Was the B-24 a good plane?

Was the B-24 a good plane?

Along with the B-17, the B-24 was the mainstay of the US strategic bombing campaign in the Western European theater. Due to its range, it proved useful in bombing operations in the Pacific, including the bombing of Japan.

Why were runways often a problem for the B-24 planes?

Flying the B-24s is dangerous business, even out of combat. Friends of Louie’s die and other crews go missing often. Planes malfunction, runways are too short, and the equipment is at times insufficient for the dangerous conditions the men face. For every plane lost in combat, six were lost in these accidents.

How many B-24 are still flying?

Of the 19,256 B-24, PB4Y, 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.

Was the B-17 pressurized?

The B-17 was not pressurized. Nor were any other bombers until the B-29. All crew were on breathing oxygen above 10,000 feet or so. A person could function above 10,000 feet without additional oxygen for awhile but performance slowly becomes worse with higher altitude.

What is the history of the B24 bomber?

The B-24 originated in a 1938 request by the Air Corps for Consolidated Aircraft to produce B-17’s. But Consolidated’s engineer, David Davis, had designed a wing suited for long-range bombers, a wing that offered 15 percent less drag than ordinary wings.

What kind of engine does a B 24D have?

Specs for late model B-24D: Four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 fourteen-cylinder radial engines, rated at 1200 hp. Performance: Maximum speed 303 mph at 25,000 feet.

Where was the Consolidated B-24 Liberator built?

United States Army Air Forces Consolidated B-24D Liberator over Maxwell Field, Alabama. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California.

How much weight can a B-24 bomber carry?

The B-24’s spacious, slab-sided fuselage (which earned the aircraft the nickname “Flying Boxcar”) was built around two central bomb bays that could accommodate up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) of ordnance in each compartment (but rarely did, as this decreased range and altitude).

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