B-24 Liberator units of the United States Army Air Forces

Main article: B-24 Liberator
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 world-wide in September 1944.

Following the end of World War II, the Liberator was rapidly withdrawn from USAAF service, being replaced by the B-29 Superfortress.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 were flown directly from the factory door to the scrapyard at RFC Kingman, Arizona in June 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 German 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 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
October–December 1942; Langley Field, Virginia
1st Antisubmarine Squadron
18th Antisubmarine Squadron
19th Antisubmarine Squadron
Inactivated December 1942; B-24s to Navy as PB4Y-1
November 1942-October 1943; Miami Airport, Florida
15th Antisubmarine Squadron
Inactivated October 1943; B-24s to Navy as PB4Y-1

July–November 1943; England (Several stations)
4th Antisubmarine Squadron
6th Antisubmarine Squadron
19th Antisubmarine Squadron
22d Antisubmarine Squadron
Inactivated November 1943; B-24s to Navy as PB4Y-1
June–November 1943; Port Lyautey, French Morocco
1st Antisubmarine Squadron
2d Antisubmarine Squadron
Inactivated January 1944; B-24s to Navy as PB4Y-1

Fifth Air Force

Originally formed as the Philippine Department Air Force in August 1941; Stationed in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) of the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO). 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.

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
33d Bombardment Squadron
408th Bombardment Squadron
Re-equipped with B-29s, May 1946 on Okinawa
Equipped with LB-30s and 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
63d Bombardment Squadron
64th Bombardment Squadron
65th Bombardment Squadron
403d Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated 1946

Activated with B-24s in April 1942, Deployed to Australia in November 1942
Operated from Australia, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines, Okinawa
319th Bombardment Squadron
320th Bombardment Squadron
321st Bombardment Squadron
400th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated 1946
Activated with B-24s in November 1942; Deployed to Australia
Attached to RAAF until January 1945, then Philippines, Okinawa
528th Bombardment Squadron
529th Bombardment Squadron
530th Bombardment Squadron
531st Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated 1946

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 on 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)
3d Bombardment Squadron
25th Bombardment Squadron
29th Bombardment Squadron
74th Bombardment Squadron
395th Bombardment Squadron
397th Bombardment Squadron
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 Theater of Operations (PTO).

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
26th Bombardment Squadron
42d Bombardment Squadron
98th Bombardment Squadron
431st Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated 1945
Received LB-30s in 1941, B-24s in 1942 at March Field, California
Operated in Gilbert Islands, Marshall Islands, Northern Marianas Islands
27th Bombardment Squadron
38th Bombardment Squadron
392d Bombardment Squadron
819th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated 1946

Activated with B-24s in December 1943
Operated in Palau Islands, Okinawa
864th Bombardment Squadron
865th Bombardment Squadron
866th Bombardment Squadron
867th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated 1945
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
4th Bombardment Squadron
7th Bombardment Squadron
18th Bombardment Squadron
391st Bombardment Squadron
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
66th Bombardment Squadron
67th Bombardment Squadron
68th Bombardment Squadron
404th Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-29s
RAF Hardwick, December 1942-May 1945
Deployed to Ninth Air Force, December 1942-August 1943
Participated in August 1, 1943 Attack on Ploesti Oilfields, Romania
328th Bombardment Squadron
329th Bombardment Squadron
330th Bombardment Squadron
409th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated December 1945
RAF Hethel, June 1943–May 1945
Deployed to Ninth Air Force, July–August 1943
Participated in August 1, 1943 Attack on Ploesti Oilfields, Romania
564th Bombardment Squadron
565th Bombardment Squadron
566th Bombardment Squadron
567th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated September 1945
RAF Wendling, July 1943–June 1945
576th Bombardment Squadron
577th Bombardment Squadron
578th Bombardment Squadron
579th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated September 1945
RAF Tibenham, November 1943-May 1945
700th Bombardment Squadron
701st Bombardment Squadron
702d Bombardment Squadron
703d Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated September 1945
RAF Bungay, November 1943-July 1945
704th Bombardment Squadron
705th Bombardment Squadron
706th Bombardment Squadron
707th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated August 1945
RAF Attlebridge, March 1944-July 1945
708th Bombardment Squadron
709th Bombardment Squadron
710th Bombardment Squadron
711th Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-17s, Summer 1944
RAF Seething, December 1943-July 1945
712th Bombardment Squadron
713th Bombardment Squadron
714th Bombardment Squadron
715th Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-29s
RAF Old Buckenham, December 1943-May 1945
732d Bombardment Squadron
733d Bombardment Squadron
734th Bombardment Squadron
735th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated August 1945
RAF Horsham St. Faith, January 1944-June 1945
752d Bombardment Squadron
753d Bombardment Squadron
754th Bombardment Squadron
755th Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-29s

RAF Attlebridge, March 1944-July 1945
784th Bombardment Squadron
785th Bombardment Squadron
786th Bombardment Squadron
787th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated July 1945
RAF Rackheath, March 1944-June 1945
788th Bombardment Squadron
789th Bombardment Squadron
790th Bombardment Squadron
791st Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-29s
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)
813th Bombardment Squadron (B-17)
814th Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
Inactivated September 1945
RAF Sudbury, April–November 1944
832d Bombardment Squadron
833d Bombardment Squadron
834th Bombardment Squadron
835th Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-17s, August 1944
RAF Lavenham, April 1944–February 1945
836th Bombardment Squadron
837th Bombardment Squadron
838th Bombardment Squadron
839th Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-17s, July 1944
RAF Halesworth, May–November 1944
844th Bombardment Squadron
845th Bombardment Squadron
846th Bombardment Squadron
847th Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-29s, December 1944
RAF Eye, May 1944-October 1944
848th Bombardment Squadron
849th Bombardment Squadron
850th Bombardment Squadron
851st Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-17s, August 1944
RAF Metfield, RAF North Pickenham, April 1944-July 1945
852d Bombardment Squadron
853d Bombardment Squadron
854th Bombardment Squadron
855th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated September 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.
856th Bombardment Squadron
857th Bombardment Squadron
858th Bombardment Squadron
859th Bombardment Squadron
Converted to B-29s, August 1945
RAF Debach, RAF Wormingford, April 1944-August 1945
860th Bombardment Squadron
861st Bombardment Squadron
862d Bombardment Squadron
863d Bombardment Squadron
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 British Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia
Participated in August 1, 1943 Attack on Ploesti Oilfields, Romania
343d Bombardment Squadron
344th Bombardment Squadron
345th Bombardment Squadron
415th Bombardment Squadron
Transferred to Twelfth (October), then Fifteenth Air Force, November 1943

Deployed to Middle East October 1942
Stationed in British Palestine, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia
Participated in August 1, 1943 Attack on Ploesti Oilfields, Romania
512th Bombardment Squadron
513th Bombardment Squadron
514th Bombardment Squadron
515th Bombardment Squadron
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
9th Bombardment Squadron
436th Bombardment Squadron
492d Bombardment Squadron
493d Bombardment Squadron
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.

Received LB-30s and B-24s at Elmendorf Field, Alaska, 1942
21st Bombardment Squadron
36th Bombardment Squadron
404th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated October 1945

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
23d Bombardment Squadron
31st Bombardment Squadron
72d Bombardment Squadron
394th Bombardment Squadron
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
370th Bombardment Squadron
371st Bombardment Squadron
372d Bombardment Squadron
424th Bombardment Squadron
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
373d Bombardment Squadron
374th Bombardment Squadron
375th Bombardment Squadron
425th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated October 1945

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
716th Bombardment Squadron
717th Bombardment Squadron
718th Bombardment Squadron
719th Bombardment Squadron
Transitioned to B-29s, May 1945
Manduria Airfield, December 1943-May 1945
720th Bombardment Squadron
721st Bombardment Squadron
722d Bombardment Squadron
723d Bombardment Squadron
Transitioned to B-29s, May 1945
Gioia del Colle Airfield, January 1944; San Pancrazio Airfield, March 1944; Castelltuccio Airfield, April 1944-June 1945
724th Bombardment Squadron
725th Bombardment Squadron
726th Bombardment Squadron
727th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated September 1945
San Giovanni Airfield, January 1944-July 1945
736th Bombardment Squadron
737th Bombardment Squadron
738th Bombardment Squadron
739th Bombardment Squadron
Transitioned to B-29s, August 1945
San Giovanni Airfield, January 1944-September 1945
740th Bombardment Squadron
741st Bombardment Squadron
742d Bombardment Squadron
743d Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated September 1945
Stornara Airfield, January 1944-July 1945
744th Bombardment Squadron
745th Bombardment Squadron
746th Bombardment Squadron
747th Bombardment Squadron
Transitioned to B-29s, August 1945
Giulia Airfield, February 1944-July 1945
756th Bombardment Squadron
757th Bombardment Squadron
758th Bombardment Squadron
759th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated August 1945

Spinazzola Airfield, February 1944-June 1945
760th Bombardment Squadron
761st Bombardment Squadron
762d Bombardment Squadron
763d Bombardment Squadron
Transferred to Air Transport Command for Green Project transport of troops from Europe to United States, June 1945
Inactivated July 1945
Torretto Airfield, February 1944-July 1945
764th Bombardment Squadron
765th Bombardment Squadron
766th Bombardment Squadron
767th Bombardment Squadron
Inactivated August 1945
Pantanella Airfield, March 1944-May 1945
776th Bombardment Squadron
777th Bombardment Squadron
778th Bombardment Squadron
779th Bombardment Squadron
Transferred to Air Transport Command for Green Project transport of troops from Europe to United States, May 1945
Inactivated July 1945
Pantanella Airfield, April 1944-June 1945
780th Bombardment Squadron
781st Bombardment Squadron
782d Bombardment Squadron
783d Bombardment Squadron
Transferred to Air Transport Command for Green Project transport of troops from Europe to United States, June 1945
Inactivated July 1945
Torretto Airfield, April 1944-May 1945
824th Bombardment Squadron
825th Bombardment Squadron
826th Bombardment Squadron
827th Bombardment Squadron
Transferred to Air Transport Command for Green Project transport of troops from Europe to United States, May 1945
Inactivated July 1945
Venosa Airfield, April 1944-May 1945
828th Bombardment Squadron
829th Bombardment Squadron
830th Bombardment Squadron
831st Bombardment Squadron
Transitioned to B-29s, August 1945

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
859th Bombardment Squadron
885th Bombardment Squadron

Twentieth Air Force

Constituted April 1944. Primarily equipped with 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.

Active September 1944-September 1945.
Flew photographic, electronic, and weather reconnaissance missions in Western Pacific
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 websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links

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