HALPRO Task Force

12 June 1942

Official Description

13 B-24’s of detachment under command of Col Harry A Halverson en route from US to China take off during 11Jun from Fayid to bomb oilfields at Ploesti. Only 12 attack at dawn. 4 of the 13 land at base in Iraq which was designated for recovery of the flight, 3 land at other Iraq fields, 2 land in Syria, and 4 are interned in Turkey.



Though damage to target is negligible, the raid is significant because it is the first AAF combat mission in EAME Theater in World War II, and the first strike at a target which later will be famous.

Description

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 could carry out long-range attacks against defended targets

Mission Details

Ploesti

Description: 13 B-24 Liberators are tasked with bombing oil fields in Ploesti, Colonel Halverson directed his crews to fly directly to Romania, and return to Habbaniyah, Iraq.

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 13

Ploesti Oil Refineries

Description: 12 B-24 Liberators bomb oil refineries in Ploesti. Bad weather frustrates bombing attempts, and crews encounter anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters, meaning that damage to the plant is light.

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 24
  • People interned: 4
  • Aircraft sent: 12

Constanta

Description: One B-24 Liberator bombs the harbor at Constanta and returns to base

Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator

Mission Statistics

  • Aircraft sent: 1

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

People

Malcolm Ross Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Halverson Detachment
  • Service Numbers: 12026078 / 0-789038 / 0-388723
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator - Bombardier

Harry A Halverson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Halverson Detachment 1st Provisional Group
  • Service Numbers: O-11444
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

41-11603

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Malicious
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 515th Bomb Squadron Halverson Detachment

41-11613

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Florine JuJu, Liberandos, Teggie Ann, The Blue Streak
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 514th Bomb Squadron Halverson Detachment

41-11636

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wash's Tub,
  • Unit: Halverson Detachment 1st Provisional Group 376th Bomb Group 513th Bomb Squadron

42-7463

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: Halverson Detachment

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Chronology

>Striking Oil: The First American Bombing Raid over Europe in World War II , ABMC, June 2017.

Early Operations: Ninth/Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean, National Museum of the US Air Force