<P> The C - 87A was a dedicated VIP series built in small quantity . Early versions were fitted with a single . 50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning machine gun in their tails, and a XC - 87B version proposed two . 50 caliber (12.7 mm) fixed machine guns for the nose, operable by the pilot, though these were eventually removed . The XC - 87B also designated a resurrected crash victim B - 24D (42 - 40355) fitted with low altitude power packages and a forward fuselage extension . The extended nose earned it the name Pinocchio . Later modifications gave it a single tail and yet another type of engine packages bring it to near C - 87C configuration . Other C - 87 designations were the U.S. Navy designation RY and Lend Lease Liberator Cargo VII . </P> <P> Although only 287 C - 87 and eight U.S. Navy RY variants were produced, they were still important in the Army Air Forces' airlift operations early in the war when aircraft with high altitude, long - range heavy hauling abilities were in short supply . The C - 87 flew in many theaters of war, including much hazardous duty in flights from Labrador to Greenland and Iceland in the North Atlantic . In the China Burma India Theater (CBI), the C - 87 was used to airlift cargo and fuel over the Hump (the Himalayas) from India to China . Early in the campaign, the C - 87 was the only readily available American transport that could fly over the Himalayas while heavily loaded, rather than relying on circuitous and highly dangerous routes through valleys and mountain passes, but the type was not very popular with crews: they complained of various hazards including the fuel system, engines and cockpit accessories, while the type was notorious for leaking fuel tanks and mid-air fires a constant danger . The C - 87 also shared the Liberator's dangerous sensitivity to icing, particularly prevalent over Himalayan routes . With these difficulties in mind it is little wonder the ATC India China Division was the only unit in the Command to be combat decorated during WWII, having been award a Distinguished Unit Citation . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (May 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (May 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr>

Who produced the b-24 medium bombers during world war ii