You know that:
- The development of the aircraft under the designation XB-24 began in 1935. The construction of the prototype took another three years to finally take off on 29 December 1939.
- First impressions were conflicting, especially in relation to the difficulty of piloting, but the long range and high payload generated extraordinary interest from the USAF.
- The bomber achieved decent speeds even at low altitude thanks to its "Davis" slender wing, making the B-24 an extremely high quality aircraft, but one that never emerged from the shadow of the famous B-17.
- Despite all the positives, the B-24 also had a weak spot. The Allies did not have fighter aircraft with long enough range to provide protection for bombers on long-range missions.
- The B-24 was also less comfortable compared to the B-17. Crews also complained of perpetual drafts and unbearable cold due to inadequate spot heating.
- A great advantage was the special double bomb bay doors that allowed the bomber to be converted into a transport and supply aircraft without complicated modifications.
- Several machines were converted into successful submarine hunters. Crews performed lengthy and monotonous patrol missions in the Pacific, earning the aircraft the nickname "Mr. Boredom."
- On the British version, designated Mk. III was also flown by Czechoslovak crews in the 311th Bombardment Squadron.
- 18,188 of many versions were produced in American factories.
- The last of these were retired from the Indian Air Force in 1968.
Technical parameters:
- dimensions: wingspan 33.53 m, length 20.22 m, height 5.46 m
- empty weight 14 810 kg
- maximum take-off weight 27 216 kg
- power plant 4x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 radial engines each with 895 kW
- maximum speed 488 km/h
- climb time 22 minutes to an altitude of 6 700 m
- maximum flight level 9 144 m
- range 3 701 m
- fuel tank capacity 8 949 l
- armament 7 443 kg bombs + 7.7 mm Browning nose machine gun + 2x Colt-Browning M2 machine gun in the upper turret + 4x Browning machine gun in the tail turret and 2x Browning machine gun in the sides
From the memoirs of Czechoslovak B-24 pilot Jaroslav Novák:
,,About 2 km before the target I gave the order to the on-board mechanic and he dropped the flare. Everything lit up! For a split second, including us. All hell broke loose! To our horror, we could clearly make out four German destroyers just below us, escorting a submarine in the middle of the formation. They started firing everything they had at us and it looked like we were going to have to fly through a wall of fire. I said to myself: Jardo, you're an amazing asshole, you're being a jerk at first, and you don't realize you've dragged 7 other people into this who are now going to die! Shots from all calibers of cannons were coming straight at us, but they always dodged to the side or up at the last moment. I realized that there was no hope of survival, sooner or later we would be hit and it would be over. We were flying broadside right at the submarine. The gliding flight added to the speed. At least we reduced the likelihood of enemy missiles hitting us. The crack of the shells still accompanied us. It made a hell of a racket as both machine gun rounds and pieces of shrapnel drummed on our metal plane. Our only chance was flying low below 200 feet. In the middle of the formation, the anti-aircraft guns could not accurately target us at such a low angle, so all the shrapnel exploded above us. We were doing all sorts of things with the plane. The flares went out and the firing stopped."
Assembly instructions
