B-25 also known as: TB-24, C-109, F-7, and PB4Y
Plane type: 4-engined heavy Bomber
Manufacturer: Consolidated Vultee
Crew: 10 (up to 14)
Dimensions
Length: 67ft 2in (20.5 meters)
Height: 17ft 7.5in (5.4 meters)
Wingspan: 110ft (33.5 meters)
Powerplant
- B-24A : 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-33 engines
- Liberator II (British): 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4G engines
- XB-24B: no change
- B-24C: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-41 engines with exhaust-driven turbo-superchargers.
- B-24D: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 engines
- B-24E , B-24F : no change
- B-24G, B-24H, B-24J: R-1840-43 or 65 engines
CLICK HERE to read up on the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engine
Weight
Loaded weight: 1over 60000 lbs (27240 kg).
Armament (B-24J)
Total: 10 x 50 cal. guns, operated in:
1 x electrically-operated two-gun turret in nose
1 x electrically-operated two-gun turret in roof of radio-operators compartment
1 x retractable electrically-operated two-gun ball turret aft of bomb bay
2 x manually-operated mountings firing through side ports, one on each side of fuselage.
1 x electrically-operated two-gun turret in extreme tail
Maximum internal bomb load: 8000 lbs.
Performance
Maximum speed: 297 mph (475.2 Km/h) @ 25000 ft (7625 m)
Normal range: 1540 miles (2465 km) @ 237 mph (379 Km/h) @ 25000 ft (7625 m) with normal fuel and maximum internal bomb load
Ceiling: 28000 ft (8540 m)
Notes:
Forever remembered as the most produced aircraft of WWII, it was often eclipsed by the B-17. Over 19,000 Liberators were produced during the war, with each of those planes being used in practically every theatre of operations. Approximately 10,000 Liberators were produced by Consolidated Vultee at San Diego and Fort Worth, and the remaining 9,000 by Ford, Douglas, and North American. Many different models were made out of the same basic design to perform many different functions, such as passenger, fuel, and utility transport PLUS photographic reconnaissance and training aircraft. This bomber proved to play a very crucial role in the air war over Europe and the Pacific.
RESOURCES:
Page #1 - The Flight Line
Page #2 - USAF Museum page
Page #3 - B24 Best Web
Page #4 - Aviation History
Page #5 - Commemorative Air Force
Page #6 - 5th AAF 43rd BG
Page #7 - U-Boat War (written B-24 history)
Page #8 - Australian Aviation Archive
Page #9 - Warbird Alley
Pictures:
|
Gallery 1
|
Gallery 2
|
