B-24 Liberator Units of The United States Army Air Forces - Wikipedia

B-24 Liberator units
of the United States

Army Air Forces
Consolidated B-24D-160-CO Liberator 42-72815

"Strawberry Bitch" on display at the National Museum
of the United States Air Force. The B-24D on display
flew combat missions from North Africa in 1943-
1944, and was eventually sent to storage after the war
to Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona. In 1959 the aircraft
was taken out of storage and flown to the museum for
restoration and display. It was the last B-24 flight
made by the USAF.
Indoor display of above aircraft. Aircraft markings are

of the Ninth Air Force 512th Bombardment Squadron,
376th Bombardment Group, to which it was originally
assigned in September 1943.
The last active USAF B-24, 44-51228 in 1952, just prior

to its retirement
This is a list of United States Army Air
Forces B-24 Liberator combat units during
World War II including variants and other
historical information. Heavy bomber
training organizations primarily under II
Bomber Command in the United States
and non-combat units are not included.
The USAAF took delivery of its first B-24As

in June 1941, although the B-24D was the
first production model delivered in quantity
in July 1942. B-24s were assigned to every
combat Air Force; at peak inventory, the
USAAF had 6,043 B-24 Liberators
operating worldwide in September 1944.
Following the end of World War II, the
Liberator was rapidly withdrawn from
USAAF service, being replaced by the
Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Literally
thousands of Liberators were flown to
various disposal units where they were cut
up for scrap. Some brand-new late-
production B-24Ms from Convair/San
Diego and Ford/Willow Run were flown
directly from the factory to various
reclamation sites such as the scrapyard at
RFC Kingman, Arizona in 1945, as the war
in Europe had ended and B-29s were doing
most of the long-range bombing work in
the Pacific.
Only a few Liberators were still around
when the United States Air Force was
formed in 1947, most of them being used
for various research purposes. The last
USAF Liberator, a Ford EZB-24M-20-FO
serial number 44-51228 used by the
Aeronautical Icing Research Laboratory for
ice research, was struck off the rolls in
1953. For a time, it was on display at
Lackland AFB, Texas, with the armament
and gunner positions restored. It is
currently at the American Museum at
Duxford Aerodrome, England painted as
44-50492, a B-24M that was assigned to
the 392d Bombardment Group, 578th
Bombardment Squadron.
Combat Organizations
Army Air Forces Antisubmarine

Command
…
Established in October 1942 to deal with

the U-boat threat; formed largely from the
resources of I Bomber Command.
Inactivated in August 1943 when
antisubmarine mission was taken over by
the United States Navy.
1st Search Attack Group
October 1942–August 1943; Langley
Field, Virginia
2d Search Attack Squadron
3d Search Attack Squadron
4th Search Attack Squadron
Became radar training unit for USAAF,
inactivated April 1944
304th Bombardment Group
October–December 1942Langley Field,
Virginia Its Bombardment Squadrons
were redesignated as Antisubmarine
Squadrons serving in the USA with the
25th & 26 th Wings. The 19th ARON
went to the UK when the 479th AG was
activated
1st Antisubmarine Squadron
18th Antisubmarine Squadron
26th Antisubmarine Wing
November 1942–October 1943; Miami
Airport, Florida
Plus many more.
Inactivated October 1943
479th Antisubmarine Group

July–November 1943; England (Several
stations)
22d Antisubmarine Squadron
Inactivated November 1943; Aircraft
VIIIAFSC. Some returned to US and
transferred to Pacific and CBI. Others to
CB-24/C-87. Still others to 8th AF
special operations.
480th Antisubmarine Group
June–November 1943; Port Lyautey,
French Morocco
1st Antisubmarine Squadron
2d Antisubmarine Squadron
Inactivated 1943. Inventory returned to
USA.
FOOTNOTE: Seventy-seven domestic
Antisubmarine B-24D were transferred to
the USN as PB4Y-1 in exchange for future
allocations.
Fifth Air Force …
Originally formed as the Philippine

Department Air Force in August 1941;
Stationed in the Southwest Pacific Area
(SWPA) of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater
Operating in the Far East, Australia, New
Guinea and Philippines. Participated in
halting the Japanese drive in Papua,
recovery of New Guinea, liberation of the
Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa and
Formosa.
22nd Bombardment Group
Transitioned from B-25/B-26 to B-24s at
Nadzab, New Guinea in February 1944
Operated from Netherlands East Indies,
Philippines, Okinawa
2d Bombardment Squadron
19th Bombardment Squadron
Re-equipped with B-29s, May 1946 on
Okinawa
43d Bombardment Group
Equipped with B-17s in 1941; Deployed
to Australia March 1942
Transitioned to B-24s at Port Moresby,
New Guinea between May and
September 1943.
Operated from Netherlands East Indies,
Philippines, Okinawa
The 63rd BS specialized in sea search and

attack.
Inactivated 1946

Activated with B-24s in April 1942,
Deployed to Australia in November 1942
Operated from Australia, Netherlands
East Indies, Philippines, Okinawa
321st Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated 1946
Activated with B-24s in November 1942;
Deployed to Australia
Attached to RAAF until January 1944,
then Philippines, Okinawa
Inactivated 1946
20th Combat Mapping Squadron

Activated with F-7As in October 1943
(later flew F-7B/F-7B H2X)
Operated from Australia, Netherlands
East Indies, Philippines, Okinawa,
Occupied Japan
Inactivated 1946
Sixth Air Force …
Sixth Air Force begin in February 1917,

formally established as Panama Canal Air
Force in October 1940. Control of USAAF
operations in the Caribbean. Primarily flew
antisubmarine patrols over both the
Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean
approaches to the Panama Canal.

Received LB-30s (March 1942) and B-
24Ds (September 1942)
6th BG reassigned to United States in
November 1943; B-24s remained with
various 6th AF squadrons under VI
Bomber Command until 1946
Seventh Air Force …
Initially formed as the Hawaiian Air Force

in October 1940. Operated primarily in
Central Pacific Area (CPA) of the Pacific
Ocean Areas under USN control until July,
1945 when assigned to FEAF.
Transitioned from B-17s to B-24s at
Hickam Field, Hawaii Territory in April
1943.
Operated in Gilbert Islands, Marshall
Islands, Northern Marianas Islands,
Okinawa
Inactivated 1945
Received LB-30s in 1941, B-24s in 1942
at March Field, California Moved to
Pacific, 1943.
Operated in Gilbert Islands, Marshall
Islands, Northern Marianas Islands
Inactivated 1946

Activated with B-24J in December 1943
Operated in Palau Islands, Okinawa
373 BS attached, July 1945 to provide sea
search capabilities to VII BC, FEAF.
Inactivated 1945
86th Combat Mapping Squadron
Received F-7A/Bs at Wheeler Field,
Hawaii Territory, early 1944
Operated from Kwajalein, Saipan,
Eniwetok, Palawan
Inactivated 1946
Eighth Air Force …
Was primary heavy bombardment Air

Force in the European Theater of
Operations (ETO) during World War II,
stationed in England. Mission was
conducting long-range strategic bomber
offensive against Occupied Europe and
Nazi Germany. The first Liberator mission
from England took place on October 9,
1942. Several VIII Bomber Command
Liberator groups deployed aircraft to Libya
in late 1942 and 1943 to augment IX
Bomber Command and carry out attacks
against Axis targets in the Mediterranean.
Ultimately a total of twenty-one Liberator-
equipped groups were deployed and
operated with the Eighth Air Force 2d and
3d Bombardment Divisions.
RAF Mendlesham, April 1944-July 1945
Converted to B-17s, September 1944
RAF Shipdham, October 1942-June
1945
Deployed to Ninth Air Force, June–
August 1943
Participated in August 1, 1943 Attack on
Ploesti Oilfields, Romania
Converted to B-29s
RAF Hardwick, December 1942-May
1945
Deployed to Ninth Air Force, December
1942-August 1943
Inactivated December 1945
RAF Hethel, June 1943–May 1945
Deployed to Ninth Air Force, July–
August 1943
Inactivated September 1945
RAF Wendling, July 1943–June 1945
RAF Tibenham, November 1943-May
1945
RAF Bungay, November 1943-July 1945
Inactivated August 1945
RAF Attlebridge, March 1944-July 1945
Converted to B-17s, Summer 1944
RAF Seething, December 1943-July
1945
Converted to B-29s
RAF Old Buckenham, December 1943-
May 1945
RAF Horsham St. Faith, January 1944-
June 1945
Converted to B-29s
RAF Attlebridge, March 1944-July 1945
Inactivated July 1945
RAF Rackheath, March 1944-June 1945
Converted to B-29s
482d Bombardment Group (Pathfinder)
RAF Alconbury, August 1943-May 1945
Attached to: VIII Composite Command,
February 1944-January 1945
Composite group with 2 squadrons of B-
17s and one of B-24s
Conducted Pathfinder missions using
H2X radar
812th Bombardment Squadron (B-17)
RAF Sudbury, April–November 1944
Converted to B-17s, August 1944
RAF Lavenham, April 1944–February
1945
Converted to B-17s, July 1944
RAF Halesworth, May–November 1944
Converted to B-29s, December 1944
RAF Eye, May 1944-October 1944
491st Bombardment Group
RAF Metfield, RAF North Pickenham,
April 1944-July 1945
Unit deployed to RAF North Pickenham,
January 1944. Re-designation of 801st
Bombardment Group (Provisional),
August 1944. Unit at RAF Harrington
until August 1945.
RAF Debach, RAF Wormingford, April
1944-August 1945
Converted to B-17s, May 1944
Ninth Air Force …
IX Bomber Command operated Liberators

from airfields in Egypt; Libya and Tunisia
during the Western Desert Campaign
(1942–1943). Transferred B-24s to Twelfth
Air Force in October 1943; reassigned to
England to become tactical air force
supporting American First Army (IX
Tactical Air Command), Third Army (XIX
Tactical Air Command), and Ninth Army
(XXIX Tactical Air Command).
Deployed to Middle East July 1942, First
B-24Ds to be deployed overseas
(Halverson Detachment)
Stationed in BritishPalestine, Egypt,
Libya, Tunisia
Transferred to Twelfth (October), then
Fifteenth Air Force, November 1943

Deployed to Middle East October 1942
Stationed in BritishPalestine, Egypt,
Libya, Tunisia
Transferred to Twelfth (October), then
Fifteenth Air Force, November 1943
Tenth Air Force …
Constituted February 1942. Moved to India

March–May 1942. Primary USAAF Air
Force in the China-Burma-India theater.

Formed September 1918; deployed to
Philippines September 1940; withdrawn
to Australia late December 1941;
combat in Java Jan-March 1942;
deployed to India. Transitioned from B-
17C/Ds to B-24s at Karachi, March 1942
Inactivated December 1945
Eleventh Air Force …

Formed February 1942. Based in Alaska
Territory. Engaged in combat with B-24s
during Aleutian Campaign (1942–1943).
First B-24 raid on Japanese Home Islands
in 1943.
28th Composite Group

Received LB-30s and B-24s at
Elmendorf Field, Alaska, 1942
Twelfth Air Force …

Formed November 1942. Operated B-24s
in Algeria, Tunisia and Sicily. Transferred
Liberators to Fifteenth Air Force in
November 1943, becoming tactical air
force in Mediterranean Theater of
Operations (MTO) primarily supporting
Fifth Army (XII Tactical Air Command) in
Italy, also operating in Southern France
and Germany supporting Seventh Army.
Twelfth Air Force had several B-17

Flying Fortress groups which were
transferred from VIII Bomber Command
in England when the command was
formed in the fall of 1942. In Tunisia, the
Liberator-equipped 98th and 376th
Bombardment Groups were briefly
transferred from Ninth Air Force in
October 1943 to the command. All of
Twelfth AF's heavy bomb groups were
reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force in
November.
Thirteenth Air Force …
Formed on December 14, 1942. Operated

primarily in South Pacific Area (SPA) of the
Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO)
Unit formed in 1915. Large number of B-
18s and B-17C/Ds destroyed during
Pearl Harbor Attack; surviving B-17s
sent to New Hebrides in 1942. Re-
equipped in Hawaii with B-24s and
redeployed in August 1943
Stationed in Solomon Islands, Admiralty
Islands, Netherlands East Indies,
Schouten Islands, Molucca Islands,
Philippines
Transitioned to RB-29s in 1946
Established with B-17s in April 1942;
transitioned to B-24s at Hickam Field,
November 1942
Stationed in Solomon Islands, Admiralty
Islands, Netherlands East Indies,
Philippines
Transitioned to B-29s in 1946

Established in July 1943 with SB-24
RADAR aircraft; assigned directly to 13th
AF Headquarters. Flew low level, anti-
shipping strikes under the cover of
darkness. Also flew as pathfinders for
high-altitude bombers. Special missions
were flown against land targets at night
and one of the intentions was to prevent
the Japanese from sleeping. Stationed
in Solomon Islands, Admiralty Islands,
Schouten Islands, Netherlands East
Indies, Philippines, Okinawa. Inactivated
December 1945
Fourteenth Air Force …

Formed out of the American Volunteer
Group in March 1943 in Kunming, China.
Primary United States Air Force in China
as part of the China-Burma-India Theater

Formed with B-24s in April 1942;
deployed to China in March 1943
Fifteenth Air Force …

Activated in Tunisia on November 1, 1943.
Primary strategic bombardment Air Force
of the Mediterranean Theater of
Operations (MTO) operating from airfields
in Southern Italy. Had 15 B-24 groups.
Bombing raids against targets in Italy, then
took part in raids on Germany, Austria,
Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Romania.
Supported the invasion of southern
France.
Grottaglie Airfield, January 1944-May
1945
Transitioned to B-29s, May 1945
Manduria Airfield, December 1943-May
1945
Transitioned to B-29s, May 1945
Gioia del Colle Airfield, January 1944;
San Pancrazio Airfield, March 1944;
Castelltuccio Airfield, April 1944-June
1945
San Giovanni Airfield, January 1944-July
1945
Transitioned to B-29s, August 1945
San Giovanni Airfield, January 1944-
September 1945
Stornara Airfield, January 1944-July
1945
Giulia Airfield, February 1944-July 1945

Spinazzola Airfield, February 1944-June
1945
Transferred to Air Transport Command
for Green Project transport of troops
from Europe to United States, June 1945
Torretto Airfield, February 1944-July
1945
Pantanella Airfield, March 1944-May
1945
from Europe to United States, May 1945
Pantanella Airfield, April 1944-June
1945
from Europe to United States, June 1945
Torretto Airfield, April 1944-May 1945
from Europe to United States, May 1945
Venosa Airfield, April 1944-May 1945
98th Bombardment Group; 376th

Bombardment Group
Previously served with both the Ninth
and Twelfth Air Forces before being
assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force in
November 1943. Stationed in Tunisia
and later Southern Italy. Inactivated
November 1945.
2641st Special Group (Provisional)
Assigned directly to 15th AF
Headquarters. Flew B-17s, B-24s and
other aircraft types as needed. Engaged
in special operations in the
Mediterranean Theater of Operations,
December 1944-May 1945
Twentieth Air Force …
Constituted April 1944. Primarily equipped

with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses but
there were two reconnaissance squadrons
equipped with B-24s and F-7s that were
stationed on the Northern Mariana
Islands. Both units reported to XXI Bomber
Command Headquarters.
3d Reconnaissance Squadron
Active September 1944-September
1945.
Flew photographic, electronic, and
weather reconnaissance missions in
Western Pacific
55th Weather Reconnaissance
Squadron
Activated as 655th Reconnaissance
Squadron, January 1945; redesignated
June 1945.
Flew weather reconnaissance flights for
XXI Bomber Command headquarters
target and route planning for
bombardment missions. Inactivated
April 1946.
References
This article incorporates public domain
material from the Air Force Historical
Research Agency website
http://www.afhra.af.mil/ .
Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force

Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell
AFB, AL: Office of Air Force History.
ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969].
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force,
World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.).
Washington, DC: Office of Air Force
History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6.
LCCN 70605402 . OCLC 72556 .
External links
"Strawberry Bitch"
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=B-
24_Liberator_units_of_the_United_States_Army_Air
_Forces&oldid=906098500"
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B-24 Liberator units

of the United States

Consolidated B-24D-160-CO Liberator 42-72815

Indoor display of above aircraft. Aircraft markings are

The last active USAF B-24, 44-51228 in 1952, just prior

The USAAF took delivery of its ﬁrst B-24As

Army Air Forces Antisubmarine

Established in October 1942 to deal with

Plus many more.

Inactivated October 1943

479th Antisubmarine Group

Fifth Air Force …

Originally formed as the Philippine

The 63rd BS specialized in sea search and

90th Bombardment Group

20th Combat Mapping Squadron

Sixth Air Force …

Sixth Air Force begin in February 1917,

6th Bombardment Group

Initially formed as the Hawaiian Air Force

494th Bombardment Group

Eighth Air Force …

Was primary heavy bombardment Air

Ninth Air Force …

IX Bomber Command operated Liberators

376th Bombardment Group

Tenth Air Force …

Constituted February 1942. Moved to India

7th Bombardment Group

Eleventh Air Force …

28th Composite Group

Twelfth Air Force …

Twelfth Air Force had several B-17

Thirteenth Air Force …

Formed on December 14, 1942. Operated

868th Bombardment Squadron

Fourteenth Air Force …

308th Bombardment Group

Fifteenth Air Force …

460th Bombardment Group

98th Bombardment Group; 376th

Twentieth Air Force …

Constituted April 1944. Primarily equipped

Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force

Last edited 1 year ago by BrownHairedGirl

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless

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