American

030927 - THE CONSOLIDATED B-24 LIBERATOR Volume 1: Reuben Fleet, The Factories and The Product (order by 14th August for 25% discount)

By William Wolf

• The first of three volumes and the definitive study of the B-24 Liberator, the most produced and versatile heavy bomber of the Second World War
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• Its designer, Reuben Fleet, is discussed in detail as are the five production factories, including the magnificent Willow Run Plant
  
• Beautifully illustrated with many rare and unpublished photographs
  
• Of interest to aviation and military historians, modellers, gamers and flight simulator enthusiasts such as War Thunder, DCS and IL-2
  
• Supplemented by a wealth of diagrams and photographs, some believed to be previously unpublished 

‘The B-24 has guts. It can take it and dish it out. It can carry a bigger bombload farther and faster, day in and day out, than any airplane that has passed the flaming test of combat.’  Army Air Force B-24 instruction manual

In the first of a massive three-volume B-24 Liberator set, William Wolf presents a meticulously researched and ultimate look at the B-17 Flying Fortress stablemate from the drawing board to its emergence as America’s preeminent blue-collar bomber.

In addition to his personal 27,000+ book library and microfilm collection, the author made extensive use of the enormous document and photo collections at the National Museum of the USAF, the Pima Aerospace Museum and Consolidated and Ford Company design and production information.

Described is the role of aviation icon, Reuben Fleet, for his contribution to the development of the B-24 Liberator in the context of American military and commercial aviation industry. The design evolution of the Liberator and the Davis Wing are also highlighted. Since the B-24 was ultimately manufactured by five different factories, primarily Consolidated and Ford using various manufacturing techniques, these are described, contrasted and illustrated in detail. The Ford knock-down kits, including their manufacture and transport, are studied for the first time.

The final section of the book describes the various models and variants along with exhaustive information on today’s surviving B-24s. All three volumes are the definitive look at the Liberator detailing every facet for the air enthusiast, military historian and modeller.