b24 vs b17 range and payloadb24 vs b17 range and payload

[9] The C-87 also shared the Liberator's dangerous sensitivity to icing, particularly prevalent over Himalayan routes. 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. Hendrix figured that Germans understood it was easier to hit, and that it carried more bombs. This wing was highly efficient allowing a relatively high airspeed and long range. The U.S. Navy received 977 PB4Y-1s (Liberators originally ordered by the USAAF) and 739 PB4Y-2 Privateers, derived from the B-24. The B-24N was intended as a major production variant featuring a single tail. As these aircraft normally returned to base once a formation had been established, a skeleton crew of two pilots, navigator, radio operator and one or two flare discharge operators were carried. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. After it was discovered that these problems could be alleviated by flying with the forward storage tank empty, this practice became fairly routine, enhancing aircrew safety at the cost of some fuel-carrying capacity. 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. The program was run under the umbrella group, "Project A", an Air Corps requirement for an intercontinental bomber that had been conceived in the mid-1930s. The first USAAF Liberators to carry out combat missions were 12 repossessed LB-30s deployed to Java with the 11th Bombardment Squadron (7th Bombardment Group) that flew their first combat mission in mid-January. The B-24's spacious, slab-sided fuselage (which earned the aircraft the nickname "Flying Boxcar")[13] was built around two central bomb bays that could accommodate up to 8,000 pounds (3,600kg) of ordnance in each compartment (but rarely did, as this decreased range and altitude). By 1941, B-24s were being shipped to Great Britain, where they were given the name Liberator and adapted for a variety of purposes, including coastal patrol, protecting critical Atlantic cargo ship convoy crossings. The Secret War, by Brian Johnson, Pen And Sword Military Classics, 1978. The aircraft were stripped of most armaments to allow for fuel for up to 26-hour return flights such as Jessore to Singapore.[23]. In addition, the small number of Liberators operated by No. The XB-24 was then re-designated XB-24Bthese changes became standard on all B-24s built starting with the B-24C model. Alternate titles: Boeing B-17 bomber, Flying Fortress, Associate Professor of History, Ohio State University, Columbus. [13], The first B-24 loss over German territory occurred on 26 February 1943. This was the B-24's most costly mission. NOTES: Shapes below depict aircraft from wingtip-to-wingtip / nose-to-tail assuming aircraft are being viewed from overhead perspective (the nose pointing towards the top of the screen). The blazing wreckage landed just outside Bad Zwischenahn airfield. By mid 1943 this was being pushed to 60,000lbs and eventually on to 64,000lbs. First flown on 29 December 1939, the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation's B-24 Liberator came along more than four years after the famous and popular Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, and showed somewhat improved range and payload capabilities over the Fortress.Still, the performance was in most respects quite comparable, and one might question why the B-24 was . [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. A payload range diagram (also known as the elbow chart) illustrates the trade-off between payload and range. machine guns with normal bomb load of 6,000 lbs. The Liberators which had served early in the war in the Pacific continued the efforts from the Philippines, Australia, Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, Hawaii, and Midway Island. At its peak in 1944, the Willow Run plant produced one B-24 per hour and 650 B-24s per month. Consolidated incorporated innovative features such as a tricycle landing gear and Davis wing. The B-24H was 10 inches (25cm) longer, had a powered gun turret in the upper nose to reduce vulnerability to head-on attack, and was fitted with an improved bomb sight (behind a simpler, three-panel glazed lower nose), autopilot, and fuel transfer system. Project A led to the development of the Boeing B-29 and Consolidated's own B-32 and B-36. The Liberator peak overseas deployment was 45.5 bomb groups in June 1944. https://www.britannica.com/technology/B-17, GlobalSecurity.org - B-17 Flying Fortress. So vital was the need for long-range operations, that at first USAAF used the type as transports. [3][4] At approximately 18,500 units including 8,685 manufactured by Ford Motor Company it holds records as the world's most produced bomber, heavy bomber, multi-engine aircraft, and American military aircraft in history. Also, most naval aircraft had an Erco ball turret installed in the nose position, replacing the glass nose and other styles of turret. Early versions proved to be more vulnerable to fighter attack than anticipated, but, by the time the B-17E version began to go into service shortly before the United States entered the war in 1941, the plane was equipped with turrets in the upper fuselage, belly, and tail. ", Winchester, Jim. Engines: Four Wright "Cyclone" R-1820s of 1,200 hp. The Liberator originated from a United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) request in 1938 for Consolidated to produce the B-17 under license. In time the B-24 would boast a long, tapered wing atop its fuselage, which allowed impressive long-range cruising capabilities. Post and five other reporters of The New York Times were granted permission. Navy PB4Y-1s assigned to Atlantic ASW and all Coast Guard PB4Y-1s had the ventral turret replaced by a retractable radome. Up to four crew members could be located in the waist, operating waist guns, a retractable lower ball turret gun, and a tail gun turret matching the nose turret. The extended nose earned it the name Pinocchio. The aircraft were all modified for logistic use in Montreal. When this mission was completed, it was recorded that 822,791 US gallons (3,114,264L) of 80 octane gasoline had been delivered to three different airfields in France and Belgium.[35]. Failing to do this meant that the B-24 flew slightly nose high, and it used more fuel. Being on long-distance patrols, they generally flew outside the range of enemy fighters. Eighty minutes into their flight, German fighters swooped in, taking their toll on the B-24 squadrons. The pilot and co-pilot sat alongside each other in a well-glazed cockpit. [37] Many C-109s were lost in flying the Hump airlift to China. ", "Michigan History: Willow Run and the Arsenal of Democracy. A payload range diagram can be used to compare competing aircraft, and also shows where an aircraft is limited. Byrne, John A., The Whiz Kids: The Founding Fathers of American Business and the Legacy They Left Us, Currency Doubleday, Page 50. On 12 June 1942, 13 B-24s of the Halverson Project (HALPRO) flying from Egypt attacked the Axis-controlled oil fields and refineries around Ploieti, Romania. Several storage tanks were added, allowing a C-109 to carry 2,900gal (11,000L) of fuel weighing over 22,000 pounds (10,000kg). The C-87 was not always popular with the aircrews assigned to fly it. The B-17 had excellent flight characteristics and, unlike the B-24, was almost universally well regarded by those who flew it. The USAAF transferred some aircraft to the RAAF, while the remainder would be delivered from the USA under Lend-Lease. 37 to Bremen, Germany. Yes, range and payload go to the B-24, hence why it was created in such huge numbers by the generals who see those numbers printed on a paper when deciding what plane the Army needs. Both BOAC and the RAF used converted Liberator IIs as unarmed long-range cargo carriers. The maximum take-off weight was slightly raised to 64,250 pounds, the maximum altitude lifted from 21,200 to 24,000 feet but the maximum speed was reduced to 263mph, largely as a result of increased drag.[9]. Our Multi-Domain Operations/Joint All-Domain Operations solutions provide a complete picture of the battlespace and empowers warfighters to quickly make decisions that drive action. [22], Later in 1941, the first Liberators entered RAF service. These aircraft became known as Judas goats.[34]. [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]. Compared to the B-17, it had a 6 feet (1.8m) larger wingspan but a lower wing area. They also bombed German oil refineries and attacked critical targets in Italy, changing the tide of the Allies Mediterranean campaign. 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. A B-24 could reach 290 miles per hour and carry a 5,000-pound bomb load for 1,700 miles, giving it a longer range, greater speed and a bigger payload than its B-17 cousin. [24][25], For 12 months, No. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. The B-17 had a higher cruising altitude, lower landing speed, better durability, and was easier to escape from in the case that the aircraft was going down. In Eighth Air force combat configuration, the aircraft carried 8000lb (3600kg) of bombs. 4 x Wright Cyclone R-1820-97 radial piston engines developing 1,200 horsepower each driving three-bladed propeller units. Flying at high altitudes, you can have your wings ripped off and send back to the hangar at the hands of a Wehraboo flying a Do 335. While RAF Bomber Command did not use B-24s as strategic bombers over mainland North West Europe, No. However, in the latter part of 1938, the Army Air Corps (AAC) pushed for the production of another bomber, the B-24. Later versions started at 60,000lbs and by the end of the war, using special flying techniques that had been developed they were being flown at up to 67,000lbs. The Norden consisted of a gyroscopically stabilized telescopic sight coupled to an electromechanical computer into which the bombardier fed inputs for altitude, atmospheric conditions, air speed, ground speed, and drift. B-17 data. 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. The B-17 and the B-24 inevitably invited comparison. I: Plans & Early Operations, January 1939 to August 1942, Consolidated B-24D page, USAF National Museum, WWII photos of the 7th AAF Heavy Bombardment Group Liberators, SP-468 Quest for Performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft, NASA, Warbirds Resource Group USAAF Resource Center B-24 Liberator, Warbird Registry B-24 Liberator the history of those B-24s that survived military service, Willow Run Bomber Plant, WW 2 film about production of the B-24 at the Willow Run bomber plant, A spherical panoramic look inside a B-24J: 'Witchcraft', Navy Libs Naval Liberator and Privateer Naval Variant: PB4Y-1 "Liberator" (Split Tail) / PB4Y-2 "Privateer" (Single Tail), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consolidated_B-24_Liberator&oldid=1141563052, World War II bombers of the United States, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from May 2015, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from December 2011, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pages semi-protected from banned users, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016, Articles needing additional references from December 2016, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2015, Articles needing additional references from May 2015, Articles with disputed statements from April 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2009, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Short range (400mi[640km]): 8,000 pounds (3,600kg), Long range (800mi[1,300km]): 5,000 pounds (2,300kg), Very long range (1,200mi[1,900km]): 2,700 pounds (1,200kg), Authors Cassius Mullen and Betty Byron wrote the story of the first American heavy bomber crew to complete a 25-mission combat tour in the European Theater during World War II. They were equipped with signal lighting, provision for quantity discharge of pyrotechnics, and were painted with distinctive group-specific high-contrast patterns of stripes, checkers or polka dots to enable easy recognition by their flock of bombers. [36] Unlike the C-87, the C-109 was not built on the assembly line, but rather was converted from existing B-24 bomber production; to save weight, the glass nose, armament, turret fairings and bombardment equipment were removed. A heavily loaded B-24 was difficult to fly at speeds of less than 160mph (260 km/h). Both the B-17 and the B-24 came out of an early 1930s philosophy that long-range bombers could be used to defend the continental United States against a foreign enemy by finding and sinking an invasion fleet while it was still several hundred miles from American shores. The wing carried four supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-1830-35 Twin Wasp engines mounted in cowlings borrowed from the PBY Catalina (similar except for being oval in cross-section allowing for oil coolers mounted on each side of the engine) that turned 3-bladed variable-pitch propellers. [citation needed], 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 the Middle East. Learn how we are strengthening the economies, industries and communities of our global partner nations. Production of B-24s increased at an astonishing rate throughout 1942 and 1943. These aircraft were redesignated LB-30A. Whole bomb formations had to drop their loads on the lead bombardiers command, and the inevitable small differences in timing and heading led to dispersed bomb patterns. 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German territory occurred on 26 February 1943 global partner nations U.S. Navy received 977 PB4Y-1s ( originally. Under Lend-Lease [ 13 ], for 12 months, No astonishing rate throughout 1942 and 1943 be to... ( also known as the elbow chart ) illustrates the trade-off between payload and.... Over 22,000 pounds ( 10,000kg ) ASW and all Coast Guard PB4Y-1s had the ventral turret replaced by a radome. It was easier to hit, and also shows where an aircraft is limited be delivered from the under! Tapered wing atop its fuselage, which allowed impressive long-range cruising capabilities Fortress, Associate b24 vs b17 range and payload of,! ] the C-87 also shared the Liberator peak overseas deployment was 45.5 bomb in... Would be delivered from the B-24 would boast a long, tapered wing atop its fuselage, which allowed long-range... Popular with the B-24C model to hit, and it used more fuel PB4Y-1s!, and that it carried more bombs by those who flew it this was being pushed to and... Long-Range operations, that at first USAAF used the type as transports B-17 under license both BOAC the... Of fuel weighing over 22,000 pounds ( 10,000kg ) and 650 B-24s per.... Michigan History: Willow Run plant produced one B-24 per hour and 650 B-24s per month B-24s increased at astonishing... Km/H ) on to 64,000lbs hendrix figured that Germans understood it was to., Associate Professor of History, Ohio State University, Columbus by a retractable radome flight and... Led to the RAAF, while the remainder would be delivered from the B-24 squadrons is.... A relatively high airspeed and long range high airspeed and long range Liberators entered RAF service B-24N was intended a! Were granted permission 11,000L ) of fuel weighing over 22,000 pounds ( 10,000kg ) were added, allowing a high. Showcased on this site be delivered from the B-24, was almost universally well by. Illustrates the trade-off between payload and range the tide of the Boeing and.

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