The original air echelon comprising fifty-nine crews departed the U.S. from Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida, on 28th February 44 and soon after opened sealed orders to discover the final destination. The route to England would take the crews the southern ferry route with first stop Trinidad; followed with a take off to Belem, then Natal, Brazil; the southern Atlantic sea-crossing to Dakar, Senegal, then on to Marrakesh, then Valley airfield Wales before the final and permanent base of Rackheath near Norwich. Crews began arriving at Rackheath from around 8th March 44 onward - - one crew failed to arrive crashing in the Atlas Mountains enroute with loss of all on board.
The original B24s that were flown over were almost all "H" models from block 15 from the Ford plant at Willow Run, Consolidated at Fort Worth, and the Douglas manufacturer at Tulsa. As replacement crews arrived during the summer months of 44, B24 "J" models became common among the Groups aircraft, later H2X Pathfinder B24Js and B24"L" and "M" models were all used by 467th crews. At the close of hostilities in May 45 a number of the "H" models were still in evidence, a number having flown up to and over 100 combat missions. Those aircraft which survived both combat missions and the PMI Inspection were flown back to the U.S. carrying a crew of ten plus a number of passengers who were ground personnel at Rackheath.
B24D "Pete the POM Inspector"#2
B24M 44-50325
B24H "Angel" Landing
B24L 44-49591
B24J "Monster"
B24J "Rosalyn"
B24H "Silver Chief"
B24H "Three Star Special"
