Bomber Program — Program Overview

How Consolidated Helped Redefine American Long-Range Bombing

Long before the B-24 Liberator became one of the most significant heavy bombers of World War II, Consolidated Aircraft was already shaping the U.S. Army Air Corps’ vision of strategic airpower. The company’s bomber program evolved from early experimental concepts into a production empire that supplied the Allies with long-range, high-endurance aircraft capable of changing the course of the war.

This program represented Consolidated’s shift from naval flying boats and utility aircraft to the design and manufacture of some of the most influential combat aircraft in history.

The Strategic Need for Bombers

Through the 1930s, U.S. air doctrine increasingly emphasized:

• long-range strike capability

• precision bombing of industrial and military targets

• the ability to project American power across oceans

• sustained operations in multiple global theaters

To meet these demands, the Army required aircraft that could fly farther, carry more, endure longer, and survive harsher environments than anything then in service.

These doctrinal expectations set the stage for Consolidated’s rise as a major bomber manufacturer.

Consolidated’s Entry Into Bomber Design

Before developing the B-24, Consolidated spent years refining:

• metal airframe construction

• long-span high-lift wing designs

• multi-engine reliability

• rugged structural engineering from flying boat designs

These capabilities positioned the company to respond when the Army Air Corps issued specifications for a new generation of heavy bombers.

The result was a dramatic shift in Consolidated’s industrial direction — from maritime aviation to global strategic airpower.

Early Bomber Concepts

Consolidated explored several bomber ideas before the B-24 program matured. These early concepts included:

• prototypes intended to exceed the capabilities of existing medium bombers

• long-range aircraft influenced by flying boat aerodynamics

• experimental design studies for greater payload and endurance

While many early designs were never mass-produced, they laid essential groundwork:

• structural innovations

• fuel-management strategies

• aerodynamic refinements

• lessons in multi-crew coordination and mission endurance

This iterative process culminated in the design principles that would define the B-24.

The Birth of Long-Range Strategic Bombing Capability

By the late 1930s, American air doctrine began aligning with concepts emerging in Europe — the belief that airpower could determine the outcome of wars. The Army sought:

• larger bomb loads

• higher cruising speeds

• greater range for Pacific operations

• improved survivability

• advanced navigation and communication equipment

Consolidated’s response was bold and transformative.

The B-24 Liberator would become:

• faster than earlier U.S. heavy bombers

• longer-ranged than the B-17

• capable of massive production scaling

• adaptable into dozens of variants

It was a breakthrough not only in design, but in manufacturing capacity.

The Strategic Impact of Consolidated’s Bomber Program

Consolidated’s bomber work shaped aviation history in several ways:

• global reach: allowing the Allies to strike targets across continents

• logistical strength: enabling long-range patrol and anti-submarine warfare

• industrial power: resulting in thousands of bombers built at record speed

• technological influence: informing the development of later heavy aircraft

• tactical adaptability: providing the foundation for transports, tankers, and reconnaissance variants

The bomber program became one of Consolidated’s defining achievements — a testament to the company’s ability to respond to national defense needs at a critical moment in history.

What This Section Covers

This portion of the Consolidated Aircraft section explores the origin and maturation of the bomber program, including:

• Program Overview

• Pre-B-24 Bomber Concepts

• Strategic Bombing & Consolidated’s Role

Together, these pages explain how Consolidated moved from early experiments to producing one of the most iconic bombers of the Second World War.