Air Power Series>1:144 die-cast display model>B-24>HA9106

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 Consolidated B-24D Liberator “She’Asta” serial 42-40512 c/n 1589 completed manufacturing on March 15, 1943, the first flight was on March 17 and accepted by the US Military March 18, 1943. The aircraft arrived in Australia on May 2, 1943 and originally assigned to the 531st BS then the 530th BS. “She’Asta” flew 28 missions and is credited with downing at least 8 enemy aircraft; four on one mission. The aircraft was SOC (Struck Off Charge) with the U.S. Military on December 18, 1943 and transferred to the RAAF on March 3, 1944 with serial A72-5. In 1949 the aircraft was scrapped.

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