Article 4801 of rec.aviation.military:
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From: jfb@usgp1.ih.att.com (Joe Baugher)
Subject: Bomber Series--Consolidated B-24 Liberator (11 of ??)
Message-ID: <CyEwCu.BqB@ssbunews.ih.att.com>
Summary: B-24D in Australian Service
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Date: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 02:02:54 GMT
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In late 1942, the Australian government began to explore the 
possibility of manufacturing heavy bombers in Australia to equip the 
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).  The Liberator, by virtue of its 
excellent long-range characteristics, was a natural choice for the 
large distances that would be encountered by the RAAF in the Pacific 
theatre of operations.  

However, at an early date it was deemed infeasible to manufacture the 
Liberator under license in Australia since it was already under 
production in several plants in the USA.  Instead, the Avro Lancaster 
was chosen for Australian production.  The war ended before such 
production could get under way, but 73 examples of the improved 
Lincoln version were built in Australia starting in 1946.  

Although Australia had opted not to manufacture the Liberator, in late 
1943, General George C. Kenney, the commander of Allied Air Forces in 
the South West Pacific Area, recommended that the RAAF form seven 
Liberator squadrons.  The aircraft would be acquired from USAAF 
stocks, and the USAAF would assist the RAAF with both the procurement 
of aircraft and the training of crews.  The RAAF personnel would be 
temporarily attached to the US Fifth Air Force while they gained 
experience in Liberator operations.  

The first Liberators to be obtained by Australia were ex-USAAF B-24Ds.  
In February of 1944, twelve B-24Ds were obtained second-hand from 
USAAF stocks and delivered to Australia.  They were assigned the RAAF 
serials A71-1 through 12.  By this time, the B-24D was well past its 
prime, and was deemed suitable only for operational training, pending 
the arrival of more capable Liberator versions.  These B-24Ds were 
assigned to No 7 Operational Training Unit based at Tocumwal, Victoria 
to carry out heavy bomber operational training for air crews.  They 
served there until 1945.  None ever saw any combat, and this unit was 
disbanded at the end of the war.  A couple of RAAF B-24Ds lasted as 
late as 1952, when the last examples were finally struck off charge.  

The definitive Liberators for RAAF service were to be the B-24J, L, 
and M versions, the first of which was delivered in May of 1944.  

Serials of RAAF B-24Ds 

RAAF serials 	USAAF designation 	USAAF Serials 

A72-1 		B-24D-CO 		41-11904 
A72-2 		B-24D-1-CO 		41-23720 
A72-3 		B-24D-20-CO 		41-24108 
A72-4 		B-24D-65-CO 		42-40489 
A72-5 		B-24D-65-CO 		42-40512 
A72-6 		B-24D-65-CO 		42-40522 
A72-7 		B-24D-15-CO 		41-24070 
A72-8 		B-24D-25-CO 		41-24290 
A72-9 		B-24D-CO 		41-11868 
A72-10 		B-24D-20-CO 		41-24127 
A72-11 		B-24D-65-CO 		41-40514 
A72-12 		B-24D-135-CO 		42-41132 


Sources:

    Famous Bombers of the Second World War, William Green, 
    Doubleday, 1959.

    British Military Aircraft Serials, 1912-1969, Bruce Robertson,
    Ian Allen, 1969.

    Liberator: America's Global Bomber, Alwyn T. Lloyd,
    Pictorial Histories Publishing Co, Inc, 1993.

    B-24 Liberator in Action, Larry Davis, Squadron/Signal Publications
    Inc, 1987.

    General Dynamics Aircraft and Their Predecesssors, John Wegg,
    Naval Institute Press, 1990.

    Consolidated B-24D-M Liberator IN USAAF-RAF-RAAF-MLD-IAF-CzechAF
    and CNAF Service, Ernest R. McDowell, Arco, 1970. 

    United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough
    and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

    American Combat Planes, 3rd Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner,
    Doubleday, 1982.

    Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century,  Michael
    J.H. Taylor, Mallard Press.

    Boston, Mitchell & Liberator in Australian Service,  Stewart
    Wilson, Aerospace Publications, 1992.


Joe Baugher			  **************************************
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