Article 3759 of rec.aviation.military:
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From: jfb@usgp1.ih.att.com (Joe Baugher)
Subject: Bomber Series--Consolidated B-24 Liberator (7 of ??)
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Summary: B-24C  
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Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 03:16:49 GMT
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The B-24C was the production breakdown aircraft used to finalize the 
production line for mass production of a fully-combat capable 
Liberator.  Serials were 40-2378/2386, which had originally been 
allocated to a B-24A production lot.  

The B-24C incorporated changes which had been introduced on the XB-24B 
plus changes that had been recommended as a result of combat 
experience in Europe with the Liberator I and II of the RAF.  These 
changes included the turbosupercharged Pratt & Whitney R-1830-41 
engines and self-sealing tanks that had first been tested on the 
XB-24B.  The turbosupercharged engines were capable of maintaining a 
rating of 1200 hp to altitudes above 20,000 feet, increasing the top 
speed to more than 300 mph.  With the turbosupercharged engines, the 
engine cowlings took on a distinctly oval cross section when viewed 
from the front, a feature which remained with all future Liberators.  
In addition, the B-24C incorporated the three-foot-longer nose that 
had been introduced on the RAF Liberator II.  The B-24C also 
introduced a twin-gun Martin Model 250CE-3 power-operated turret on 
the upper fuselage immediately behind the cockpit (the turret on the 
LB-30 for the RAF was on the upper fuselage aft of the wing).  An 
interrupter switch was provided to prevent the gunner from 
accidentally firing into the vertical tail surfaces of the aircraft.  
A twin-gun Consolidated-designed A-6 power turret was mounted in the 
tail position, with a total of 825 rounds provided.  A single 
0.50-inch machine gun was mounted in the nose.  Another 0.50-inch 
machine gun was installed on a flexible mount firing from the "tunnel" 
position underneath the rear fuselage facing aft.  A 0.50-inch machine 
gun was mounted at each waist position.  The total armament of the 
B-24C was eight 0.50-inch machine guns.  The B-24C reverted to 
Hamilton Standard propellers, as did all subsequent Liberators.  

The nine B-24Cs were delivered to the USAAF at the end of 1941.  No 
B-24Cs were to see combat, all nine planes being used for crew 
training and various tests.  They were later redesignated RB-24C, 
where the R stood for "restricted from combat use".  

The B-24C was immediately followed off the line by the B-24D, the 
first fully combat-capable version.  

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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