C-87 Liberator Express

The Transport Workhorse Adapted From the B-24 Liberator

The C-87 Liberator Express was one of the most important long-range transports of World War II — a rugged utility aircraft adapted directly from Consolidated’s B-24 heavy bomber. Fast, spacious, and capable of spanning oceans, the C-87 became a lifeline for frontline forces, diplomatic missions, and high-priority logistics that required speed and reach unmatched by most transports of the era.

Why the C-87 Was Created

As U.S. involvement in World War II expanded, the Army Air Forces needed an aircraft that could:

• ferry cargo over transoceanic distances

• transport military and civilian VIPs

• move critical equipment between theaters

• deliver high-value supplies quickly and safely

• serve as a long-range evacuation aircraft in emergencies

The B-24’s long wings, powerful engines, and exceptional fuel efficiency made it an ideal candidate for conversion.

Consolidated responded rapidly by designing a transport variant that removed all armament and bombing equipment, installing a cargo floor, airtight fuselage modifications, and updated crew accommodations.

Characteristics and Capabilities

The C-87 offered several advantages over earlier transports:

• Long-range capability suitable for the Atlantic and Pacific ferry routes

• High cruising speed compared to traditional transports

• Large internal volume adaptable for cargo, personnel, or medical evacuations

• Multi-engine reliability essential for oceanic flight

• Improved systems derived from maturing B-24 production techniques

Passengers included generals, diplomats, engineers, medical staff, and occasionally war correspondents — anyone whose mission required fast, strategic movement.

The C-87 in Strategic Operations

The C-87 flew some of the world’s most demanding and dangerous missions, including:

• Transatlantic ferry routes supplying Britain during the height of the war

• “The Hump” flights over the Himalayas, supporting China after Japanese forces cut off ground supply lines

• Pacific island supply chains connecting remote bases spread across thousands of miles

• VIP transport for leaders and special envoys

• Emergency evacuation operations from active theaters

Its combination of speed, lift, and range made it indispensable for missions requiring both endurance and reliability.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its usefulness, the C-87 had some well-documented issues:

• cargo-loading could be awkward due to the modified bomber fuselage

• performance suffered in extreme turbulence

• high-altitude icing and weather hazards made “Hump” missions particularly deadly

• maintenance demands were high due to wear from tropical and arctic climates

Even with these challenges, the C-87 remained one of the only U.S. transports that could reliably complete certain long-range missions during the war.

Legacy of the Liberator Express

Though overshadowed by its bomber counterpart, the C-87 played a crucial logistical role in sustaining Allied operations worldwide. It demonstrated:

• the versatility of the B-24 design

• the strategic necessity of long-range air transport

• Consolidated’s ability to adapt combat aircraft for logistics and humanitarian roles

Its service paved the way for specialized transports later in the war and influenced postwar thinking on global air mobility.