Why were runways often a problem for the B-24 planes?

Flying the B-24s is dangerous business, even out of combat. Friends of Louie’s die and other crews go missing often. Planes malfunction, runways are too short, and the equipment is at times insufficient for the dangerous conditions the men face. For every plane lost in combat, six were lost in these accidents.

Is Diamond Lil still flying?

Diamond Lil was just the twenty-fifth Liberator to roll off Consolidated’s production line in San Diego, California, taking flight in 1941. She is the oldest remaining B-24 of over 18,000 produced, and one of just two still flying.

What size bombs did B-17 carry?

The B-17’s armament consisted of five . 30 caliber (7.62 mm) machine guns, with a payload up to 4,800 lb (2,200 kg) of bombs on two racks in the bomb bay behind the cockpit.

What is the history of the B24 bomber?

The B-24 originated in a 1938 request by the Air Corps for Consolidated Aircraft to produce B-17’s. But Consolidated’s engineer, David Davis, had designed a wing suited for long-range bombers, a wing that offered 15 percent less drag than ordinary wings.

Where was the Consolidated B-24 Liberator built?

United States Army Air Forces Consolidated B-24D Liberator over Maxwell Field, Alabama. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California.

How much weight can a B-24 bomber carry?

The B-24’s spacious, slab-sided fuselage (which earned the aircraft the nickname “Flying Boxcar”) was built around two central bomb bays that could accommodate up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) of ordnance in each compartment (but rarely did, as this decreased range and altitude).

What kind of fuselage does a B 24J have?

The description that follows is typical for a late production B-24J series, any significant variations with other versions are highlighted in the text. The deep oval fuselage is of all-metal, stressed skin and is defined as a semi-monocoque design.