Consolidated XB-41 Liberator
| XB-41 Liberator | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Role | Escort bomber |
| Manufacturer | Consolidated Aircraft |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Forces |
| Number built | 1 |
| Developed from | Consolidated B-24 Liberator |
The Consolidated XB-41 Liberator was a single Consolidated B-24D Liberator bomber, serial 41-11822, which was modified for the long-range escort role for U.S. Eighth Air Force bombing missions over Europe during World War II.
The XB-41 Liberator was outfitted with 14 .50 caliber defensive machine guns. These included twin dorsal turrets, a remotely operated Bendix turret (of the same type as the YB-40 used) under the chin, the usual twin Browning M2 .50 cal tail turret and twin-.50 cal fully retractable Sperry ventral ball turret, plus a twinned-mount pair (similar to the twinned tail-guns of a B-17E or -F Flying Fortress) of Browning .50 cal M2s at each waist window. The port waist mount was originally covered by a Plexiglas bubble; testing showed this caused severe optical distortion and it was removed.
The XB-41 carried 12,420 rounds of ammunition, 4,000 rounds of which were stored in the bomb bay as a reserve. It was powered by four 1,250 hp (930 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 radial engines.
On 29 January 1943, the sole XB-41 was delivered to Eglin Field, Florida. Tests were carried out for two months at Eglin during the early winter of 1943. These indicated significant problems with the aircraft; on 21 March 1943, the Army declared the XB-41 as unsuitable for operational use; the conversion of thirteen Liberators to YB-41 service test aircraft was cancelled. Despite this, Consolidated continued to work on the XB-41 prototype; wide-blade propellers were fitted, and some of the armor was removed to reduce the aircraft's weight. Tests resumed at Eglin on 28 July 1943; however, the basic flaws of the "gunship" concept remained, and the XB-41 program was abandoned. The prototype XB-41 was redesignated TB-24D; it served as an instructional airframe for training mechanics on the B-24. It was scrapped at Maxwell Field, Alabama on 2 February 1945.
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