Consolidated B-24J Liberator
Consolidated · United States · first flew 1943 · bomber
The B-24J was the most-produced Liberator variant, distinguished from the early B-24D by a powered nose turret replacing the glazed bombardier nose that had left the aircraft vulnerable to frontal attack.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 20.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Emerson A-15 ball-and-socket nose turret with twin .50-cals — replaces the glazed greenhouse nose of the B-24D, removing the stepped framed nose entirely
- Motor Products or Consolidated nose turret gives a rounded, opaque forward face rather than the D model's multi-pane glazed bombardier nose
- Improved autopilot and bombsight integrated with nose turret; tail turret also standardised, giving a symmetrical armed silhouette fore and aft
Against the B-24D, the J's nose turret is unmistakable — the D has a long multi-panel glazed greenhouse nose; against a B-17, the Liberator's high Davis wing, twin oval fins, and deep slab fuselage are immediately distinctive.
Specifications
- The Consolidated B-24J Liberator has a length of 20.6 m (68 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 33.5 m (110 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 467 km/h (290 mph).
- Typical crew: 10.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1943 and built at five different factories simultaneously, the J-model standardised nose armament across the Liberator fleet after German fighter pilots had learned to exploit the D model's weak head-on defence. Over 6,600 B-24Js were produced, serving in every theatre.
Variants
The B-24H introduced the first nose turrets on some production lines; the B-24L and M were lightened final variants; the C-87 Liberator Express was the transport derivative.
Where you'll see it
Only a handful of Liberators survive; the Collings Foundation's Diamond Lil is a B-24A/modified airframe; the Indian Air Force's historic B-24 is preserved at Palam. The type is rare compared to the B-17.
Related aircraft
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