page_title: Consolidated Liberator I
section_title: Aircraft
hierarchical_section_title: Consolidated Liberator I / Aircraft
caption_attribution_description: English: American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service 1939-1945- Consolidated Model 32 Liberator. Liberator Mark I, AM910, on the ground following conversion as an anti-submarine aircraft by Scottish Aviation Ltd at Prestwick, Ayrshire. ASV (Air to Surface Vessel) ocean-scanning radar, and four 20mm fixed cannon mounted in a tray under the sealed forward half of the bomb-bay, have been installed. In September 1941, AM910 joined No. 120 Squadron at Nutts Corner, County Antrim, as ‘OH-M’, serving until 13 April 1942, when it was damaged and reduced to spares.
context_page_description: Consolidated Liberator I was the service name of the first Consolidated B-24 Liberator four-engined bombers to see use with the Royal Air Force.
  A small number of B-24s were purchased for the RAF but assessment showed that they were not suitable for use over Europe. They were however suitable for long range maritime reconnaissance and were put into use with RAF Coastal Command.
context_section_description: All the aircraft were delivered from March to May 1941, AM911, AM914 and AM922 were "Unmodified crew trainer". Three Liberators were initially converted to Liberator C.Mk.I (for "cargo") freighters: (AM915, AM918, AM920) and used on the Transatlantic for returning aircraft ferry pilots to Canada as well as priority shipments to the UK. When the Liberator GR.Is were retired from No. 120 Squadron, being replaced with later marks, the remaining aircraft were converted to Liberator C.Is.
  AM910 was used to assess the Liberator B.Mk.I for the RAF in July/August 1941 at the A&AEE. It was then used for testing the Liberator GR.Mk.I AXV radar and 20 mm cannon installations and converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I being assigned to 120 Squadron on 5 September 1941. In April 1942, it crashed on landing at RAF Nutts Corner. AM911 was converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I and assigned to 120 Squadron on 19 June 1941 unmodified for use as a pilot/crew instructional trainer. In October 1941, it was returned to Scottish Aviation for transport modifications to carry passengers and mail only. On 23 May 1943 the undercarriage collapsed at RAF Gibraltar and it was written off.
  While attached to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, AM912 was damaged on landing on 16 May 1941 and not repaired. After a period of time at an Operational Training Unit AM913 was converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I standard and assigned to 120 Squadron. On 29 January 1943 it crashed due to the loss of two engines (number 3 and 4) on approach to RAF Talbenny at the end of a flight from Africa. Among the 11 killed was Brigadier Vivian Dykes.
  AM914 was used at an Operational Training Unit before conversion to a Liberator GR.Mk.I and assigned to 120 Squadron assigned as pilot/crew instructional trainer. In October 1941, it was returned to Scottish Aviation for transport modifications – passengers and mail only – no cargo door installed and redesignated Liberator C.Mk.I. In June 1942 it was reassigned to 1425 Flt.. After the war it was SOC (Struck Off Charge) Canada.
  AM915 was converted to Liberator C.Mk.I and assigned to the RAF Ferry Command. On 1 September 1941, it flew into Achinoan Hill  near Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland, killing ten crew and passengers.
  AM916 (ex 40-2355) s/n 7 was converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I and assigned to 120 Squadron. On 5 April 1942, during Operation Myrmidon, it was engaged in combat with three Junkers Ju 88s for over half an hour. From June – July 1942, it was detached to Middle East (with 120/P AM919). After the war it was sold.
  AM917 was converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I and assigned to 120 Squadron. On 16 August 42, attacked and damaged U-89 and on 19 August 1942 it attacked and damaged U-653 while escorting convoy SL 118. U-653 was seriously damaged and had to limp back to base, reaching Brest, France on 30 August 1942. AM917 attacked but did not damage U-386 southwest of Iceland. After the war it was Struck Off Charge in March 1947
  AM918 (ex 40-2357)  s/n 9 was converted to Liberator C.Mk.I and assigned to the RAF Ferry Command.  Assigned to BOAC with registration G-AGDR.
  May 1941 delivered to England by Ferry Command (Pilot: W/C John Francis).
  24–25 January 1942, AM918 with civil registry G-AGDR flew nonstop from Hurn to Cairo. However, on its return trip, it was shot down in error by a Spitfire over the English Channel near Plymouth on 15 February 1943 with nine killed.
  AM919 (ex 40-2358) s/n 10 was converted to Liberator GR.Mk.I and assigned to 120 Squadron.
  June – July 1942, detached to Middle East (with 120/L AM916). While escorting convoy SC 130 in the North Atlantic on 20 May 1943, attacked and sank U-258 with depth charges. On 18 June 1943, undercarriage collapsed on landing at Reykjavík, Iceland and the aircraft was salvaged for spares.
  AM920 (ex 40-2359)  s/n 11 was converted to Liberator C.Mk.I and assigned to the RAF Ferry Command.  Assigned to BOAC with registration G-AHYB. On 10 February 1946 it completed the British Overseas Airways Corporation's 2,000th transatlantic crossing It passed to France as F-VNNP and became th
caption: Liberator Mk. 1 AM910. The antenna for its ASV radar are fitted to the top of the fuselage. The forward half of the bomb-bay is sealed up and a blister, containing four 20mm cannon, is fitted underneath it (July 1941)
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