Although often overshadowed by the B17 Flying Fortress, the B24 Liberator was built in greater numbers than any other US military aircraft and served with distinction in both war and peace. The first B24 Liberator made its maiden flight on 29 December 1939.
Designed by the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation to rival the Boeing B17, the type proved an outstanding success, with 18500 aircraft being built by Consolidated, Douglas, North American and Ford between 1940 and 1945.
1900 B24s were supplied to the Royal Air Force. Liberators were used by RAF bomber squadrons in the Middle East, and from January 1944 became the principle RAF strategic bomber in the Far East. Liberators were also deployed by RAF Coastal Command, playing a key role in the war against Germany's submarine fleet. Liberators also saw service as transports; indeed, (AL504 Commando) became the personal aircraft of Prime Minister Winston Churchill for a short time.
Liberators continued in use until December 1968 when the Indian Air Force retired its former RAF machines.
Six from the first batch for the UK were directed to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) for use in the North Atlantic Return Ferry Service. During WWII, Captain D.C.T. Bennett known as Pathfinder Bennett, flew the first crossing on 14 May 1941 taking 14½ hours. The thousandth crossing of the Atlantic took place in September 1944.
I've found that veteran crews of both planes tended to be very loyal to them as each plane had their own specific advantages over the other. Personally, I like 'em both.
i like this plane, i found the one hows crashed in the bay of agay souht of france, well whats left of it!
i dive there several times, well, if they didnt came to france? we were meby still in a nazi conflict!? Thanks to them, how give their lives and their fait to liberate us!!
My Dad was shot down on June 13, 1944 over Germany and survived 11 months as a prisoner of war. Herbert Frels was the pilot and is still alive in Cuero, TX. Both are heroes in my mind! Very exciting aircraft but a lot of men lost their lives in B-24s on training missions!
My grandfather piloted a B-24J in the 15th army air corp 455th bomb group 740th squad out of Italy. He loved that plane. She bought him and his crew home everytime no madder how badly shot up. It's good to see there are still some around
remember building a model liberator when i was a kid the metal paint looked great,would love to see one in real life ,seeing ww2 aircraft up close is amazing the raf and coastal command and transport squadrons used the liberator too
Those babys are a lot skinnier than I had expected. What a beautiful bird!
I'm SO GLAD you guys admire the B-24. There was a time when the airplane seemed forgotten, forsaken for whiz bang jets and the pretty B-17. The B-24 was made to fight her way in, and deliver the freight on target - period. Amazing men who braved such adversity to fly her in so.
Boeing made the B-17, had to promo it to sell stock in a big airplane company, and they were easy for news crews to film over there in England. B-24's r the REAL DEAL! Fly on!
Thank you Auldm, for the tribute. Is that 'Dead Can Dance' music? Cool!
I'm 53, my Dad was joined the Army Air Corps 2 months before Pearl Harbor. Served as waist gunner, 25 missions in the 98th, stationed in Lybia and later Italy. My grandmother's brother was a B-24 nose turret gunner shot down on the 2nd Ploesti raid, POW.
Dad said with a smile, it was the greatest warplane ever made - because it always got him home! ... But he talked very little of the war.
The music is 'Zimbo' by 'Echo and the Bunnymen' a UK band from the 80's
3 : 51 
I've found that veteran crews of both planes tended to be very loyal to them as each plane had their own specific advantages over the other. Personally, I like 'em both. 
2006©Viduz.com All Rights Reserved. All Video materials brought by YouTube.com