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 Force512th 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 ForcesConsolidated B-24 Liberator units and formations 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Following the end of World War II, the Liberator was rapidly withdrawn from USAAF service, being replaced by the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 9 October 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.
Unit deployed to RAF North Pickenham, January 1944. Re-designation of 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional), August 1944. Unit at RAF Harrington until August 1945.
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
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.
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
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
Activated in Tunisia on 1 November 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.
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.
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
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency