Detachment
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.
B-24 Liberator
B-24D #41-11613 'The Blue Streak' of 514th Bomb Squadron, the 376th Bomb Group, 9th AF. Originally named 'Florine Ju Ju' then '71 Liberandos', '71 Teggie Ann', and last '71 The Blue Streak'. She was a member of the HALPRO group that eventually became...
B-24 Liberator
Was originally Halpro aircraft #24 then was transferred to 98th Bomb Group before being sent to 376th. Flown by the James Bock crew on the August 1, 1943 low-level mission to Ploesti, Romania.
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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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