Consolidated Liberator B-24 / F-7

(DND Photos via James Craik) (Source Harold A Skaarup Web Page)
Consolidated Liberator G.R. Mk. VIII, RCAF (Serial No. 11130) ex-USAAF Consolidated (Vultee) B-24L Liberator USAAF (44-50154)
ex-RAF (Serial No. 5009), ex-Indian Air Force (Serial No. HE773).
Currently preserved in the Canada Aviation and Space Museum Ottawa Ontario.

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber flown by the RCAF during the Second Word War. It was designed with a shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing which gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to carry a heavy bomb load. Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine. In comparison with its contemporaries the B-24 was relatively difficult to fly and had poor low speed performance; it also had a lower ceiling compared with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Of the roughly 18,500 B-24s built in the USA during the war, 148 were flown by the RCAF on long range anti-submarine patrols, with the B-24 serving an instrumental role in closing the Mid-Atlantic gap in the Battle of the Atlantic. The RCAF also flew a few B-24s post war as transports.

Roughly half of all (RAF) Liberator crews in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre were Canadian by the end of the war. John Muir of Vancouver flew the longest mission of the war: 24hrs, 10mins from Ceylon to Burma and back. (Kyle Hood) Harold Skaarup web page

Liberator bomber

Wikipedia Liberator bomber

Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Liberator C lX JT982

London Evening Standard July 6 1945

An RAF Ferry Command C.IX Liberator, JT982 of 231 Squadron, was scheduled for a Washington, Dorval, Gander, Keflavik, Prestwick, and Northolt flight itinerary. The aircraft departed RCAF Gander on July 4, 1945 on the leg to Keflavik with a crew of 4 and 11 VIP passengers including several women. While enroute towards Keflavik, the Liberator ditched in the North Atlantic apparently due to the elevator becoming jammed. Although an intensive two week air and sea search was carried out, no trace of the aircraft or crew and passengers were ever found from the missing Liberator.

Both WW1 and WW2 exapnded the roles of women. Women also continued in traditional roles, those roles were more highly valued.

1. These videos describe the exapnding role for women in both wars, as well as expand on the tradional roles in war time.

   Women at War World War 1 (York University 6:44)

   World War II Women (3:22)

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2. In 1941-1942 the Women's Division was official added to the RCAF. It was mostly a measure to free up man for combat. However many women had very distinguished service records.

   RCAF Women's Division from Juno Beach Centre

   RCAF Women's Division

   RCAF Women's Division in Britain (1:43)

   Olive E. Creasor Collection

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3. 

   Elsie MacGill, first women Aerospace Engineer, was also a comic book hero.
   Elsie MacGill, "Queen of the Hurricanes".

   Queen of the Hurricanes (1:00)

   Elsie MacGill, Queen of the Hurricanes (5:29)

   Roberta Bondar on Elsie MacGill

   Elsie MacGill Comic Book story from WW2

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4. Special Military Roles of Women in Canada

   Canadian Women Codebreakers (11:43)

   Canadian Women in Air Transport Auxiliary (3:33)

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5. Women Pilots in Canada

   Today woman pilots in Canada are too numerous to mention, but that has not always been the case. These are some of women who pioneered the change in women's roles in flying.

   Canadian Woman Pilots Through the Years

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