Introduction

The B-24 Liberator sits in the shadow of the most famous bomber, the B-17 Flying Fortress. However, in the beginning of the war, it would be the most influential bomber and was manufactured in great numbers. Actually, a total of 19,256 B-24 bombers of all variants would be produced, which is more than any other US warplane of any era.

The success and strength of the B-24 Liberator is due to a wing design sold to Consolidated in 1937 by David R. Davis, a near-destitute inventor. Reuben H. Fleet, the president of Consolidated, was convinced through wind tunnel tests that this slender wing with sharp camber would provide greater 'lift'.

Model 32, the name given for the prototype XB-24, would take its first flight on December 28, 1939 over the skies of San Diego. Four Pratt & Whitney 1100 hp engines provided the power for the XB-24. The US Army ordered 7 YB-24, service test bombers with turbo-superchargers for high altitude flight, in March 1939. Nine B-24C's would come next, but none would be used in combat. The B-24D, however, would be used throughout the world theater. On June 30, 1943, the turret-equipped B-24H would appear on the scene, followed by the B-24J, L and M, which would include full gun armament.

The Eighth Air Force and the 44th BG

A large portion of the ten thousand American bombers lost in WWII consisted of B-24's from the Eighth Air Force. Twenty-one bomber groups would fight in the Eighth, operating from North Africa and 'bomber triangle' in East Anglia (England). Among these bomber groups was the 44th.

The 44th BG was the first Liberator combat group in the AAF, and the second to fight in the Eighth Air Force. Called the 'Flying Eightballs', the 44th BG joined on November 7, 1942 and by April 25, 1945, they would participate in 343 missions and drop 18,980 bombs. The 44th would lose 192 Liberators while killing 330 Luftwaffe fighters.

On arrival to England, the 44th BG consisted of B-24Ds, but would eventually include B-24H's, and lacked distinctive markings. However, in September 1943, the group identifier would be designated as a white disk bearing capital 'A' on the upper starboard wing and fin.

Shipdham, the first heavy bomber base used by the Eighth Air Force in Norfolk, would become the home for the 44th BG.

The B-24H

The B-24H is the focus of this page, as my Great Uncle, Richard was a co-pilot on this model.
The D-model's vulnerability to head-on-attacks resulted in the design of the B-24H. Ford and Emerson would install a power turret, originally designed for the tail, into the nose of the bomber. This would result in at least 56 engineering changes to the B-24D airframe.

With the addition of the turret, came an increase of 190 lbs and a one foot length increase. The bombardier's station would be redesigned and the landing gear doors would go from inward-opening to downward-opening. However, the pilots were happy with the no longer tail heavy center of gravity, which would eliminate the action known as being 'snooty'.

The fact that Ford could not only manufacture a complete B-24H in 56 minutes, but also produce two major portions of other bombers in the same period, symbolized the strength of the American industrial machine that outmatched the Axis powers.

San Diego obviously played a big role in the success of the B-24, being the home for its design and first flight, as well as, the home for a large production plant. Below are pictures of the Consolidated plant of San Diego.

LRO 982905 Consolidated Aircraft Corporation Plant No. 2. Shipment of B-24 parts to Fort Worth. Now SSC San Diego Old Town Campus San Diego Aerospace Museum Photograph	LRO 982909 Consolidated Aircraft Corporation
LRO 982910 Production line of the B-24 at the Consolidated plant	LRO 982911 Consolidated plant of San Diego

For more pictures please visit: SSC San Diego Historic Photographs at http://www.nosc.mil/sti/visualmedia/photos/otc40s.html