B-24C 40-2384 in flight
Between December 1941 and February 1942, the Army received nine B-24Cs. These aircraft were critical in paving the way for mass production of the Liberator. The B-24C incorporated several changes based on combat feedback and was equipped with a Martin power turret in the upper forward fuselage and a Consolidated power turret with twin .50-caliber machine guns in the tail. Additionally, a ‘tunnel gun’ was installed in the rear fuselage’s belly, though it was soon found to be highly inadequate.
The B-24Cs were powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1830-41 turbosupercharged engines, necessitating a redesign of the cowling to include two large air intakes for the turbosupercharger and its intercooler. Consolidated referred to these aircraft as ‘production breakdown aircraft.’ They were not intended for combat but were instead used for flight and ground crew training.