RAF-in-Combat's Squadrons #28: B-24 Liberator - The Australians

As European and USAAF squadrons were fully equipped with the B-24, there were enough to start equipping Allies. With more Liberators built than any other heavy bomber, this came about fairly quickly. One nation that received a goodly number was Australia. They originally got war weary B-24Ds, many of them outfitted with nose turrets, for use with their training squadron. The rest of their planes were new B-24J/L/M variants.

Initial crews trained with the USAAF and were integrated into the 380 BW in order to get combat experience. Each of these new crews had to get 100 hours before they were qualified to train new crews. This included not only RAAF crewmen integrated with US crews, but also full RAAF crews. Once that was accomplished, proper training could begin.

Eventually the RAAF operated six full operational squadrons plus a training squadron, though some of these units saw only limited combat missions. The RAAF operated B-24s into 1946 with most being disbanded and the aircraft scrapped. One unit converted to the Avro Lincoln.

In addition to the history of the units themselves, the book includes a full listing of every RAAF B-24, its serial tie-in and the number of combat missions flown by each plane. There are the usual tables of losses as well as some great period photos and more than the usual number of superb full color profiles of aircraft used by these squadrons.

Thanks to all the well done research and choice of illustrations, it makes for a superb addition to the series and its reasonable price is one that should appeal to many.

October 2018

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