Article 2983 of rec.aviation.military:
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From: jfb@usgp1.ih.att.com (Joe Baugher)
Subject: Bomber Series--Consolidated B-24 Liberator (2 of ??)
Message-ID: <Cx8A7A.5A6@ssbunews.ih.att.com>
Summary: YB-24
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Date: Thu, 6 Oct 1994 01:45:10 GMT
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The seven service-test YB-24s (serial numbers 40-696/702) were 
essentially identical to the XB-24 prototype, but had the leading 
edge slots deleted and had deicer boots added to the wing and tail 
surfaces.  

Only one of the YB-24s was destined to be delivered to the USAAC.  The 
remaining six were diverted to Great Britain.  Following the fall of 
France, Britain had taken over the French contracts.  The planes 
delivered to Britain were assigned the export designation LB-30A.  By 
this time, the designation LB was understood to stand for "Liberator 
built to British specifications".  The LB-30As were powered by 1200 hp 
Pratt & Whitney R-1830-33 (S3C4-G) engines and had a top speed of 280 
mph and a service ceiling of 27,000 feet.  Six 0.50=inch machine guns 
mounted in nose, waist window and tail positions.  The tail gun was 
installed in a manually-operated position behind a set of sliding 
doors.  They were assigned the RAF serials AM258/AM263.  

The first LB-30A made its maiden flight on January 17, 1941.  The 
LB-30s were delivered to RAF crews at Montreal, Canada for transfer to 
England.  The RAF found that their lack of turbosuperchargers and 
self-sealing fuel tanks made them totally unacceptable for combat over 
Europe, and all six were assigned from March 1941 onward as unarmed 
transports.  on the Trans-Atlantic Return Ferry Service.  This rather 
unusual airline was established to fly aircrews to Montreal to take 
delivery of the large numbers of American aircraft being built for the 
British war effort.  All armament was removed and a number of crew 
comfort accessories were added.  At the time, they were the only 
aircraft capable of flying the 2994 mile nonstop route between 
Prestwick and Montreal.  

Four of the LB-30As operated with civil registrations and with BOAC 
livery:  

G-AGDR 		AM258 
G-AGCD 		AM259 
G-AGHG 		AM262 
G-AGDS 		AM263 

Only the last YB-24 (serial number 40-702) actually ended up being 
delivered to the USAAF.  It had armor and self-sealing fuel tanks and 
was accepted by the Army in May of 1941.  The USAAC YB-24 was later 
redesignated simply B-24 and spent its entire career with the Army Air 
Corps Ferry Command Training School.  

Serials of the YB-24:   40-696/702

Specification of the Consolidated YB-24 Liberator:  

Four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-33 (S3C4-G) Twin Wasp fourteen-cylinder 
air-cooled radials rated at 1200 hp for takeoff and 1000 hp at 14,500 
feet.  
Performance:  Maximum speed 273 mph at 15,000 feet.  Cruising speed 
186 mph.  Landing speed 90 mph.  Service ceiling 31,500 feet.  An 
altitude of 10,000 feet could be attained in 6 minutes.  Range was 
3000 miles with a 2500 pound bombload.  Maximum range was 4700 miles.  
Weights:  27,500 pounds, empty, 38,360 pounds gross, 46,400 pounds 
maximum.  
Dimensions:  Wingspan 110 feet 0 inches, length 63 feet 9 inches, 
height 18 feet 8 inches, wing area 1048 square feet.  

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.



