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Consolidated Liberator B.VIII

Aircraft & Exhibits, JAN 1944-JUL 1974, London, Hangar Five, 74/A/790

Although often overshadowed by the B-17 Flying Fortress, the American B-24 Liberator was built in greater numbers than any other US military aircraft and served with distinction in both war and peace. It also played a major role in service with the RAF.

Consolidated B-24L Liberator, (C) RAF Museum/Iain Duncan / RAF Museum

Heinkel He 111

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1944-1947, London, Hangar Five, 78/A/1033

The Heinkel He 111, a German twin-engined medium bomber, was used extensively in the late 1930s and early years of the Second World War. Like many Luftwaffe military aircraft, its development was concealed by claiming it was for high-speed commercial transport.

Side view of an aircraft with a camouflaged upper and a turquoise underside; a cross and swastika painted on the fuselage and, © RAF Museum

Operation Manna Decorative Tile

Aircraft & Exhibits, 1945, London, Hangar Five, 1987/1402/C

From the winter of 1944 to 1945 the Netherlands suffered from famine conditions. In the closing days of the war, a truce was arranged with occupying German forces to allow aircraft from the RAF and US Army Air Force to drop food to the starving population. Between 29 April and 7 May, 11,000 tonnes of food was delivered, saving many lives.

A woman and child wave, standing next to barbed wire, wave at Allied aircraft dropping supplies, RAF Museum

Norden Bombsight Type M9

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Five, 82/I/819

The US Army Air Force strategy for bombing Germany centred around the use of this highly accurate Norden Bombsight to conduct precision attacks on vital industries during daylight. Unfortunately, the cloudy European weather frequently obscured targets and reduced accuracy.

Image pending

P-51 Mustang Drop Tank

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Five, 79/A/1515

As USAAF Bomber losses mounted during 1943 it became essential to increase the range of escorting fighters. Disposable fuel tanks mounted under the wings or belly of an aircraft gave extra range. The fuel in these disposable tanks was used early in the flight to enable them to be dropped when empty. This was one of a pair of steel tanks that could be fitted under the wing of a P-51 Mustang.

Ovoid metal container, light grey, large are of red-brown spot rusting, Iain Duncan

P-51 Mustang Canopy

Aircraft & Exhibits, London, Hangar Five, 71/A/508

Canopy rail from a P-51 Mustang flown by Captain Howard ‘Pete’ Wiggins, who joined the USAAF in 1942. As part of the US Army 8th Air Force, Howard Wiggins flew fighter aircraft such as P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts on bomber escort missions from bases in the UK.

Aircraft canopy on a stand, broken glass, two metal arches, metal surround, blue paint and rusting, Iain Duncan