Detachment
B-24D 'Flame McGoon' - 9th AF - 376th BG - 1943
The B-24D, "Malicious", 41-11603. The RCL number, 22, for the HALPRO Group airplanes was later changed to, 46, when it was transferred to the 376th Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force.
B24D - "Malicious" - 41-11603 - in the 9th AF - the 376th Bomb Group - and the 513th Bomb Squadron - Starboard /Right Side : HALPRO #22 radio call letter, RCL, on it's nose was changed to, 46, after being transferred from the HALPRO GROUP to the 376th Bomb Group - 1943 Aircraft was lost, 31 Jan 43, ITA. Pilot John M. Toomey (KIA). MACR 3304. - 515th Bomb Squadron. JAMES BRITT
B-24 - D - CO - "Malicious" - SN 41-11603 - 1942 - Port /Left Side : Aircraft's name and HALPRO's RCL, 22, changed to, 46, after transfer to the 9th Air Force - the 376th Bomb Group - and the 513th Bomb Squadron. Lost Jan 31, 1943. ITA - MACR 3304 - Pilot John M. Toomey (KIA). - 513th Bomb Squadron Info Contributor - Al Blue SSGT Harold R. Vasquez, Armorer/Gunner of the Sanders Crew. Richard Sanders was the pilot of the B-24D, "Malicious". He was destined to become the youngest general since George Armstrong Custer. Visible in the photo is the ring-and-bead gun sight mounted in front of the pilot for firing the fixed machine guns mounted in the lower nose of all the original HALPRO B-24s. Another unique feature of the HALPRO ships are the blue undersurfaces, rather than standard AAF gray, is realistically represented in this photo. Capt. Ralph S. Royce was the Assistant Engineering Officer of HALPRO.
B-24D - 'HELLZA POPPIN' - '23' - #41-11601 - HALPRO 1942.
HALPRO or the Halverson Detachement was a group of 23 B-24 Liberators originally destined to join the 10th Air Force in the China, Burma, India Theatre of operations.
Under the command of Colonel Harry Halverson the detachment was originally assigned to conduct raids on Japanese Home Islands. The detachment was to fly from Florida to China via Africa but the Japanese offensive in Chekiang, China in May 1942 disrupted this plan.
The Heavy Bomber HALPRO force was then tasked with disrupting German petroleum plants in support of the British in North Africa. HALPRO departed the United States on 22 May 1942, flying for Egypt via Sudan. The 4,000 mile journey meant that some of the aircraft were grounded on arrival in Egypt.
On 11 June 1942, 13 HALPRO B-24s carried out the first USAAF attack on Europe, when they bombed oil refineries in Ploesti, Roumania, while the raid had little impact, it proved the concept that Heavy bomber could carry out long-range attacks against defended targets.
The HALPRO Detachment ultimately remained in the Mediterranean theatre. on 17 July 1942, the detachment was redesignated the Hal Bomb Squadron. It ultimately formed 376th Bomb Group when it was constituted in October 1942.
US Army Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF) was activated on 28 June 1942 in Cairo, Egypt. It brought together several units which had been operating the area including the HALPRO Detachment, and Lewis Brereton's 9th Bomb Squadron.
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Group
The 1st Provisional Group was established on 20 July 1942 at Lydda. It brought together the existing 9th Bomb Squadron and the Hal Bomb Squadron, which were operating the Middle East.
12 June 1942
The first Army Air Force Combat mission in Europe during the Second World War, saw 13 B-24 Liberators, originally destined for China, bomb oil refineries in Ploesti, Roumania. While the raid had little impact, it proved the concept that Heavy bombers...
12 June 1942
The first Army Air Force Combat mission in Europe during the Second World War, saw 13 B-24 Liberators, originally destined for China, bomb oil refineries in Ploesti, Roumania. While the raid had little impact, it proved the concept that Heavy bombers...
12 June 1942
The first Army Air Force Combat mission in Europe during the Second World War, saw 13 B-24 Liberators, originally destined for China, bomb oil refineries in Ploesti, Roumania. While the raid had little impact, it proved the concept that Heavy bombers...
15 June 1942
HALPRO B-24's and two Liberators of No 160 Squadron, RAF, attacked the Italian shipping fleet, which had now put to sea. The Beauforts sank a cruiser, and five of the USAAF planes bombed, claiming hits on a Littorio-class battleship and a Trento-class...
21 June 1942
HALPRO B-24 conduct a night time raid on Benghazi harbor, with the support of RAF Wellingtons.
24 June 1942
HALPRO B-24s carry out a night time raid on Benghazi Harbour.
26 June 1942
HALPRO B-24s carry out a diversionary mission in support of the RAF who are attacking merchant vessels in Tobruk
27 June 1942
HALPRO B-24 Liberators conduct a night-time raid on the harbor at Tobruk to disrupt supplies.
28 June 1942
After being brought under the command of USAMEAF (Middle East Air Forces) HALPRO B-24s attack shipping at Tobruk.
30 June 1942
B-24 Liberators conduct a night time attach on Tobruk harbor. They suffer the first casualties in the Middle East Theatre when one aircraft is lost.
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator - Bombardier
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 1st Provisional Group
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, 41-11613, named, Florine JuJu, The Blue Streak, Liberandos, and Teggie Ann, in the 376th Bomb Group, should not be mistaken for the B-24D Liberator bomber, 42-40664, also named, Teggie Ann, and flown as the Lead Aircraft, piloted by Col. K.K...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, Liberator bomber first named, Wash's Tub - 41-11636 - was first flown by Martin Walsh and was originally Halpro aircraft, #24, first, in the "Halverson Project' in 1942 in the 9th Air Force. It was later transferred to the 8th Air Force, the...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D Liberator bomber, 41-11603, MALICIOUS, was one of 23 B-24 Liberators assigned to the Halverson Detachment (HALPRO), which departed the U.S. in May, 1942, to join the 10th Air Force in the China, Burma, India (CBI) Theatre of operations. The...
B-24 Liberator
The TB-24-E-25-FO, was built at the Willow Run Ford plant and was known as, '63' and '463'. '63' was painted on the forward left and right side of it's nose. It's serial number was SN # 42-7463 - RCL #-V #-P. ...
B-24 Liberator
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 26 September 2019 13:19:11 | Emily | Changes to name, nicknames and description |
| Sources | ||
Changes to name as per terminology used in Official US histories including Air Force Combat Chronology and The Army Air Forces in World War II |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 24 September 2019 14:46:52 | Emily | Created entry with type, category, name, nicknames, description, aircraft types and unit became association |
| Sources | ||
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Striking Oil: The First American Bombing Raid over Europe in World War II on ABMC, June 2017. Early Operations: Ninth/Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean, National Museum of the US Air Force |
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