We are currently working on a site-wide upgrade which will be completed in September 2022
You will not be able to search, add or edit information in the American Air Museum archive while this takes place.
You can find out more about our plans here
Detachment
The B-24D, 41-11613, Florine Juju - Halpro # 10. This plane was allocated to the Halverson Project ( Halpro ) in 1942. The USAAF project had been diverted from planned Lend Lease allocations. The Halpro inventory formed the First Provisional Bomb Group in the Middle East under the IXth Bomber Command control. Later, the 376th Bomb Group from the U.K. was activated in theater from the remnants of the Halverson Project. While the aircraft number was still, # 10 , the smaller lettered name, Teggie Ann, was added to the plane in the 376th Bomb Group, later named and numbered, # 71, Teggie Ann, then, finally, it was renamed, The Blue Streak, with it's aircraft number, # 71. After a long and successful combat career, The Blue Streak, was flown to Britain and, then, to the U.S. by Lt. John S. Young with Lt. Royden LeBrecht and his crew in his B-24D, The Squaw, and Walter Stewart in the B-24D, Bomerang, for a national war bond tour. 1944
The B-24D, The Blue Streak, was one of the original aircraft in the Halverson Project (Halpro) airplanes, which were originally intended to be used to bomb Japan from bases on the China coast. Instead, the detachment remained in the Middle East and opened the USAAF's air campaign against the German held oil refineries with the first mission to Ploesti, Romania, made at high altitude. But that first mission had little effect on the target. June, 1942 The Halpro Detachment formed the first provisional bomb group in the MTO, joined by B-17Es from Asia. That unit, then, formed the first cadre of the 376th Bomb Group from the U.K. activated in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, 1942. The aircraft's personal markings evolved with it's various assignments. It's names included : Florine Juju, 10 Liberandos, and The Blue Streak 71. The aircraft survived its combat tour with 110 total missions and was returned to the United States for a war bond tour, starting in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1944-45 flown by Lt. John S. Young and a relief crew, Lt. Royden LeBrecht's plane, The Squaw, and his crew, and the B-24D, Bomerang, was flown by Col. Walter Stewart and crew. 1944
B-24D, Flame McGoon 42-72767. Pilot William J. Paterick and crew. 9th Air Force, 376th Bomb Group, and the 513th Bomb Squadron. 1943
The B-24D, Malicious, 41-11603. The RCL number, 22, for the Halverson Detachment Group airplanes was later changed to, 46, when it was transferred to the 376th Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force.
B-24D - Malicious - 41-11603 - the 8th Air Force - the 376th Bomb Group - and the 515th Bomb Squadron - Starboard /Right Side : Halverson Project, radio call letter, RCL, 22, on it's nose was changed to, 46, after being transferred from the Halverson Project 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.
B-24D - The Blue Streak - 41-11613. - Lt. John S. Young and the famous B-24D Liberator bomber, The Blue Streak, were sent on a war bond tour of America after Young's last combat mission, which was to Ploesti, Romania. 1 Aug 43. The Blue Streak, was assigned to Capt. Young for the tour. Lt. Royden LeBrecht brought his airplane, The Squaw, and his crew, back to the U.S. for the tour, along with Col. Walter Stewart and his crew, flying the B-24D, Bomerang. Lt. Young's regular airplane, Kickapoo, crashed and burned on takeoff on the Ploesti mission, killing all but two of it's replacement crew, including Young's fellow pilot and friend, Lt. Robert Nespor. Col. John R. Kane's personal airplane, Hail Columbia, that he and John Young flew on the Ploesti mission, was heavily damaged over Ploesti. Col. Kane and Lt. Young crashed landed in the dark after running over a ditch the British had dug close to one of Nicosia Air Base's runways' thresholds, destroying, Hail Columbia, at Nicosia, Cyprus, after the mission. The Blue Streak, became famous to many Americans who saw it on it's war bond tour in 1944, and it was made into a popular model airplane by the Revell Model Company after it's exposure on it's war bond tour in the U.S. Even though it did not fly on the second, very large Ploesti mission, The Blue Streak, had a long and distinguished combat career, ending it's military service with it's final war bond tour of the United States. 1944.
The B-24-J-10-CO, 42-73065, after changing to squadron No. 23, in the 373rd Bomb Squadron, was given the name, Bewitching Witch II, from the, Bewitching Witch, which was lost on the Ploesti mission, with the same nose art of the, Bewitching Witch, 42-24024.
B-24D CO. The Blue Streak, 41-11613, 9th Air Force, 376th Bomb Group, in the 514th Bombing Squadron. AC # 71 over Mt Vesuvius. 1943
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.
...
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, that was in the 376th Bomb Group, had several names : Florine JuJu - The Blue Streak - Liberandos - Teggie Ann. It should not be mistaken for another B-24D Liberator bomber, 42-40664, also named, Teggie Ann, which was flown on the...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, Liberator bomber, 41-11636, first named, Wash's Tub, 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-24D Liberators assigned to the Halverson Detachment Project, 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
The B-24D, named, Hellza Poppin', #41-11601, was part of the Halverson Project in North Africa in 1942. Hellza Poppin' crash landed and was destroyed. August 1, 1943.
...
None
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
||
| 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 | ||
|
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 |
||
