wales. AK on 1 June 1953. It was repaired and re-registered as N92MK. The aircraft crashed at Kalikat Creek, Alaska in 1958 and was abandoned. It was recovered in 1990 by Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum. The aircraft was sold in 1996 to the Lone Star Flight Museum of Galveston, TX. It was purchased later that year by Don Whittington/World Jet, out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The aircraft remains have been stored at Vintage Aircraft, Ltd in Ft. Collins, CO since 1996. In June 2023 the remains were purchased by Project Warbird out of Anderson, SC for restoration to flying status.[citation needed]
Built at Consolidated San Diego as B-24D. Named "Little Eva." Crashed near Gulf of Carpentaria on 3 December 1942. The wreckage is located to the north of Doomadgee.
Built at Consolidated San Diego as B-24D. Named "Lady Be Good." Crashed in Libyan desert 4 April 1943. Discovered in November 1958. Removed in 1994 and now in the city of Tobruk, Libya.
Built at Douglas Tulsa as B-24J. Named "Tulsamerican." Crash landed 17 December 1944 off coast of Vis on way back to Italy. Notable as last B-24 built at Douglas Tulsa plant. Discovered in late 2010.[23] Was the subject of a NOVA episode entitled "The Last B-24."
Built at Ford Willow Run as B-24J. "Le Petite Fleur." Ditched off the island of Hvar 20 November 1944 after bombing raid on Blechhammer, Germany. Discovered in 2014.[24]
Built at Ford Willow Run as B-24J. Crashed in Arizona on 15 September 1944 while en route from Bakersfield, California to Kirtland Field, New Mexico. It flew off-course and crashed into a boulder field near the top of Humphreys Peak at 0330 hrs.[28]
The lost aircraft, Consolidated Liberator III (B-24D) serial number 41-24236, was purchased in September 1942 from the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) as part of a four aircraft order. Once in RCAF service, the aircraft received the tail number 3701H and was to be used by No. 10 Squadron RCAF for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). However, it was deemed that the four aircraft were not capable of the ASW mission, so they were employed for training and general transport. Wreck on 20 October 1943, discovered on 20 June 1946.[29]
Notes
↑ The Flying Bee had been used on 99 Squadron Liberator KH399 coded "B"
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