B-24 Liberators in Australian service

The B-24 Liberator was a heavy bomber in service in the air force of Australia during World War II and subsequent years. The B-24 was the main component of heavy bomber support in the Pacific theatre following a decision to remove B-17s from the theatre due to their shorter ranges and for logistic simplicity.

While Australian pilots flew Liberators in other theatres of war, the aircraft was introduced into service in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1944 when it was suggested by Gen George C. Kenney that seven heavy bomber squadrons be raised to supplement the efforts of the 380th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The USAAF helped in the procurement of the aircraft for the RAAF and training of the Australian air-crew. Seven flying squadrons, an operational training unit and two independent flights were equipped with the aircraft by the end of World War II in August 1945.

The following squadrons of the RAAF operated Liberators:
 * 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)
 * Governor-General's Flight RAAF (as a VIP transport)

The RAAF LIberators saw service in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. Flying mainly from bases in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia the aircraft conducted bombing raids against Japanese positions, ships and strategic targets in New Guinea, Borneo and the Netherlands East Indies. In addition, the small number of Liberators operated by No. 200 Flight played an important role in supporting covert operations conducted by the Allied Intelligence Bureau and other Liberators were converted to VIP transports. Following the Japanese surrender the RAAF's Liberators participated in flying former prisoners of war and other personnel back to Australia.

The Liberator models in service with the RAAF were the B-24D, B-24J, B-24L and B-24M models. A total of 287 aircraft were supplied to the RAAF of which 33 were lost in action. Liberators remained in service till 1948 when they were phased out and replaced by the Avro Lincoln heavy bomber which was manufactured in Australia under license. Over 20,000 Australians serviced and flew the aircraft - over 200 Australians lost their lives flying Liberators, the exact figures not being available. Only one Liberator, serial number A72-176, model B-24MR (where R implies a modification incorporating radar) survives in Australia and is the object of a restoration scheme under the auspices of the National Trust of Australia.