Article 5172 of rec.aviation.military:
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From: jfb@usgp1.ih.att.com (Joe Baugher)
Subject: Bomber Series--Consolidated B-24 Liberator (14 of ??)
Message-ID: <Cyo7Gp.M9n@ssbunews.ih.att.com>
Summary: Liberator IV for RAF
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Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 02:41:12 GMT
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The RAF reserved the designation Liberator IV for the Ford-built 
B-24E, but there is no evidence that any of these aircraft were 
actually received in the United Kingdom.  Instead, the few aircraft 
listed on RAF rolls as Liberator IVs were actually conversions of later 
Mk-VIs (primarily B-24H and J versions), as well as a few aircraft 
handed over to the RAF from USAAF stocks.  

RAF serials listed as Liberator IVs were BZ970, TS519/TS539, VB852, 
VB904, VD249, and BZ970.  BZ970 was converted into C.IV transport 
configuration.  The TS519/539 lot were converted as follows:  

TS519/520-->B.IV 
TS521/523-->C.IV 
TS524/526-->B.IV 
TS527--> C.IV 
TS528--> B.IV 
TS529/530-->C.IV 
TS531/532-->B.IV 
TS533/534-->C.IV 
TS535--> B.IV 
TS536--> C.IV 
TS537 (no record) 
TS538/539-->C.IV 

VB852 was ex-USAAF B-24J-1-FO 42-50744 handed over to the RAF.  It was 
converted to C.IV in January of 1945.  

VB994 was ex-USAAF B-24H-15-FO 42-52766 handed over to the RAF.  It 
was later converted to Mk.  VI.  

VD249 was ex-USAAF B-24J-60-CF 44-10533 handed over to the RAF.  

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.

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