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F-7A serial 42-64184 "Photo Fanny" of the 2nd Photo Recon Sq



The F-7 was a photographic reconnaissance version of the Liberator, obtained by converting existing B-24 airframes at Army modification centers.

The first XF-7 was obtained in January of 1943 by converting B-24D 41-11653 by removing all the bombing equipment and installing eleven reconnaissance cameras in the nose, bomb bay, and aft fuselage. All the defensive armament was retained. This conversion was carried out at Lowry AB in Colorado. Four additional Consolidated/San Diego-built B-24Ds were converted to reconnaissance configuration under the designation F-7 at the Northwest Airlines Modification Center in St.Paul, Minnesota.

Most of the reconnaissance conversions were of nose-turreted B-24J, L and M Liberators. The first of these conversions were designated F-7A. The F-7A had a trimetrogon camera located in the nose, and a pair of vertical cameras installed in the aft bomb bay. The full defensive armament suite of the bomber was retained, and the F-7A conversions could externally be distinguished from stock bomber Liberators only by the presence of the additional camera windows cut into the rear bomb bay and into the lower nose. Generally, extra fuel tanks were installed in the forward bomb bay for additional range. The aft bomb bay was sealed shut and a crew compartment was installed for the photo technicians operating the cameras. Heaters were installed to keep the temperature of the compartment constant, more for the film than for the comfort of the crews.

Later reconnaissance conversions were designated F-7B. The F-7B differed from the F-7A in carrying all five cameras in the aft bomb bay, with the nose camera installation being deleted. The reason for this shift was that the navigator tended to bump up against the nose cameras, knocking them out of adjustment. Most F-7Bs were conversions of late-model B-24Ms, although a few B-24Js and Ls became F-7Bs as well.

The F-7s were assigned to the following groups: 1st Photographic Group, 4th Photographic Group, 5th Photographic Group, 6th Photographic Group, 11th Photographic Group, and the 311th Reconnaissance Wing.