Liberators in England in World War II : Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives

by Bodle, Peter W.

• ISBN13: 9781844158218
• ISBN10: 1844158217
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-04-29
• Publisher: Pen & Sword

Summary

The Consolidated B24 Liberator was built in greater numbers than any other American aircraft in history, and in more versions than any other aircraft up to that time. It served on every front in World War II, and with now fewer than 15 Allied nations. It had an unusual layout - dictated by the slender Davis wing placed above its tall bomb bays. This wing was very efficient in cruising flight, which combined with the aircraft's great fuel capacity to give the B-24 longer effective range than any landplane of its day. The B-24D was the first version produced in great numbers. It had turbocharged engines, increased fuel capacity and improved armament, as well as many detail changes. A total of 2,738 served with US Bomb Groups in Europe and the Pacific. The B-24D enabled RAF Coastal Command and US forces to close the 'mid-Atlantic gap' - in which U-boats had been able to operate with devastating effect beyond range of previous Allied anti-submarine aircraft. A total of 18,188 Liberators and Liberator variants were built between June of 1941 and the closing down of the last assembly line on May 31, 1945. This book contains rarely seen photographs of USAAF aircraft, crews and other behind-the-scenes operations of the Squadrons flying the B24 from English bases. Each image is accompanied by lengthy captions that convey the location and history surrounding the subject in question.

Author Biography

Peter Bodle's career in the aircraft industry included the invention of the Passive Floor Path lighting system for passenger aircraft and he currently flies a Piper PA28 and a Slingsby Venture. He also enjoys boating, photography and of course writing. He has often written for the aviation press and is a serving committee member of his local branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He has previously written Mosquito to Berlin and RAF Tanker Navigator for Pen Sword.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 4
Acknowledgements	p. 7
2nd Bombardment Wing
The 389th Bomb Group Hethel	p. 9
The 445th Bomb Group Tibenham	p. 19
The 453rd Bomb Group Old Buckenham	p. 27
14th Bombardment Wing
The 44th Bomb Group Shipdham	p. 35
The 392nd Bomb Group Wendling	p. 44
The 491st/492nd Bomb Group Metfield/North Pickenham	p. 52
20th Bombardment Wing
The 93rd Bomb Group Hardwick	p. 59
The 446th Bomb Group Bungay (Flixton)	p. 70
The 448th Bomb Group Seething	p. 79
The 489th Bomb Group Halesworth	p. 87
96th Bombardment Wing
The 458th Bomb Group Horsham St. Faith	p. 93
The 466th Bomb Group Attlebridge	p. 102
The 467th Bomb Group Rackheath	p. 112
Assembly Ships	p. 119
Sadly	p. 127
Bibliography	p. 139
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