Consolidated XB-24J, K, N (and a few other types) ...

[WIX_Archive]

Originally posted by Mark Allen

Per request (most of you have seen these before so sorry here ya go again).... A few interesting ideas for sure.
Wiki below states a little what's what with each type.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidat ... _Liberator


B-24A/LB-30B Ordered in 1939, the B-24A was the first production model. Due to the need for heavy bombers, the B-24A was ordered before any version of the B-24 flew.
The main improvement over the XB-24 was improved aerodynamics, which led to better performance. Some sent to Great Britain under Lend-Lease as LB-30B.
(Total: 20 LB-30B; 1 B-24A) (U.S. Air Force photo)


Consolidated LB-30 (U.S. Air Force photo)


YB-24/LB-30A Pre-production prototypes. Six examples were sent to Great Britain under Lend-Lease, designated LB-30A. (U.S. Air Force photo)


XB-24N A redesign of the B-24J, made to accommodate a single tail. It also featured an Emerson 128 ball turret in the nose and a stationary tail gunner's position.
While 5,168 B-24Ns were ordered, the end of the war resulted in cancellation of all contracts before production could begin. (Total: one) (U.S. Air Force photo)


Consolidated XB-24N (U.S. Air Force photo)


XB-24K Developed from the B-24ST, with the B-23 Dragon empennage replaced by the tail of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster.[34]
The improved performance and handling of the B-24ST and XB-24K led to the decision to incorporate a single tail in the PB4Y-2 and B-24N.
(Total: one converted B-24D) (U.S. Air Force photo)


Consolidated XB-24K-FO modified from a B-24D-40-COS (U.S. Air Force photo)


Consolidated XB-24K-FO modified from a B-24D-40-COS (U.S. Air Force photo)


Consolidated XB-24J with B-17 nose section, containing chin turret, grafted on; modification not adopted for production. (U.S. Air Force photo)


The Consolidated XB-41 Liberator was a single Consolidated B-24D Liberator bomber, serial 41-11822, which was modified for the long-range escort role for
U.S. Eighth Air Force bombing missions over Europe during World War II. (U.S. Air Force photo)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidat ... _Liberator


Consolidated XB-24 cockpit, taken in 1945 after the conversion to XB-24B. (U.S. Air Force photo)

[daviemax]

XB-24N A redesign of the B-24J, made to accommodate a single tail. It also featured an Emerson 128 ball turret in the nose and a stationary tail gunner's position.
While 5,168 B-24Ns were ordered, the end of the war resulted in cancellation of all contracts before production could begin. (Total: one) (U.S. Air Force photo)

It appears this aircraft is actually the XB-24K due to the retention of the original J-style tail turret. As stated elsewhere, the N-models were to have used a conventional (stationary) tail gun mount.

[Mark Allen M]

Thx for seeing that error, I put the wrong info under the wrong photo. again! (how could that ever happen to me )

[oz rb fan]

amazing that the plane in your first picture is not only still with us but still flying....that's diamond lil

[tom d. friedman]

the b-24 w/ the grafted b-17 nose & chin turret definetely adds alot more sex appeal to what was otherwise a very boxy / frumpy looking fuselage. wonder why that experiment didn't pan out?? even though the 24 was faster than the b-17 in general, i think that configuration would have boosted the 24's performance even more with the sleeker aerodynamic lines.

[PropsRule]

The B-17 nose does look neat on the front of the B-24, but I have to ask, why was it considered in the first place?

[Mark Sampson]

As a child, I saw a photo of the -24 with the -17 nose in my father's copy of William Green's "Famous Bombers of the Second World War". Ever since then, I've been sure it was just a photo-retouching job. Now I know better...

[shrike]

The B-17 nose does look neat on the front of the B-24, but I have to ask, why was it considered in the first place?

It was an attempt to increase the forward defensive firepower. The B-24 didn't have a nose turret until the G and H models, just flexible mounts, so the graft was made using a B-17 with Chin Turret. The XB-41 shows a much more rational approach

[Steve Nelson]

Is the nose turret used on the XB-24N the same one used on the B-32?

The photo of the immortal AM-927 is interesting. She obviously has the transport mods and the very late windscreen, but appears to still retain the waist gun hatches. I think every picture I've seen of her during the war years shows a different configuration. They must have been making mods constantly.

SN

[Invader26]

B-24D's were field modded here in Australia to incorporate a tail turret into the nose. Looks like a J...

[daviemax]

Regarding the B-17 nose on the B-24, I believe this modification was done at Eglin. One side benefit to the mod (whatever other attributes it may have conferred) was a common navigator/bombardier station between B-17's and B-24's. However, making this change on the production lines would have been very disruptive. From mid-war on frequently very good improvements were rejected due to the pressure on individual aircraft unit production (witness P-38K, which would have been a significant performance improvement but the engine and propeller change required a new cowling, the cost of which was an estimated two-week loss of production).

[gemmer]

The aircraft in the third pic is an early production B-24D.

Duane

[Mark Allen M]

The aircraft in the third pic is an early production B-24D.

Duane

Not doubting you as I'm no expert on B-24 types. Photo states this:

Consolidated YB-24 built (S/N 40-697). This aircraft was sent to the RAF as an LB-30A Liberator I (s/n AM259). She was destroyed in a mid-air collision with a Soviet DB-7, which was a lend/lease A-20 Havoc. (U.S. Air Force photo)

As for the XB-24J? Reminds me of a 'moose'

[Randy Wilson]

Mark - my resources show that 40-0697 was one of six YB-24s sold to the British as LB-30As. If you search on the s/n there are references showing it as a B-24D but I don't think they are correct. I could be wrong.

Randy

[Chappie]

Speaking of B-24 nose turrets, I've got a book on the 90th BG 'Jolly Rogers' and they were on the leading edge of nose turret development. In the field they grafted the tail turret of a B-24 onto the nose. I always thought that would be an interesting kit bash of the Monogram B-24 kit.


Chappie