This is a list of United States Army Air Forces Consolidated B-24 Liberator units and formations during World War II 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.
The USAAF took delivery of its first 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.
Following the end of World War II, the Liberator was rapidly withdrawn from USAAF service, being replaced by the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.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.
Combat Organizations
Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
Established in October 1942 to deal with the U-boat threat; formed largely from the resources of I Bomber Command. 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, French Morocco
1st Antisubmarine Squadron
2d Antisubmarine Squadron
Inactivated 1943. Inventory returned to USA.
FOOTNOTE: Seventy-seven domestic Antisubmarine B-24D 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