B-24D LIBERATOR (OLIVE)

Historical Note:    The B-24 Liberator was the prototype model produced by Consolidated Aircraft Corp. It was the rival of the B-17 Flying Fortress but it had greater speed and range than the latter. In history, The B-24 Liberator was built in greater quantity than any other US bombers during World War II reaching over 18,000 aircraft built!

Its very first flight was on December 26, 1939. Of the 164 battles it was engaged in, 53 lost their route, 23 were forced down and only 88 returned safely to base. The B-24 Liberator has a feature that makes it suitable for long water missions.

On August 1, 1943, the Liberator was involved in the initial raid on the Ploesti oil refinery in Southern Rumania. That raid is said to be the most dramatic of all its European battles as it was heavily defended by anti aircraft guns, the squadrons of German Luffwafe and the Royal Rumanian Air Force fighters.

Until April 1944, all B-24s dressed for combat in their familiar olive drab paint. Then, as America gained air superiority, they flew in their unpainted natural metal finish.

The B-24 Liberators fought for the United States freedom in Europe and the pacific in World War II. The B-24 Liberator was a four engine American heavy bomber that was mass produced and hold the record of the most number of aircraft that was produced. One of the B-24 variants is the B-24J Liberator which was very similar to B-24H. The difference was the defensive improvements that were made in B-24H weren’t included. The B-24J featured an improved auto pilot and bombsight of the M-a series. The B-24H subassemblies made by Fort and constructed by other companies were all included in the design of B-24J Liberator. There were a total of 6,678 B-24J Liberators that were made.

Scale:    1:62
W/S:    21.25   inches, 
Lgth:   13.0   inches

Item Number:    TMC-AB24OD                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Price:    $169.95