1945. The first Liberator bomber ever built is transformed into a passenger aircraft. Interior photos.

After flying for more than five years as a rough, rugged, far-from-beautiful experimental "workhorse," the first Liberator bomber ever built, Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation's XB-24, has become one of the most luxurious air transports in existence. Approaching termination of military contracts for planes of the B-24 series made Convales "Grandpappy" available for a last experiment. Frank A. Learman, Convair general sales manager; Russ R. Rogers, director of flight service, and A. C. Bussy, chief of air transportation, won company approval for production of an "airman's airplane." These photographs show the result, and the plane today, with wide scenic windows, lounges of green leather trimmed with blue, push-button conversion of seats into luxurious berths, venetian blinds, and simplified instrumentation in the pilot's cabin; in strong contrast with the XB-24 in December, 1939. Air Transport Command took over the luxury liner three months ago for assignment as the personal plane of Averill Harriman, U. S. Ambassador to Moscow. 

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source: Aviation Week | Zetu Harrys collection