Is this a true statement about the B24?

[MW Giles]

About the only correct statement is that the B-24 had a Davis wing, the rest is rubbish.

AM258 to AM263 (Liberator LB.30A) 6 a/c delivered Mar 41 to May 42 - used by Ferry Command

AM910 to AM929 (Liberator LB30B/Mk I) 20 a/c delivered Apr 41 to Aug 41 - mainly used by 120 Sqn Coastal Command

AL503 to AL641 (LB.30/Mk II) 165 a/c ordered but only 85 delivered between Sept 41 and May 42 (rest retained by USAAF after Pearl Harbour). At least 15 went to Coastal Command

LV336-46 - (Liberator Mk III), not delivered until Mar 42
FK214-45 - (Liberator Mk III), not delivered until Jun-Nov 42

So up to August 41 had 26 Liberators and around 100 by the end of the year. On arrival in UK/Canada they had to be fitted out so delay between leaving factory and entering active service with units

The LB30 was definitely underdeveloped and not fitted in 1941 with all the anti submarine bells and whistles that they got later in the Mk III and V

Even if all engaged in anti submarine warfare they were unlikely to close the gap

Regards

Martin

[tcolvin]

Thank you, Martin. Would you not agree, however, that RAF tests showed the B24 was not suitable for bombing Germany - no self-sealing fuel tanks, slower than quoted speed - while these factors were not relevant for Coastal Command's anti-submarine patrols. Was therefore the need for speed, requiring a change of engines, rather than lack of operational range the reason why the LB 30 was judged 'underdeveloped'? Does anyone know of any historian of the air gap? Tony