Consolidated B-24 Liberators preserved in the UK
(Clemens Vasters Photo)
Consolidated B-24M Liberator (Serial No. 44-51228), “Dugan”, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
(Alan Wilson Photo)
Consolidated B-24M Liberator (Serial No. 44-51228), “Dugan”, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
(Mike Freer – Touchdown-aviation Photo)
(Les Chatfield Photo)
(tataquax Photo)
(Alan Wilson Photo)
Consolidated B-24L Liberator B Mk. VI (Serial No. 44-50206), RAF (Serial No. KN751), Indian Air Force (Serial No. HE807), Royal Air Force Museum London, Hendon.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, 3224374)
RAF Consolidated Liberator, one of the two first bombers to land at Goose Bay in December 1941. They were being serviced prior to take-off.
(IWM Photo, CI123)
Consolidated Liberator Mk. II of No. 159 Squadron, RAF, being refueled at Salbani, India, before undertaking a raid on the docks at Rangoon, Burma.
No. 159 Squadron was reformed at RAF Molesworth on 2 July 1942 during the Second World War and its ground crew personnel were posted, without aircraft, to the Middle East on 12 February 1942 and then to India on 18 May 1942. Flying Consolidated Liberators, the squadron was posted to Palestine in July 1942 and carried out bombing raids in North Africa, Italy and Greece. No. 159 then flew to India on 30 September 1942. The first operation against the Japanese was on 17 November 1942, and during the rest of the war, the squadron flew mine-laying, bombing, and reconnaissance missions over Burma, Siam, Malaya, Indo-China and the Dutch East Indies.
In October 1944, the Squadron mounted an audacious minelaying raid on the Japanese held port of Penang. The mission entailed a round trip of over 3,000 miles, which at the time was the longest distance bombing raid in history. Eric Burchmore was in charge of the modification and preparation of the Consolidated Liberator aircraft used for the mission. The raid was led by Wing Commander James Blackburn and was a complete success, with the port of Penang completely blocked by mines and all of the aircraft and crews returning safely. Burchmore was awarded a military MBE in recognition of his contribution to the operation, whilst Wing Commander Blackburn was awarded a Bar to his DSO and was also awarded the American DFC by the United States. After the war, No.159 converted to transport and survey duties before disbanding on 1 June 1946.
(RAF Photo)
Consolidated Liberator G.R. Mk. V, RAF (Serial No. BZ791), Prestwick, UK, Nov 1943.
(IWM Photo, CH 12373)
Armourers unload 250-lb Mk. VIII depth charges from bomb-trolleys beside a Consolidated Liberator GR Mk. VA of No. 53 Squadron RAF at St Eval, Cornwall in the UK.
(RAF Photo)
Consolidated Liberator B Mk. VI, RAF (Serial No. KH166), ex-USAAF B-24J (Serial No. 44-10731).
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4564729)
Consolidated Liberator B Mk. III (Serial No. BZ899), RAF No. 159 (B) Squadron, with a four-gun Boulton-Paul tail gun turret. F/O Pete Evans and F/Lt Sgt Stephens, 4 May 1944.