LB-30 Liberator — Aircraft Manuals Collection

Before the B-24 entered USAAF service, there was the LB-30. Built under British contract as the Liberator I and II, the Consolidated Model 32 in its LB-30 configuration was the first operational Liberator — flying transatlantic ferry routes, RAF Coastal Command patrols, and early strategic bombing missions before the American variants reached the front. This collection brings together the surviving original factory and Air Service Command publications for the LB-30A and LB-30B, all dated December 30, 1941 — among the earliest primary-source Liberator documentation in existence.

Engineering Profile

The Davis Wing. Developed by David Davis, the wing features a thick, high-lift cross-section with a high aspect ratio of 11.55. Wind tunnel and flight test data recorded a low zero-lift drag coefficient (CD₀ = 0.0406), delivering the cruise efficiency and extended range that made the Liberator indispensable for transatlantic operations. The tradeoff was structural: the narrow profile was highly sensitive to combat damage and icing, and the thin cross-section offered minimal tolerance for battle hits — a characteristic that defined the aircraft's operational reputation throughout the war.

Powerplant. Four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial engines, each producing 1,200 hp. The LB-30 variants used single-stage internal superchargers rather than the external turbosuperchargers introduced on later B-24 production blocks. Cylindrical engine nacelles and cowl flaps were redesigned to improve high-velocity airflow and mitigate overheating at the power settings required for transatlantic cruise profiles.

Handling and Stability. The LB-30 demanded physical effort from its crews. Heavy mechanical linkage forces on yokes and rudders made sustained flight fatiguing, particularly in turbulence or formation. The high-aspect-ratio wing exhibited sharp stall characteristics, making low-speed handling and tight formation flying hazardous. The oval twin-tail rudder configuration proved inefficient at high angles of attack, producing directional instability under heavy loads — a known limitation documented in the operational flight instructions in this collection.

Performance Baseline. Gross operating weight: 41,000–55,000 lbs. Maximum takeoff weight: 65,000 lbs. Total drag area: 42.54 sq ft. Propeller configuration: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard constant-speed propellers.

Engineering Modifications. Ferry Command conversions stripped all armament and armour to maximise range and payload for transatlantic transport flights. C-87 transport alterations sealed the bomb bays, spliced cargo doors, and installed internal passenger seating — structural changes documented in the engineering bulletins of the period.

Collection Manifest — 10 Documents

Operation and Flight Instructions

• T.O. 01-5ED-1 — Preliminary Operation and Flight Instructions, Model LB-30 “Liberator II” — Four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4G Twin Wasp Engines (B.A.P. 1867B / C.A.C. Report ZE-32-010, 30 Dec 1941, Rev. 5-30-42, Contract F-677, Restricted)
• C.A.C. Report ZE-32-016 — Operation and Flight Instructions, LB-30B (30 Dec 1941)
• A.P. 1867A / T.O. 01-50EA-1 — Pilot's Notes, LB-30A Liberator I (RAF)

Erection and Maintenance

• T.O. 01-5ED-2 — Erection and Maintenance Instructions, Model LB-30 “Liberator II” (B.A.P. 1867-B / C.A.C. Report ZE-32-009, 30 Dec 1941, Rev. 5-1-42, Contract F-677, Restricted)

Repair Instructions

• T.O. 01-5ED-3 — Repair Instructions, Model LB-30 “Liberator II” (B.A.P. 1867A / C.A.C. Report ZE-32-013, 30 Dec 1941, Rev. 4-20-42, Contract F-677, Restricted)

Parts and Assembly

• T.O. 01-5ED-4 — Preliminary Assembly Spare Parts List, Consolidated Model LB-30 — British Liberator Airplane (30 Dec 1941, published by authority of the Chief of the Air Corps)

Multi-Volume Technical Set — LB-30 Liberator II

• T.O. 01-50ED-1 — LB-30 Liberator II Technical Manual, Part 1 (multi-section, covering airframe, systems, and structural data)
• T.O. 01-50ED-2 — LB-30 Liberator II Technical Manual, Part 2
• T.O. 01-50ED-3 — LB-30 Liberator II Technical Manual, Part 3
• T.O. 01-50ED-4 — LB-30 Liberator II Technical Manual, Part 4

All documents in this collection are published by authority of the Commanding General, Army Air Forces, by the Air Service Command, Air Force Section, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio — or by the Chief of the Air Corps. Contract F-677, Consolidated Aircraft Corp., San Diego, California.

This is a Living Collection. Documents are added as new archival sources are acquired. Purchasers receive free lifetime updates.

Permitted Uses

Historical research and scholarship. Aircraft restoration reference. Museum and heritage documentation. Flight simulation and scale modelling. Aerospace education. This collection is not approved for active airworthiness maintenance.

⚠️ Regulatory Notice: Under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13 and EASA Part-M, any mechanic performing maintenance on an active aircraft must use current, manufacturer-approved revision-controlled data. This archival collection does not satisfy that requirement.

This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorised distributor.

Living Collections with Free Lifetime Updates – Please review our Legal Notice and Export Notice before purchasing.