The B-24 was not a particularly attractive aircraft. One of its pilots said, "It looked like a truck, it hauled big loads like a truck, and it flew like a truck." Another pilot likened the B-24's handling characteristics to "a fat lady doing a ballet." However, with a 2,100 mile range and an 8,800 pound bomb paylod (vs. the B-17's normal 6,000 pound payload), the B-24 was a valuable addition to the US daylight precision bombing effort. "We called our B-24s boxcars," said a bombadier. "They could carry a lot of bombs, they could carry them a long way, and they could drop them in a fairly tight pattern." The B-24 also packed eight .50 caliber machine guns in nose, top, belly, tail turrets, and two more in left and right flank positions. Unlike the belly turrett in the B-17, the B-24's belly turret was retractable and was often kept retracted until the enemy was spotted. The B-24 was produced in greater numbers than any other single US aircraft, and it dropped more bomb tonnage than its better-known, better-looking sister, the B-17 Flying Fortress.

Bulk of production: 1943
Number Manufactured: 18,479
Description: Multiengine straight-wing
Mission: Heavy bomber
Manufacturer: Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corp. (Convair)
Engines: Four 1,200-hp P&W Twin Wasp R-1830-65 14-cylinder air-cooled radials
Versions: B-24C (1940) through B-24M (1945)
Speed: 300 MPH at 25,000 ft
Range: 2,100 miles
Ceiling: 28,000 ft.
Armament: 10/.50 cal machine guns
Crew: 8-12
Wingspan: 110 ft.
Length: 67 ft. 2 in.
Height: 18 ft.
Weight: 36,500lbs/Empty 71,000lbs/Max. Gross