During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces took delivery of its first Consolidated Liberator 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.
After the war ended, the Liberator was rapidly withdrawn from USAAF service, being replaced by the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.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.
World War II units and formations are documented here, 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.
Combat organizations
Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command The Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command was established in October 1942 to deal with the U-boat threat; formed largely from the resources of I Bomber Command. It was 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 19th Antisubmarine Squadron
26th Antisubmarine Wing November 1942–October 1943; Miami Airport, Florida 15th Antisubmarine Squadron Plus many more. Inactivated October 1943
479th Antisubmarine Group July–November 1943; England (Several stations) 4th Antisubmarine Squadron 6th Antisubmarine Squadron 19th Antisubmarine Squadron 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, Morocco 1st Antisubmarine Squadron 2d Antisubmarine Squadron Inactivated 1943. Inventory returned to USA.
FOOTNOTE: Seventy-seven domestic Antisubmarine B-24Ds 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 33d Bombardment Squadron 408th 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 63d Bombardment Squadron 64th Bombardment Squadron 65th Bombardment Squadron 403d Bombardment Squadron
The 63rd BS specialized in sea search and attack. Inactivated 1946
90th Bombardment Group 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
380th Bombardment Group Activated with B-24s in November 1942; Deployed to Australia Attached to RAAF until January 1944, then Philippines, Okinawa 528th Bombardment Squadron 529th Bombardment Squadron 530th Bombardment Squadron 531st Bombardment Squadron 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.
6th Bombardment Group 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 Ocean Areas under USN control until July, 1945 when assigned to FEAF.
11th Bombardment Group 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
30th Bombardment Group 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 27th Bombardment Squadron 38th Bombardment Squadron 392d Bombardment Squadron 819th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated 1946
494th Bombardment Group Activated with B-24J in December 1943 Operated in Palau Islands, Okinawa 864th Bombardment Squadron 865th Bombardment Squadron 866th Bombardment Squadron 867th Bombardment Squadron
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 Eighth Air Force was the primary heavy bombardment Air Force in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II, stationed in England. Its 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.
34th Bombardment Group RAF Mendlesham, April 1944-July 1945 4th Bombardment Squadron 7th Bombardment Squadron 18th Bombardment Squadron 391st Bombardment Squadron Converted to B-17s, September 1944
44th Bombardment Group RAF Shipdham, October 1942-June 1945 Deployed to Ninth Air Force, June–August 1943 Participated in 1 August 1943 attack on Ploesti oilfields in Romania 66th Bombardment Squadron 67th Bombardment Squadron 68th Bombardment Squadron 404th Bombardment Squadron Converted to B-29s
93d Bombardment Group RAF Hardwick, December 1942-May 1945 Deployed to Ninth Air Force, December 1942-August 1943 Participated in 1 August 1943 attack on Ploesti oilfields in Romania 328th Bombardment Squadron 329th Bombardment Squadron 330th Bombardment Squadron 409th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated December 1945
389th Bombardment Group RAF Hethel, June 1943–May 1945 Deployed to Ninth Air Force, July–August 1943 Participated in 1 August 1943 attack on Ploesti oilfields in Romania 564th Bombardment Squadron 565th Bombardment Squadron 566th Bombardment Squadron 567th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated September 1945
392d Bombardment Group RAF Wendling, July 1943–June 1945 576th Bombardment Squadron 577th Bombardment Squadron 578th Bombardment Squadron 579th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated September 1945
445th Bombardment Group RAF Tibenham, November 1943-May 1945 700th Bombardment Squadron 701st Bombardment Squadron 702d Bombardment Squadron 703d Bombardment Squadron Inactivated September 1945
446th Bombardment Group RAF Bungay, November 1943-July 1945 704th Bombardment Squadron 705th Bombardment Squadron 706th Bombardment Squadron 707th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated August 1945
447th Bombardment Group RAF Attlebridge, March 1944-July 1945 708th Bombardment Squadron 709th Bombardment Squadron 710th Bombardment Squadron 711th Bombardment Squadron Converted to B-17s, Summer 1944
448th Bombardment Group RAF Seething, December 1943-July 1945 712th Bombardment Squadron 713th Bombardment Squadron 714th Bombardment Squadron 715th Bombardment Squadron Converted to B-29s
453d Bombardment Group RAF Old Buckenham, December 1943-May 1945 732d Bombardment Squadron 733d Bombardment Squadron 734th Bombardment Squadron 735th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated August 1945
458th Bombardment Group RAF Horsham St. Faith, January 1944-June 1945 752d Bombardment Squadron 753d Bombardment Squadron 754th Bombardment Squadron 755th Bombardment Squadron Converted to B-29s
466th Bombardment Group RAF Attlebridge, March 1944-July 1945 784th Bombardment Squadron 785th Bombardment Squadron 786th Bombardment Squadron 787th Bombardment Squadron Inactivated July 1945
467th Bombardment Group RAF Rackheath, March 1944-June 1945 788th Bombardment Squadron 789th Bombardment Squadron 790th Bombardment Squadron 791st Bombardment Squadron 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) 813th Bombardment Squadron (B-17) 814th Bombardment Squadron (B-24) Inactivated September 1945
486th Bombardment Group RAF Sudbury, April–November 1944 832d Bombardment Squadron 833d Bombardment Squadron 834th Bombardment Squadron 835th Bombardment Squadron Converted to B-17s, August 1944
487th Bombardment Group RAF Lavenham, April 1944–February 1945 836th Bombardment Squadron 837th Bombardment Squadron 838th Bombardment Squadron 839th Bombardment Squadron Converted to B-17s, July 1944
489th Bombardment Group RAF Halesworth, May–November 1944 844th Bombardment Squadron 845th Bombardment Squadron 846th Bombardment Squadron 847th Bombardment Squadron Converted to B-29s, December 1944
490th Bombardment Group RAF Eye, May 1944-October 1944