List of Consolidated B-24 Liberator operators

The List of Consolidated B-24 Liberator operators, both the B-24 Liberator and PB4Y Privateer are listed and include the nation and service branch:

B-24 Liberator Operators

Military operators

Australia

File:7OTU (AMW 043184).jpg

Three No. 7 Operational Training Unit Liberators

Royal Australian Air Force

Australia/South West Pacific

Governor-General's Flight RAAF (as a VIP transport)
No. 12 Squadron RAAF
No. 21 Squadron RAAF
No. 23 Squadron RAAF
No. 24 Squadron RAAF
No. 25 Squadron RAAF
No. 99 Squadron RAAF
No. 102 Squadron RAAF
No. 7 Operational Training Unit RAAF
No. 200 Flight RAAF (controlled by the Allied Intelligence Bureau)
No. 201 Flight RAAF
No. 1 Communication Unit RAAF (as a VIP transport)

Europe

No. 10 Squadron RAAF/No. 466 Squadron RAAF (A joint or merged unit – sources vary; began converting to Liberators in mid-1945 after the surrender of Germany, prior to transfer to the Pacific; disbanded in October 1945 after the surrender of Japan.)^[1]^[2]

Canada

No. 10 Squadron RCAF
No. 11 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron, RCAF
No. 168 Heavy Transport Squadron, RCAF
No. 5 OTU, BCATP Boundary Bay British Columbia and Abbotsford, British Columbia

Germany

Luftwaffe

KG 200 unit operated several captured B-24 for clandestine missions.

India

File:Consolidated B-24L Liberator, India - Air Force AN1139882.jpg

Consolidated B-24L Liberator

When India gained independence in 1947, between 37 and 42 Liberators were resurrected by HAL and gave service with No.5, No.6 and No.16 Squadrons.^[3] until their retirement in 1968. It is from the Indian Air Force that the majority of the remaining B-24s owe their existence.

Italy

Regia Aeronautica

A single USAAF B-24D (serial 41-23659) was captured by the Regia Aeronautica after landing in Pachino, Sicily February 1943. After evaluation at the Italian test centre at Guidonia, it was delivered to the Luftwaffe test centre at Rechlin in June.

Netherlands

No. 321 Squadron RAF was formed from Dutch personnel of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service during World War II. After the Japanese Surrender, the squadron passed to the control of the Dutch Naval Aviation Service. It flew the B-24 Liberator between December 1944 and December 1945.

New Zealand

Poland

Polish Air Forces in exile

No. 301 Polish Bomber Squadron

Portugal

Six B-24 Liberator of various variants were interned during World War II after landing in Portugal due to many reasons. All six of these aircraft were operated by the Aeronáutica Militar (Army Military Aviation).

Romania

One B-24 was captured largely intact after Operation Tidal Wave in 1943. It was tested by the Royal Romanian Air Force during the winter. Another two B-24s were captured after the raid of 5 April 1944. There were plans to form a squadron because of the large number of force-landed or crashed B-24s during the summer of 1944, but only three B-24Ds and one B-24J were made airworthy before King Michael's Coup. The plan was canceled after this event.

Royal Air Force^[4]

No. 8 Squadron RAF (post war Coastal Command, India)
No. 37 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 38 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 40 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 53 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
No. 59 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
No. 70 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 86 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
No. 99 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 102 (Ceylon) Squadron RAF (Transport Command, post war)
No. 104 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 108 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 120 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
No. 147 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 148 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 149 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 159 Squadron RAF (Middle East, Far East)
No. 160 Squadron RAF (Middle East, Far East)
No. 178 Squadron RAF (Middle East)
No. 200 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command out of Gambia)
No. 203 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 206 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
No. 215 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 223 Squadron RAF (Bomber Command, 1944/45)
No. 224 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
No. 231 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 232 Squadron RAF (Transport Command)
No. 233 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
No. 243 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 246 Squadron RAF (Transport Command)
No. 321 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 354 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 355 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 356 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 357 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 358 Squadron RAF (Far East)
No. 502 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
No. 547 Squadron RAF (Coastal Command)
No. 614 Squadron RAF (Middle East)

United States

United States Army Air Forces: see: B-24 Liberator Units of the United States Army Air Forces

PB4Y Privateer Operators

Military Operators

Civil Operators

United States

Hawkins & Powers Aviation used PB4Y Privateers converted for fire fighting.

Paraguay

Alas Guaraníes S.A. used one PB4Y Privateer converted as a cargo plane.

LB-30 Civil Operators

Australia

Qantas Empire Airways

France

Ste Alpes Maritime

Greece

Hellenic Airlines

Morocco

ACANA

United Kingdom

South Vietnam

Notes

↑ RAAF Museum, 2007, "466 Squadron". (access: 27 August 2013)
↑ Australian War Memorial, 1997–2008, "466 Squadron RAAF" (access: 27 August 2013).
↑ "Liberator." bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved: 9 December 2010.
↑ Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57. London, Putnam, 1957. p.136.

[1] RAAF Museum, 2007, "466 Squadron". (access: 27 August 2013)

[2] Australian War Memorial, 1997–2008, "466 Squadron RAAF" (access: 27 August 2013).

[3] "Liberator." bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved: 9 December 2010.

[4] Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57. London, Putnam, 1957. p.136.

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List of Consolidated B-24 Liberator operators

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