Air Power Series>1:144 die-cast display model>B-24>HA9103

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

The initial delivery of PB4Y-1s was a naval version of the USAAF B-24D Liberator with very little change until models based on the B-24G, J, L and M variants with factory installed nose turrets. From 1941 – 1945 PB4Y-1s and other types of aircraft were sent to patrol the waters off Brazil for U-Boats. On October 15, 1943 PB4Y-1 32052 "Gallopin Ghost" began departure from Natal Brazil. As the aircraft started to lift off, the tail hit the ground and the aircraft crash landed, luckily nobody was killed.

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