New Consolidated B-24 Liberator cleared for take-off
Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix.
Over the next two weeks of Workbench postings, we have something unique for our ever-loyal readers to look forward to – a double double! With so many new models all forming up for release over the next few weeks and because we like to give each model its own blog introduction, we will be having a double blog posting this weekend, followed by another next Friday, meaning that we had all better start thinking about clearing a little space on our workstations over the coming Easter holiday, because some stunning new models are now on finals.
For this update, we will be taking our final pre-launch look at the new tooling announcement we featured first this year, a mighty WWII US warplane which is as historic as it was distinctive, the Consolidated B-24H Liberator. We will be taking this final opportunity to re-visit the two fascinating scheme options included with the debut release from this new tooling, however this time, we will be illustrating the feature with a beautiful selection of built model images, with models finished in both schemes available with this new kit. As we prepare to welcome the Liberator to the current Airfix range, the sight of these beautiful build images will surely have even the most resistant of readers looking to add this classic WWII aircraft to their current build schedules.
In the second, separately posted update for the week, we prepare for the impending re-issue of a beautiful early British jet fighter, one which rarely receives the attention it deserves, but one which can trace its lineage back to the Spitfire, the handsome and sleek Supermarine Swift FR.5. We will be taking a look at the history behind this first swept wing jet fighter to see Royal Air Force service, before moving on to discover the details behind the two scheme options included with this incredibly appealing kit.
As always, or main Workbench blog hub is the place to go to access these, along with all previously released editions of our Airfix blog, which will be celebrating its 9th Anniversary a little later this year. We have much to get through this week, so let’s get cracking!
Consolidated’s Flying Fortress alternative
Cleared for workbench operations, the new Consolidated B-24H Liberator kit is now on finals and should be available for modellers in just a couple of weeks’ time.
As one of the high-profile new tooling additions to the Airfix range this year, the Consolidated B-24 Liberator has been receiving plenty of attention over the past few weeks and for some people, has also revealed a few little-known facts about an aircraft which is usually in the shadow of its more famous bombing stablemate, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
For many people, it's interesting to discover that when looking at the history behind the development of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, the story actually begins with a US Army Air Force request for the Consolidated company to produce Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber for them under licence back in 1938. With the clouds of war gathering ominously in Europe, US officials were convinced that advanced heavy bombers would be playing a significant role in any conflict and in the Flying Fortress, they had an aircraft which was just about as good as it gets.
Following a visit to the Boeing production facilities in Seattle, Consolidated officials went back to the USAAF with an audacious counter proposal to their licence manufacturing request. They informed them that they were happy to build their bombers, but wanted to produce one of their own design, a new aircraft which would be better than the Flying Fortress they currently operated. Intrigued by their confidence, the USAAF invited Consolidated to submit a design study in January 1939, however, as the proposed new aircraft promised to be faster, was able to carry a greater bomb load and would have greater range than the existing B-17, it was virtually assured of gaining a future production contract.
Taking design inspiration from the existing PBY Catalina flying boat Consolidated were already producing, the new bomber featured a deep fuselage and innovative bomb-bay doors, doors which resembled metal roller shutters and moved up the side of the fuselage when opened. This feature had the dual advantage of allowing the aircraft to be 'bombed up' more efficiently when the aircraft was on the ground, but was also more aerodynamically efficient when opened in flight.
The Liberator also featured an advanced shoulder mounted 'Davis Wing' which was highly efficient and endowed the Liberator with greater speed and range than Boeing’s B-17 Flying Fortress. Relatively thick in profile, the wing was much narrower and longer than the one used on the B-17 and was set high on the fuselage of the new aircraft, similar to the configuration of the PBY Catalina, with the high positioning of the engines helping to protect them from foreign object damage whilst on the ground, even though servicing would be more difficult for mechanics at bomber stations around the world.
A trio of built Liberator delight images, first featuring two models finished in the two scheme options included with the impending first release from this new tooling project, then moving on to looking at a couple of more detailed views.
Following its subsequent USAAF introduction in 1941, the B-24 Liberator would go on be produced in vast quantities, serving in every theatre of war during WWII, and making a vital contribution to the Allied War effort. Indeed, it could be argued that no other aircraft came to represent the incredible industrial might of the American war machine than the B-24 Liberator, an aircraft which during its production life, was manufactured at five different plants across the country. It was claimed that at its height, the Ford production plant at Willow Run Michigan could turn out Liberators faster that the USAAF could process them into service, with some sources claiming around one bomber per hour could be produced by teams at this impressive facility.
The introduction of the 'H' model addressed the aircraft's vulnerability to frontal attack once and for all, something enemy fighter pilots had been exploiting since the B-24's combat introduction. This variant was the first to be manufactured from the outset complete with an electrically operated Emerson A-15 nose turret, in addition to introducing around fifty other design modifications to make the Liberator a more combat effective aircraft. Although earlier versions of the Liberator did feature nose turrets, they were introduced later in the production run of those variants and even in some cases, installed as in-service modifications at airfields around the world.
With just under 18,500 machines produced, the Consolidated B-24 Liberator would go on to become the most heavily produced four engined bomber in the history of warfare and America's most produced aircraft of the Second World War. Quite simply, the B-24 was flown by more men, carried more bombs over greater distances and destroyed more targets than any other bomber in the history of aviation - quite impressive numbers for an aircraft which is probably still in the shadow of the Flying Fortress.
Very early in the war, US Military planners established a ‘Block System’ for the overseeing of aircraft production, something intended to keep everything on track, with this simplicity of conformity helping to keep production lines moving apace. Some flexibility was built into the system, whereby different manufacturers were allowed to cap their production blocks at certain levels. As an illustration of this production flexibility, each Liberator production block at Consolidated’s own facility usually consisted of 50 aircraft, whilst those linked the Ford’s impressive Willow Run Michigan plant may run into hundreds of aircraft.
This system was intended to create a faster, more stable manufacturing process, where individual blocks would usually be constructed using the same variant of Pratt & Whitney engine and propeller combination, feature the same defensive armament and utilise the same basic aircraft equipment fit. Unfortunately for us modellers, there were quite a few occasions where significant equipment fit changes occurred mid-block, something which can lead to confusion when trying to identify individual aircraft and their definitive production block positioning.
The USAAF 453rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was constituted on 14th May 1943 and activated at the beginning of the following month. The unit was equipped with the Consolidated B-24 Liberator and after a time training in California, were sent to fight in the European Theatre, based in the East of England – ground crews left first travelling by boat to England, whilst aircrews and their aircraft used the Mid-Atlantic ferry route to make their way to Britain. Their new home was to be US Station 144, the new airfield at Old Buckenham in Norfolk, an airfield which had been constructed specifically for its new American residents.
Making their combat introduction on 5th February 1944, the Group’s Liberators would be heavily involved in the strategic bombing campaign against enemy occupied Europe, targeting anything from airfields to rail marshalling yards, as the Allied air forces made their preparations for D-Day. The 453rd’s Liberators would also take part in ‘Big Week’, a concerted Allied effort to smash the German aircraft industry which saw almost 4000 bombers attacking strategic targets across Germany between 20th and 25th February 1944.
A further selection of built model images, with a kit finished in the markings of this Old Buckenham based 453rd Bomb Group Liberator.
On D-Day itself, the Group was sent to destroy German shore gun emplacements sited along the French coast between Cherbourg and Le Havre, before then turning their attentions to targets further inland. The group would fly its final combat mission in the ETO on 12th April 1945 and whilst crews headed home prior to re-deployment to the Pacific, the end of the war would eventually see the Group disbanding.
B-24H Liberator 42-52234 ‘Corky Burgundy Bombers’ was manufactured at Ford’s mighty Willow Run plant and constructed with the inclusion of a Sperry gunsight as opposed to the more famous Norden alternative. The aircraft was delivered to the USAAF on 29th October 1943 and immediately flown to the Birmingham Alabama Modification Centre. Arriving at March Field California towards the end of November 1943, she was issued to crew 25 on 18th December, headed by pilot Lt. John Austin Nortridge, where they embarked on a period of combat work-up. On Sunday 30th January 1944, the aircraft arrived at Old Buckenham after flying the Mid-Atlantic ferry route and an intense period of flying and acclimatisation in the UK immediately followed.
This particular aircraft benefits form rather flamboyant decoration, not only on the nose of the aircraft, but also across the bomb bay doors and on many of the individual crew positions. Some of that artwork has been covered by the later fitting of additional armour protection on either side of the cockpit, where it was clearly felt that more physical protection would be of greater benefit to the crew than their decoration superstitions.
Constituted as the 485th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on the 14th September 1943 and activated six days later, crews were sent to Fairmont Army Air Force Field in Nebraska for training with their new B-24 Liberators, prior to being sent to Europe and the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations. Arriving in theatre from March 1944 onwards, the air component initially underwent an additional period of training in Tunisia, before joining their ground and support staff at their new base in Italy.
The group flew its first combat operation in May 1944 and would become specialists in undertaking long range bombing missions deep into enemy occupied Europe, including targets in France. As was the case with most of the USAAF daylight bombing force, they would be employed in supporting preparations for D-Day, but also made several devastating visits to the various German oil refinery sites in southern Europe, targets which became so crucial during the final stages of the Second World War.
Some of the Group’s final bombing missions were in support of British Eighth Army ground operations in Northern Italy, however, by the end of May 1945, the Group had arrived back home in the US. The Group consisted of the Liberators of Nos.828, 829, 830 and 831 Squadrons and during their time in Europe, they flew exclusively from the airfield at Venosa.
The airfield at Venosa was a semi-permanent facility in the south of the country, near the town of Cerignola, constructed by US engineers from September 1943 and part of the wider Foggia complex of Allied airfields. Consisting of a single Pierced Steel Planking runway, extensive taxiways and hard standings and at least initially, a rather rudimentary wooden control tower, the airfield opened on 14th March 1944 and would become home to the Liberators of the 485th Bombardment Group, which operated from there over an intense 14-month period of operational flying.
Crews who operated from the airfield during the war described how the land at the end of the runway fell away into a deep valley and when taking off with a full load of fuel and bombs, how pilots immediately retracted the aircraft’s undercarriage and used the additional height offered by the valley to steady their heavy ship, before slowly starting to gain height. During normal operations, aircraft would take off towards the valley and land flying over it.
B-24H Liberator ‘Valiant Lady’ must surely have been one of the more flamboyantly decorated bombers operating from the US 831st Bomb Squadron’s base at Venosa in Italy during 1944.
When the weather was good, the Group’s Liberators would usually fly missions at least two, but often four times a week and when the aircraft returned, the ground crews would take over, working into the small hours to prepare aircraft, clean and service guns and even patch up flak damage, ensuring as many aircraft as possible were serviceable for the following day’s operations. Once their work was done, they were free to enjoy some down time, although most were so exhausted that they just slept. Without the professionalism and dedication of the various ground trades, the Allied bombing campaign would simply have ground to a halt.
Consolidated B-24H Liberator 42-52 ‘Valliant Lady’ was one of the Venosa based bombers which probably made use of that small valley at the end of its runway at the start of a bombing mission and was constructed at the Ford Willow Run plant during 1943. During a mission to Linz in Austria on 20th January 1945, the aircraft sustained flak damage and began to run low on fuel, so the pilot headed for an emergency landing strip on Viz Island in the Adriatic Sea. The situation proved so serious that the aircraft’s engines ran out of fuel and cut out whilst they were still two miles from the airstrip. The aircraft landed heavily on the sea and broke in two, almost immediately beginning to sink beneath the waves and tragically as a result, six members of the crew did not survive the incident.
Another distinctively presented Liberator, the two scheme options included with this impressive new kit mark USAAF aircraft which were heavily engaged in the bombing of targets in enemy occupied Europe, but from bases at opposite ends of Europe, a fascinating aspect of USAAF operations which rarely receives any attention these days. The kit will also serve as a scale tribute to both the brave airmen who operated them during the Second World War and the unsung ground trades who were so crucial to the bombing campaign, but rarely receive any recognition at all for their monumental efforts.
With the superb Apple TV+ series ‘Masters of the Air’ having just aired to popular acclaim, the subject of the US daylight bombing offensive against enemy occupied Europe during WWII is receiving plenty of attention at the moment. As such, the release of this beautiful new kit will enable modellers to create their own scale tributes to the brave men who flew those missions and the army of base personnel who prepared their aircraft so professionally to enable those missions to be flown.
The show may have focused on the combat efforts of the 100th Bomb Group and their B-17 Flying Fortresses, however, the Liberator equipped more US bomber Squadrons than its more famous bombing counterpart and was produced in much greater quantities. It could even be argued that no other aircraft of the Second World War highlighted the incredible industrial capability America possessed than the Consolidated Liberator, an aircraft conceived for war, but intended to bring about a hard-fought peace.
A stunning addition to any model collection of Second World War aircraft, the B-24 Liberator is as distinctive as it is historic and is just crying out to be displayed next to our B-17 Flying Fortresses. With two beautiful scheme options to choose from, deciding which one to select for our own build project is a question we’re all going to have to consider in the very near future.
Our new Consolidated B-24H Liberator is now scheduled for impending release, so for those who have it on order, your example should be with you in the next few weeks. For those still sitting on the airfield boundary fence, what are you waiting for – those reward points are not going to spend themselves!
Please don’t forget that we have another Supermarine Swift FR.5 update edition of Workbench available this week, which you can view by clicking on this link.
We are afraid that's all we have for you in this latest edition, but we will be back next Friday with more project development updates and the very latest Airfix kit exclusives. In the meantime, we are always keen to hear your views on all things Airfix and in particular, any thoughts and opinions you may have regarding our Workbench blog. If you would like to drop us a quick line, could we please ask that you use our workbench@airfix.com email for all correspondence.
To re-visit any of the Airfix blogs we have produced over the past seven years or so, please head to our main Workbench hub, where you will find our entire blog back catalogue and all the Airfix design projects we have already covered.
All our dedicated official social media sites can be accessed by clicking the respective link icons at the foot of this page, or by heading to the Airfix homepage. Other useful Airfix links are:
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram official sites
Please join us for more Airfix updates next week and thank you for your continued support.
Related Products
Consolidated B-24H Liberator
A09010 |
1:72 Scale
Further Reading
