BELOW: An RAF LB-30A Liberator in flight

Photo [pre-1957] Taken by an employee of the UK government. Photo now in the public domain.

RAF Consolidated LB-30A (B-24) Liberator / AM261

(This aircraft was built originally as USAAC B-24, c/n 170, serial 40-699)

Type Nickname: "Lib"; "Lumbering Lib"; "Flying Boxcar", and others.

The Consolidated B-24 heavy bomber first flew in 1939. The prototypes were equipped with four Pratt & Whitney 1200hp R-1830-33 Twin Wasp engines. Early production versions were fitted with P&W 1200hp R-1830-41 engines with GE turbo superchargers. Later production versions (B-24Ds) were fitted with P&W R-1830-43 engines. Later variants followed. Their maximum speed was about 487km/h (303mph).

The B-24 was fitted with 11 machine guns and had a bomb carrying capacity of about 3,629kgs (8,000lbs); and, with modifications, had a range of about 4600km (2,858 miles).

Although overshadowed by the B-17 (Flying Fortresses), the B-24 was produced in greater numbers than any other aircraft in history (in excess of 18,000 aircraft).

The RAF gained extra B-24s when they took delivery of an order destined originally for France. Consolidated termed the B-24 aircraft destined for Britain 'LB-30As', as they had been modified to meet British MoD and RAF requirements. The RAF assigned the name Liberator to their new bombers (a name adopted later by the USAAF).

However, since the P&W engines of these Liberators had had their superchargers removed before delivery to the RAF, and since they lacked the self-sealing fuel tanks fitted to the US B-24s, they were found to be unsuitable for use in the European theatre. Thus, initially, the RAF Liberators were assigned to B.O.A.C., and later to RAF Ferry Command, for transport purposes.

A number of Liberators were allocated to RAF Coastal Command. Coastal Command first operated these aircraft in 1941, using them against the U-boats. Later, RAF bomber squadrons also used Liberators in the Middle East and Far East.

The Liberator featured here had been assigned to RAF Ferry Command, based at RAF Ayr in Scotland. Their responsibility was to act as transports, and to ferry flight crews across the North Atlantic so that these aircrew could fly newly-built aircraft back to the UK.

BELOW: Shown here is RAF Consolidated Liberator AM262. The serial number was just one digit higher than the aircraft featured on this page. After the war, AM262 and other Liberators were registered to BOAC for civilian use.

Photo: Source unknown

At the time of this accident, the Liberator was being flown by RAF Ferry Command. The aircraft had left Ayr (Heathfield) Aerodrome (now part of Glasgow (Prestwick) International Airport) en route for CFB Gander (later, RCAF Station Gander) in Newfoundland (now, Newfoundland and Labrador), Canada.

In addition to the normal flight crew, the Liberator was carrying additional pilots and crew who were to ferry new aircraft back to the UK from Canada. A total of twenty-two personnel were on board the aircraft: five crew and 17 passengers.

However, shortly after take-off, the aircraft experienced overcast conditions together with rain, mist and low visibility. At this point, the Liberator had just begun to cross the Island of Arran in the Firth of Clyde. In the prevailing cloud and mist, however, the pilot did not realise that he had not gained sufficient height to clear the high peaks of Arran.

Very soon afterward, the Liberator crashed into a ridge of Mullach Buidhe, just north of Goat Fell (or Goatfell)—the latter being the highest peak on Arran. The crew of 5, together with their 17 passengers, perished in the accident.

According to the accident report, the crash was due to navigational error.

Those who died were:

From British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC):

• Ernest Robert Bristow White (35), Captain (Pilot in command), BOAC. (Buried in Kilbride Old Churchyard, Lamlash, Isle of Arran) (Certificate)

• Henry Samuel Green (30), Radio Officer, Atlantic Ferry Command. (Buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery) (Certificate)

From Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA)

With the exception of Captain Bradbrooke (co-pilot) most of the ATA personnel were travelling as passengers on this aircraft. All were laid to rest in Kilbride Old Churchyard.

• Francis Delaforce Bradbrooke (age unknown), Captain (Co-pilot). (Certificate)

• Albert Alexander Oliver (age unknown), Radio Officer. (Certificate)

• George Herbert Powell (age unknown), Radio Officer. (Certificate)

• Herbert David Rees (27). Radio Officer. (Certificate)

From RAF Ferry Command (RAFFC)

Most of the RAFFC personnel were travelling as passengers. All were laid to rest in Kilbride Old Churchyard, Lamlash, Isle of Arran :

• James Josiah Anderson (age unknown), Captain. (Certificate)

• Ralph Bruce Brammer (age unknown), Radio Officer. (Certificate)

• John Beatty Drake (26), Radio Officer. (Certificate)

• Daniel Joseph Duggan (39), Captain. (Certificate)

• George Thomas Harris (age unknown), Captain. (Certificate)

• Hoyt Ralph Judy (24), Captain. (Certificate)

• Wilfrid Groves Kennedy (age unknown), Radio Officer. (Certificate)

• Watt Miller King (27), Captain. (Certificate)

• George Laing (35), Radio Officer. (Certificate)

• William Kenneth Marks (age unknown), Radio Officer. (Certificate)

• Hugh Cameron McIntosh (27), Radio Officer. (Certificate)

• John Evan Price (30), Captain. (Certificate)

• Ernest George Reeves (age unknown), Flight Engineer. (Certificate)

• John James Rouleston (age unknown), First Officer. (Certificate)

• Harold Clifford Wesley Smith (50), Captain. (Certificate)

• Jack Wixen (27), Captain. (Certificate)

See also Memorial (graveside) photos on Page 2

BELOW: One of the few remaining wreckage parts from the RAF LB-30A Liberator AM261 still to be found onsite.

Photo: © 2008 Stevie Spink

BELOW: The general area of the crash site. (Compare with wider view above)

Photo: © 2008 Stevie Spink

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PAGE 2   (Memorial Photos)

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Accident Date: 10 Aug 1941

Accident Site:

Mullach Buidhe

(N of Goat Fell) (721m / 2,366ft)

Region: North Ayrshire (Isle of Arran)

Nearest town or village:

Corrie and Sannox

Nearest large town:

Brodick (S)

OS Grid Ref. N/A

GPS Ref: N/A

Present Condition: A few small fragments may still be found at the crash site.

Registration or Serial: AM261 (RAF Registration: Aircraft ex- USAAC, c/n 170, serial 40-699)

Operator: RAF (Ferry Command; 1425 Flight--Transatlantic Routes)

Operating Base: RAF Ayr (including also RAF 44 Grp. Transport; RN HMS Gannet; HMS Wagtail.)

Base Location: Ayr (Heathfield) Aerodrome, Ayr, Scotland.

Current Airport Status: Operational Civil Airport;
National Air Traffic Services (NATS): Scottish Area Control Centre (SACC), Oceanic Area Control Centre (OACC), Military Control, & Engineering.

Current Airport Name: Glasgow (Prestwick) International Airport (EGPK)

Principal airport data courtesy of John Woodside, A Catalogue of UK Airfields

Accident Specific Link

Photos at Peak District Air Accident Research

Accident details at PlaneCrashInfo.com

B-24 Liberator Aircraft Links

AcePilots.com

American Air Museum, Duxford

B-24 Liberator at American Combat Planes.com

B-24 Liberator at Century of Flight

B-24 Liberator at High Gallery

B-24 Liberator at Warbird Alley

B-24 Liberator at Wikipedia

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RAF Ayr (Prestwick/Heathfield) at Control Towers.co.uk

RAF Liberator Squadrons

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