RY-2 Liberator Express

The RY‑2 Liberator Express was a specialized transport version of Consolidated Aircraft’s famed B‑24 Liberator, introduced in the early 1940s to meet the growing demand for long‑range cargo and passenger service during World War II. Built on the robust four‑engine, high‑wing platform that had proven itself in strategic bombing, the RY‑2 incorporated a reinforced floor, widened cargo door, and a re‑engineered interior that could accommodate up to 30 troops or a mix of freight and mail. Its Wright R-1830 Twin Cyclone radials delivered 1,200 horsepower each, giving the aircraft a cruising speed of 210 mph and a range exceeding 2,800 miles—enabling nonstop trans‑Pacific and trans‑Atlantic routes that were previously impossible for conventional transports. Advanced navigation aids, such as the AN/APS‑4 radar and improved radio equipment, facilitated operations in adverse weather and at night. The Liberator Express proved decisive in supplying remote bases in the Pacific theater, supporting humanitarian relief after the war, and pioneering commercial air freight on routes that later evolved into today’s global cargo networks. Its combination of payload capacity, reliability, and range cemented Consolidated’s legacy as a cornerstone of mid‑century aviation development.