ircraft design and production both before and during the Second World War.
Conduct of the Research, and Presentation of the Findings
Research was performed in four specific areas of interest in pursuit of the research purpose of this study. Air war doctrine was the first area of investigation. From air war doctrine flowed the design of aircraft to support the adopted doctrine. Aircraft design was the second area of investigation in this study. The Consolidated B 24 Liberator was the outcome of adopted air war doctrine and aircraft design conceptions. The third area investigated in this study was American aircraft production during the Second World War. The aircraft production effort created the B 24s that performed operationally during the war. The fourth are investigated in this study was the combat performance of the Consolidated B 24 Liberator. The combat performance of the B 24 earned the uncomplimentary nicknames applied to aircraft, but the combat performance of the B 24 also led to design changes and to decisions to continue and increase production of the aircraft.
The contributions of the Consolidated B 24 Liberator to strategic and tactical outcomes are, of course, related to the combat performance of the aircraft. Air war doctrine, design of the aircraft, and production of the aircraft, however, also affected the capacity of the B 24 to contribute to the strategic and tactical outcomes of the war.
Research findings related to air war doctrine, aircraft design, B 24 production, and combat operations of the aircraft are presented in separate chapters (two through five) in the topical order indicated. The research questions are discussed and assessed within the context of the research findings in the final chapter (six) of the study.
Air war doctrine is an element of the principles of war. Thus, the conduct of strategic air operations must be developed within the principles of war. Both the principles o...