3. 3
AgendaAgenda
• B-24 Design
• Production
• B-24 at War
• Men & Missions
• B-24 Legacy
• Diamond Lil
• Our Squadron
• Q&A
• B-24 Design
• Production
• B-24 at War
• Men & Missions
• B-24 Legacy
• Diamond Lil
• Our Squadron
• Q&A
4. 4
Heavy Bombers of WWIIHeavy Bombers of WWII
Avro Lancaster (British)
B-17 Flying Fortress (U.S.)
B-29 Superfortress (U.S.)
B-24 Liberator (U.S.)
5. B-24 Heavy BomberB-24 Heavy Bomber
5
• In 1935, US Army Air Corps called for a new Heavy Bomber design
• Further, faster, and higher than the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
• December 29,1939, the 1st B-24 flew - out of 19,000 built by 1945
• Two still fly with approximately twenty still in existence
6. 6
Design of the B-24Design of the B-24
Requirements
•Tricycle Landing Gear
•Greater Range & Speed
•Heavier Bomb Load
Davis Wing
•Long, Narrow, Efficient
•High Speed
Requirements
•Tricycle Landing Gear
•Greater Range & Speed
•Heavier Bomb Load
Davis Wing
•Long, Narrow, Efficient
•High Speed
9. B-24’s built in 5 plantsB-24’s built in 5 plants
9
1) San Diego CO - Consolidated (B-24D+)
2) Fort Worth CF - Consolidated-Vultee
(B-24's and C-87’s)
3) Dallas NT - North American (B-24G)
4) Tulsa DT - Douglas Aircraft (B-24E-DT)
5) Willow Run FO - Ford (B-24E J L)
22. Training - A High Risk EndeavorTraining - A High Risk Endeavor
13,621 total training
fatalities 1941-1945
13,621 total training
fatalities 1941-1945
47,462 Aircraft Accidents in USA47,462 Aircraft Accidents in USA
43. 43
Lend-Lease ActLend-Lease Act
President Roosevelt signs the Lend-
Lease bill to give aid to Britain and
China (1941)
Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
aboard his personal
B-24 “Commando”
An American-built B-24
Liberator bomber en
route to the United
Kingdom as part of the
Lend-Lease program.
November 18, 1940
48. 48
S/Sgt. Homer Barnes, Radar OperatorS/Sgt. Homer Barnes, Radar Operator
USAAF Crew Engages a German Submarine in the Caribbean (July, 1943)
49. 49
B-24s around the worldB-24s around the world
21st BG Aleutian Islands 307th BG Dutch East Indies 30th BG Solomon Islands
376th BG North Africa 461st BG Italy 392nd BG England
51. 51
Mission PlanningMission Planning
• Strategy
- Single blow to
German oil refining
- Size of attacking force
- B-24 extended range
- Surprise
- Low altitude attack
• Strategy
- Single blow to
German oil refining
- Size of attacking force
- B-24 extended range
- Surprise
- Low altitude attack
52. 52
Black SundayBlack Sunday
"We knew it was a
disaster and knew
that in the flames
shooting up from
those refineries we
might be burned to
death. But we went
right in."
Lt. Norman Whalen
Artwork by Iain Wylie
Artwork by Anthony Saunders
54. 54
Medal of HonorMedal of Honor
Col. John “Killer” Kane and Col. Leon JohnsonCol. John “Killer” Kane and Col. Leon Johnson
Artwork by Don Greer
Model by Konley Kelley
Col. John Kane
Col. Leon Johnson
55. 55
Medal of HonorMedal of Honor
Lt. Col. Addison Baker and Maj. John JerstadLt. Col. Addison Baker and Maj. John Jerstad
Lt. Col. Addison Baker
Maj. John Jerstad
Artwork by Roy Grinnell
56. 56
2nd. Lt. Lloyd “Pete” Herbert Hughes2nd. Lt. Lloyd “Pete” Herbert Hughes
2nd. Lt. Hughes
and the crew of
“Ole Kickapoo”
57. 57
Snow White and The WitchSnow White and The Witch
Artwork by Konley Kelley
58. 58
Ploesti Raid - AftermathPloesti Raid - Aftermath
Artwork by Gil Cohen
• 177 Liberators on the mission
• 55 B-24’s were lost
• 34 landed at emergency fields
• 88 returned to Libya - 55 of these had damage
81. 81
B-24s static displaysB-24s static displays
B-24M “ Dugan” Imperial War Museum,
Duxford, EnglandB-24D “ Grumpy” (nose only) Virginia Air and
Space Center, Hampton, VA
B-24J “ Joe” Fantasy of Flight Museum,
Polk City, FL
B-24D “Strawberry Bitch” National
Museum of the United States Air Force,
Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH
84. AM927 B-24A delivered in May 1941AM927 B-24A delivered in May 1941
84
• Contracted to be built for France in 1940
• Redirected to Great Britain as AM927
• The 25th (Serial #18) built out of 18,482 B-24s
• Accepted by the British in May 1941
• TWA to train RAF pilots out of Albuquerque, NM
• Contracted to be built for France in 1940
• Redirected to Great Britain as AM927
• The 25th (Serial #18) built out of 18,482 B-24s
• Accepted by the British in May 1941
• TWA to train RAF pilots out of Albuquerque, NM
85. AM927 Landing Accident - 1941AM927 Landing Accident - 1941
85
• TWA instructor pilots, were practicing landings
• Right main brake locked up during landing
• Right gear collapsed, then Nose gear collapsed
• Damaged bomb bay
• Temporary Repairs
• Flown to San Diego
• TWA instructor pilots, were practicing landings
• Right main brake locked up during landing
• Right gear collapsed, then Nose gear collapsed
• Damaged bomb bay
• Temporary Repairs
• Flown to San Diego
87. AM927 Configuration - 1942AM927 Configuration - 1942
87
• Flown back to San Diego in December 1941
• C-87 Liberator Express prototype in 1942
• Hauled personnel and equipment
• Served five B-24 production plants and vendors
• Flown back to San Diego in December 1941
• C-87 Liberator Express prototype in 1942
• Hauled personnel and equipment
• Served five B-24 production plants and vendors
115. 115
Diamond Lil and her FutureDiamond Lil and her Future
• Fly
• Tour
• Inspire
• Educate
• Connect
• Remember
116. Book a Flight on Diamond LilBook a Flight on Diamond Lil
- 12 seats are available
- Flight time 30 minutes
www.AirPowerTour.org
117. AirPower History TourAirPower History Tour
Summary of B-24 events:
KRDG - Reading, PA June 6 - 8
KBUF - Buffalo, NY June 10 - 12
CYHM - Hamilton, ON June 12 - 15
KAKR - Akron, OH June 17 - 22
KDAY - Dayton, OH June 26 - 28
KOSH - Oshkosh, WI July 28 - Aug 3
KYIP - Willow Run, MI Aug 8 - Aug
10
Fall Tour Sep 13-Oct 1
AirPower EXPO Oct 3-5
CAF AirSho Oct 10-12
118. How you can support our Squadron and MissionHow you can support our Squadron and Mission
• Financial
• Volunteerism
• Become a member
• Visit our websites
• Follow on Facebook
www.cafb29b24.org is our Squadron website
120. Ready to Fly with me on Diamond Lil?Ready to Fly with me on Diamond Lil?
Click here to play - 7:25
121. 121
Thank you Mitzi Werther and the
Richland College Emeritus Program.
Q&A?
Let’s go fly!
Thank you Mitzi Werther and the
Richland College Emeritus Program.
Q&A?
Let’s go fly!
www.cafb29b24.org
