Special Operations Consolidated B-24 Liberators: The Unknown Secret and Specialized Duties Aircraft

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was the most produced bomber in the Americas during World War II. It performed various unheralded roles beyond its offensive missions, making it the war's most versatile heavy bomber. The Liberator was also used for photographic reconnaissance, mapping missions, and dropping propaganda leaflets. The AAF became interested in aerial refueling during the war but later abandoned the project due to the availability of longer-range B-29s. Eighty-three B-24s crashed or made forced landings in various countries during the war, and six were captured and flown by the Luftwaffe.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator, despite being the most produced bomber in the Americas during World War II, has often been overshadowed by its more glamorous B-17 rival. However, the workmanlike B-24 played a multitude of unheralded roles in all theaters of the war, making it the most versatile heavy bomber of the conflict. Beyond its offensive bombing, anti-submarine, and mining missions, the Liberator performed numerous little-known "inoffensive" duties. Among the most colorful of all Liberators were the so-called assembly ships of the Groups of the 2nd Air Division. These aircraft were designed with unique paint schemes featuring stripes, polka dots, and checkerboard, making them extremely conspicuous as leaders on which a Group formation could assemble their combat formations more quickly for a combat mission.

The Consolidated F-7 was a photographic reconnaissance version of the B-24 Liberator and saw service in most theaters of the war. The Liberator's long range also made it well-suited to mapping missions during the war and post-war. In early 1944, Carpetbagger B-24s were utilized to parachute spies, called "Joes" or "Janes," or provide aerial supply of weapons and other matériel to resistance fighters in occupied Europe. Liberators also participated in the dropping of 2.75 billion propaganda leaflets using various techniques and delivery devices.

Electronic Warfare played an important part in Allied global pre-invasion plans to discover the location of enemy radars and, if possible, destroy them. This interception and analysis of enemy electronic radiation was the origin of present-day ELINT (ELectonicINTelligence). Modified RAF B-24D Airborne Electronic Reconnaissance Liberators, codenamed Ferret, were Radio.

Dimension: 246 x 172 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399057769