Consolidated B-24 Liberator

The Consolidated B‑24 Liberator, produced by Consolidated Aircraft, was a four‑engine heavy bomber that entered service with the United States Army Air Forces in early 1941. Designed by Howard “Hap” Hughes, the Liberator featured a distinctive high‑aspect‑ratio Davis wing, a spacious 2,100‑gallon fuselage fuel capacity, and a twin‑tail configuration that gave it excellent range and stability. Powered by four Pratt & Whitney R‑1830 radial engines delivering 1,200 hp each, it could carry up to 8,000 pounds of ordnance and achieve a maximum speed of 290 mph, with a combat radius exceeding 2,000 miles—far greater than contemporary bombers such as the B‑17 Flying Fortress.

More than 18,000 units were built in the United States, Canada, and Britain, making the B‑24 the most produced American military aircraft of World War II. It served in every theater, from the Pacific island‑hopping campaign to the strategic bombing of Europe, and was crucial in anti‑submarine patrols over the Atlantic. The aircraft’s versatility, long‑range capability, and massive production volume cemented its role as a workhorse of the Allied air effort and left a lasting influence on post‑war transport and cargo designs.

Consolidated Aircraft

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

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Design & Classification