KYIP —

During World War II, a total of 18,482 B-24 Liberator bombers were built at five different locations, including a large number at Willow Run Airport, by the Ford Motor Company. During the war, , the U.S. Navy determined that it needed long-range submarine patrol aircraft for the North Atlantic. Early on, B-24Ds from the USAAF, were used and given the designation of PB4Y-1 , with the . \ letters PB indicating Patrol Bomber. The Navy designated three B-24Ds as XPB4Y-2s for modification and on 20 September 1944, the first PB4Y-2 made its maiden flight. The Navy took delivery of the first PB4Y-2, the Sea Liberator, in July 1944 but ~fficially dubbed it the Privateer.