Consolidated Liberator I

Consolidated Liberator I was the service name of the first Consolidated B-24 Liberator four-engined bombers to see use with the Royal Air Force (RAF).
A small number of B-24s were purchased for the RAF but assessment showed that they were not suitable for use over Europe. They were however suitable for long range maritime reconnaissance and were put into use with RAF Coastal Command.
Service history.
In August 1939, the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) ordered 38 examples of the Consolidated B-24A. From this order, 20 aircraft (serial numbers 40-2349 to 40-2368) were released for direct purchase by the RAF where it was given the service name Liberator B.Mk.I (from "Bomber Mark 1").
The twenty Liberator B.Mk.I were delivered to the RAF starting in mid 1941 and were given serial numbers "AM910" to "AM929". After a period of testing at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at RAF Boscombe Down, England, it was found to be unsuitable for combat over Europe. Among the deficiencies cited were the lack of self-sealing fuel tanks, poor defensive armament and general lack of combat readiness.
The long range and heavy bomb load however, made the Liberator a natural choice for RAF Coastal Command (CC) for use in long-range maritime patrols against the U-boat menace. Twelve aircraft were sent to Scottish Aviation in Prestwick, Scotland for extensive conversion to meet the anti-submarine warfare role and they were redesignated Liberator GR.Mk.I – the 'GR' standing for 'General Reconnaissance'. The conversion included the addition of Air-to-Surface Vessel radar (ASV) and a pack of four forward firing 20 mm Hispano cannon under the forward bomb bay. Some aircraft were further modified with a pair of stub wings on the fuselage under each wing which carried eight 3 inch (76mm) "60 pound" rockets along with the installation of a Leigh light under the right wing.
The entire series of Liberator GR.Mk.Is were assigned to 15 Group Coastal Command with the reforming of No. 120 Squadron RAF in June 1941 and continued in service until December 1943. During this time, they accounted for five U-boats confirmed sunk and four damaged.
With the end of the war, the Liberators in Coastal Command were replaced by the arguably inferior maritime patrol variant of the Avro Lancaster, the GR Mk 3.
Aircraft.
All the aircraft were delivered from March to May 1941, "AM911", "AM914" and "AM922" were "Unmodified crew trainer". Three Liberators were initially converted to Liberator C.Mk.I (for "cargo") freighters: ("AM915", "AM918", "AM920") and used on the Transatlantic for returning aircraft ferry pilots to Canada as well as priority shipments to the UK. When the Liberator GR.Is were retired from No. 120 Squadron, being replaced with later marks, the remaining aircraft were converted to Liberator C.Is.
"AM910" was used to assess the Liberator B.Mk.I for the RAF in July/August 1941 at the A&AEE. It was then used for testing the Liberator GR.Mk.I AXV radar and 20 mm cannon installations and converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I being assigned to 120 Squadron on 5 September 1941. In April 1942, it crashed on landing at RAF Nutts Corner. "AM911" was converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I and assigned to 120 Squadron on 19 June 1941 unmodified for use as a pilot/crew instructional trainer. In October 1941, it was returned to Scottish Aviation for transport modifications to carry passengers and mail only. On 23 May 1943 the undercarriage collapsed at RAF Gibraltar and it was written off.
While attached to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, "AM912" was damaged on landing on 16 May 1941 and not repaired. After a period of time at an Operational Training Unit "AM913" was converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I standard and assigned to 120 Squadron. On 29 January 1943 it crashed due to the loss of two engines (number 3 and 4) on approach to RAF Talbenny at the end of a flight from Africa. Among the 11 killed was Brigadier Vivian Dykes.
"AM914" was used at an Operational Training Unit before conversion to a Liberator GR.Mk.I and assigned to 120 Squadron assigned as pilot/crew instructional trainer. In October 1941, it was returned to Scottish Aviation for transport modifications – passengers and mail only – no cargo door installed and redesignated Liberator C.Mk.I. In June 1942 it was reassigned to 1425 Flt.. After the war it was SOC (Struck Off Charge) Canada.
"AM915" was converted to Liberator C.Mk.I and assigned to the RAF Ferry Command. On 1 September 1941, it flew into Achinoan Hill near Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland, killing ten crew and passengers.
"AM917" was converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I and assigned to 120 Squadron. On 16 August 42, attacked and damaged and on 19 August 1942 it attacked and damaged while escorting convoy SL 118. U-653 was seriously damaged and had to limp back to base, reaching Brest, France on 30 August 1942. "AM917" attacked but did not damage southwest of Iceland. After the war it was Struck Off Charge in March 1947