Air Power Series>1:144 die-cast display model>B-24>HA9100

General Background

The B-24 was the most produced American bomber in WWII. The demand was so great that Consolidated was unable to keep up so contracts were awarded to Douglas, Ford and North American. The D variant became the most numerous with 2,698. The design of the B-24 allowed it to carry the same payload as the Boeing B-17 and do it faster and further. Compared to the sleek look of the B-17 the B-24 looked awkward and B-17 crews referred to it as "the crate the B-17 was shipped in"

The Aircraft

Just prior to the raid on the Ploesti Oilfields in Romania 10 B-24s of the 98th Bombardment Group had nose-art added each one representing a different character from the story "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Eight of these B-24Ds actually took part in the raid and three were lost. B-24D s/n 42-40364 Y nicknamed "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" belonged to the 343rd BS. The aircraft completed its bombing mission but was shot down on the return flight losing 8 of its 9 crew.

Specifications :

Number Produced:	2,698
Crew:	7 / 10
Dimensions:
Length:	66 ft 4 ins
Wingspan:	110 ft
Height:	17 ft 11 ins
Wing Area:	1048 sq. ft
Weight:
Empty:	32,605 lbs
Gross Weight:	60,000 lbs
Performance:
Engines:	4 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 supercharged radials of 1,200 hp each (takeoff power)
Maximum Speed:	303 mph
Cruising Speed:	200 mph
Service Ceiling:	32,000 ft.
Range:	2,850 miles
Armament:	10 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns
Bombs:	Short Range (400 mi) - 8,000 lb
	Long Range (800 mi) - 5,000 lb
	Very Long Range (1,200 mi) - 2,700 lb