{"id":29389405,"date":"2026-10-24T17:51:21","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T15:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/"},"modified":"2026-10-24T17:51:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T15:51:35","slug":"operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/","title":{"rendered":"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s That Armed the Resistance"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\r\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid #0F1720;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;transition:background .15s,color .15s}\r\n.mfsh-trigger:hover,.mfsh-trigger:focus-visible{background:#0F1720;color:#fff;outline:none}\r\n.mfsh-trigger svg{width:18px;height:18px;display:block;flex-shrink:0}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-bottom{margin:8px 0 28px}\r\n.mfsh-meta{position:relative;padding-right:190px}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta{position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;margin:0;height:30px;padding:0 8.9px;font-size:13px}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta svg{width:16px;height:16px}\r\n.mfsh-overlay{position:fixed;inset:0;background:rgba(15,23,32,.55);z-index:99999;display:flex;align-items:flex-end;justify-content:center;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s}\r\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}\r\n.mfsh-sheet{width:100%;max-width:520px;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;padding:18px 20px 28px;transform:translateY(24px);transition:transform .22s;box-shadow:0 12px 32px rgba(15,23,32,.25);font-family:inherit;max-height:92vh;overflow:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch}\r\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open .mfsh-sheet{transform:none}\r\n@media (min-width:640px){.mfsh-overlay{align-items:center}.mfsh-sheet{padding-bottom:20px}}\r\n.mfsh-head{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin:0 0 14px}\r\n.mfsh-head strong{font-size:18px;font-weight:800;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;line-height:1}\r\n.mfsh-head strong svg{width:18px;height:18px}\r\n.mfsh-close{background:none;border:0;padding:6px;margin:0;cursor:pointer;color:#0F1720;line-height:0;box-shadow:none}\r\n.mfsh-close svg{width:18px;height:18px}\r\n.mfsh-preview{display:grid;grid-template-columns:96px 1fr;gap:12px;border:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:#F5F7FB;padding:10px;margin:0 0 12px;align-items:center}\r\n.mfsh-preview img{width:96px;height:72px;object-fit:cover;display:block;margin:0}\r\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-kicker{font-size:10px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#5C91FF;margin:0 0 4px;line-height:1.2}\r\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-title{font-size:14px;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;margin:0;display:block}\r\n.mfsh-list{display:grid;margin:0;padding:0}\r\n.mfsh-item{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:14px;height:50px;width:100%;border:0;border-top:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:none;padding:0 4px;margin:0;text-align:left;font-family:inherit;font-size:15px;font-weight:600;color:#0F1720;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;line-height:1}\r\n.mfsh-item:hover,.mfsh-item:focus-visible{background:#F5F7FB;outline:none}\r\n.mfsh-item svg{width:20px;height:20px;color:#5C91FF;flex-shrink:0;display:block}\r\n.mfsh-item small{margin-left:auto;color:#5B6674;font-weight:500;font-size:12px}\r\n.mfsh-item.mfsh-done svg{color:#1E9E5A}\r\n.mfsh-toast{position:fixed;left:50%;bottom:32px;transform:translate(-50%,10px);background:#0F1720;color:#fff;padding:10px 16px;font-weight:700;font-size:13px;font-family:inherit;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s,transform .2s;z-index:100000}\r\n.mfsh-toast.mfsh-show{opacity:1;transform:translate(-50%,0)}\r\n@media (prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){.mfsh-overlay,.mfsh-sheet,.mfsh-toast,.mfsh-trigger{transition:none}}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<svg width=\"0\" height=\"0\" style=\"position:absolute\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-share\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M12 3v12M8 7l4-4 4 4M5 12v8h14v-8\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-close\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"m5 5 14 14M19 5 5 19\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-wa\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 0 0-8.6 15.1L2 22l5.1-1.3A10 10 0 1 0 12 2Zm0 1.8a8.2 8.2 0 1 1-4.2 15.3l-.3-.2-3 .8.8-2.9-.2-.3A8.2 8.2 0 0 1 12 3.8Zm-3 4.4c-.2 0-.5 0-.8.4-.3.3-1 1-1 2.4s1 2.8 1.2 3c.1.2 2 3.2 5 4.4 2.5 1 3 .8 3.5.7.5 0 1.7-.7 2-1.4.2-.7.2-1.3.1-1.4l-.5-.3-2-1c-.3 0-.5-.1-.7.2l-.9 1.1c-.2.2-.3.2-.6.1-.3-.2-1.3-.5-2.4-1.5-.9-.8-1.5-1.8-1.7-2-.2-.4 0-.5.2-.7l.4-.5.3-.5v-.5l-.9-2.2c-.2-.5-.4-.5-.6-.5H9Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-x\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M17.8 3h3l-6.7 7.7L22 21h-6.2l-4.8-6.3L5.4 21h-3l7.2-8.2L2 3h6.3l4.4 5.8L17.8 3Zm-1.1 16.2h1.7L7.4 4.7H5.6l11.1 14.5Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-fb\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M13.5 22v-8h2.7l.4-3.2h-3.1V8.8c0-.9.3-1.6 1.6-1.6h1.7V4.4c-.3 0-1.3-.1-2.5-.1-2.5 0-4.1 1.5-4.1 4.2v2.3H7.4V14h2.8v8h3.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-li\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.5 8.5H3V21h3.5V8.5ZM4.8 3a2 2 0 1 0 0 4 2 2 0 0 0 0-4ZM21 13.4c0-3.4-1.8-5.2-4.5-5.2-1.6 0-2.7.8-3.2 1.7V8.5H9.9V21h3.4v-6.4c0-1.7.6-2.8 2.1-2.8 1.4 0 2 1 2 2.8V21H21v-7.6Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-rd\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M22 12.1a2.4 2.4 0 0 0-4.1-1.7 11.7 11.7 0 0 0-5.5-1.7l1-4.5 3.1.7a1.7 1.7 0 1 0 .2-1l-3.6-.8a.5.5 0 0 0-.6.4l-1.1 5.2a11.8 11.8 0 0 0-5.8 1.7A2.4 2.4 0 1 0 3 14.3v.5c0 3.4 4 6.2 9 6.2s9-2.8 9-6.2v-.5a2.4 2.4 0 0 0 1-2.2ZM7.5 13.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 3.4 0 1.7 1.7 0 0 1-3.4 0Zm8.9 4.5c-1.2 1.2-3.4 1.3-4.4 1.3s-3.3-.1-4.4-1.3a.5.5 0 0 1 .7-.7c.7.8 2.4 1 3.7 1s2.9-.2 3.7-1a.5.5 0 0 1 .7.7Zm-.6-2.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 0-3.4 1.7 1.7 0 0 1 0 3.4Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-tg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M21.9 4.6 18.7 19.9c-.2 1-.9 1.3-1.7.8l-4.9-3.6-2.3 2.3c-.3.3-.5.5-1 .5l.4-5 9-8.2c.4-.3-.1-.5-.6-.2L6.4 13.5 1.6 12c-1-.3-1.1-1 .2-1.5l18.8-7.2c.9-.3 1.6.2 1.3 1.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-mail\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"M3 6h18v12H3z\"\/><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"m3 7 9 6 9-6\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-link\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M10 14a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 0l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-5.7-5.7l-1.5 1.5M14 10a4 4 0 0 0-5.7 0l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 5.7l1.5-1.5\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-more\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><circle cx=\"5\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"19\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n<\/svg>\r\n<span class=\"mfsh-top-slot\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger\" data-mfsh-placement=\"top\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button><\/span>\r\n<script>\r\n(function(){\r\n  if (window.__mfsh) return; window.__mfsh = true;\r\n  var SECTION = 'afterburner';\r\n  function meta(p){ var m=document.querySelector('meta[property=\"'+p+'\"]'); return m ? m.getAttribute('content') : ''; }\r\n  function pageUrl(){ var c=document.querySelector('link[rel=\"canonical\"]'); return (c && c.href) || (location.origin + location.pathname); }\r\n  function pageTitle(){ var h=document.querySelector('h1.entry-title'); return (h && h.textContent.trim()) || meta('og:title') || document.title; }\r\n  function slug(){ return location.pathname.replace(\/\\\/+$\/,'').split('\/').pop() || 'home'; }\r\n  function kicker(){ var c=document.querySelector('.et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category tag\"], .et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category\"], a[rel=\"category tag\"]'); return 'Afterburner' + (c && c.textContent.trim() ? ' \u00b7 ' + c.textContent.trim() : ''); }\r\n  function shareUrl(ch, placement){ return pageUrl() + '?utm_source=share&utm_medium=' + ch + '&utm_campaign=' + SECTION + '&utm_content=sheet_' + placement; }\r\n  function track(ch, placement, extra){\r\n    window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];\r\n    var ev = { event:'share', share_channel:ch, share_variant:'sheet', share_placement:placement, page_section:SECTION, content_id:slug() };\r\n    if (extra) for (var k in extra) ev[k]=extra[k];\r\n    window.dataLayer.push(ev);\r\n  }\r\n  var CH = [\r\n    ['whatsapp','WhatsApp','mfsh-i-wa',''],\r\n    ['x','X','mfsh-i-x',''],\r\n    ['facebook','Facebook','mfsh-i-fb',''],\r\n    ['linkedin','LinkedIn','mfsh-i-li',''],\r\n    ['reddit','Reddit','mfsh-i-rd','r\/aviation, r\/WarplanePorn'],\r\n    ['telegram','Telegram','mfsh-i-tg',''],\r\n    ['email','Email','mfsh-i-mail',''],\r\n    ['copy','Copy link','mfsh-i-link',''],\r\n    ['native','More','mfsh-i-more','Instagram, Signal, AirDrop']\r\n  ];\r\n  var overlay, toastEl, toastT, placement = 'top';\r\n  function build(){\r\n    overlay = document.createElement('div'); overlay.className = 'mfsh-overlay'; overlay.setAttribute('role','dialog'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-modal','true'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-label','Share');\r\n    var img = meta('og:image');\r\n    var items = CH.filter(function(c){ return c[0] !== 'native' || !!navigator.share; }).map(function(c){\r\n      return '<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-item\" data-mfsh-ch=\"'+c[0]+'\"><svg><use href=\"#'+c[2]+'\"\/><\/svg>'+c[1]+(c[3]?'<small>'+c[3]+'<\/small>':'')+'<\/button>';\r\n    }).join('');\r\n    overlay.innerHTML = '<div class=\"mfsh-sheet\"><div class=\"mfsh-head\"><strong><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share<\/strong><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-close\" aria-label=\"Close\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-close\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>'\r\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-preview\">' + (img ? '<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"'+img+'\" alt=\"\">' : '<span><\/span>') + '<div><div class=\"mfsh-kicker\">'+kicker()+'<\/div><span class=\"mfsh-title\">'+pageTitle()+'<\/span><\/div><\/div>'\r\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-list\">'+items+'<\/div><\/div>';\r\n    document.body.appendChild(overlay);\r\n    toastEl = document.createElement('div'); toastEl.className = 'mfsh-toast'; document.body.appendChild(toastEl);\r\n    overlay.addEventListener('click', function(e){\r\n      if (e.target === overlay || e.target.closest('.mfsh-close')) { close(); return; }\r\n      var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-item'); if (b) act(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-ch'), b);\r\n    });\r\n    document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e){ if (e.key === 'Escape') close(); });\r\n  }\r\n  function open(p){ placement = p || 'top'; if (!overlay) build(); overlay.classList.add('mfsh-open'); track('open', placement); }\r\n  function close(){ if (overlay) overlay.classList.remove('mfsh-open'); }\r\n  function toast(m){ toastEl.textContent = m; toastEl.classList.add('mfsh-show'); clearTimeout(toastT); toastT = setTimeout(function(){ toastEl.classList.remove('mfsh-show'); }, 1600); }\r\n  function act(ch, btn){\r\n    var url = shareUrl(ch, placement), t = pageTitle(), enc = encodeURIComponent;\r\n    if (ch === 'copy') {\r\n      var done = function(){ toast('Link copied'); btn.classList.add('mfsh-done'); setTimeout(function(){ btn.classList.remove('mfsh-done'); close(); }, 900); };\r\n      track(ch, placement);\r\n      if (navigator.clipboard && navigator.clipboard.writeText) navigator.clipboard.writeText(url).then(done, done); else done();\r\n      return;\r\n    }\r\n    if (ch === 'native') {\r\n      track(ch, placement, { share_result:'opened' });\r\n      navigator.share({ title:t, text:t, url:url }).then(function(){ track('native', placement, { share_result:'completed' }); close(); }).catch(function(){});\r\n      return;\r\n    }\r\n    var target = {\r\n      whatsapp: 'https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=' + enc(t + ' ' + url),\r\n      x:        'https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=' + enc(t) + '&url=' + enc(url) + '&via=MiGFlug',\r\n      facebook: 'https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=' + enc(url),\r\n      linkedin: 'https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=' + enc(url),\r\n      reddit:   'https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=' + enc(url) + '&title=' + enc(t),\r\n      telegram: 'https:\/\/t.me\/share\/url?url=' + enc(url) + '&text=' + enc(t),\r\n      email:    'mailto:?subject=' + enc(t) + '&body=' + enc('Thought you would like this, from Afterburner, MiGFlug\\'s magazine:\\n' + t + '\\n' + url)\r\n    }[ch];\r\n    track(ch, placement);\r\n    if (target) { if (ch === 'email') location.href = target; else window.open(target, '_blank', 'noopener,width=680,height=560'); }\r\n    close();\r\n  }\r\n  var mq = window.matchMedia('(min-width:981px)');\r\n  function place(){\r\n    var t = document.querySelector('.mfsh-trigger[data-mfsh-placement=\"top\"]'), slot = document.querySelector('.mfsh-top-slot');\r\n    var meta = [].slice.call(document.querySelectorAll('.et_pb_title_meta_container, .et_post_meta_wrapper .post-meta, .single .post-meta')).filter(function(m){ return m.offsetParent !== null; })[0];\r\n    if (!t || !slot) return;\r\n    if (meta && mq.matches) { meta.classList.add('mfsh-meta'); t.classList.add('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== meta) meta.appendChild(t); var a = meta.querySelector('a'); if (a) { var pr = document.createElement('span'); pr.style.cssText = 'display:inline-block;width:0;height:0;vertical-align:baseline'; a.appendChild(pr); var base = pr.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; pr.remove(); var fs = parseFloat(getComputedStyle(a).fontSize) || 14, mb = meta.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; t.style.bottom = Math.max(0, mb - (base + fs * 0.12)) + 'px'; } }\r\n    else { t.classList.remove('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== slot) slot.appendChild(t); }\r\n  }\r\n  if (document.readyState === 'loading') document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', place); else place(); window.addEventListener('load', place); if (document.fonts && document.fonts.ready) document.fonts.ready.then(place); window.addEventListener('resize', place);\r\n  if (mq.addEventListener) mq.addEventListener('change', place); else mq.addListener(place);\r\n  document.addEventListener('click', function(e){ var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-trigger'); if (b) { e.preventDefault(); open(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-placement') || 'top'); } });\r\n})();\r\n<\/script><!-- \/mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<p>Four hundred feet above a moonlit field in occupied France, a bomber painted glossy black slows to just above stalling speed. Below, three flashlights in a row and a fourth at a right angle mark the spot. In the belly, a man in a padded jump suit sits on the edge of a round hole in the floor. When the light goes green, he is gone.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>This was Operation Carpetbagger, the US Army Air Forces&rsquo; secret air war in Europe. From January 1944 to the spring of 1945, specially modified <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/b-24-liberator\/\">B-24 Liberators<\/a> flew alone, at night and at low level, dropping weapons, radios and agents to resistance fighters from France to Norway.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Most of the people on their own base did not know what they did. Many of the crews only knew their half of the story. And the unit that did it became the ancestor of today&rsquo;s US Air Force special operations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6f9;border:1px solid #e2e7ee;padding:18px 22px;margin:22px 0 26px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117\">Quick Facts<\/p><ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:18px\"><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Operation:<\/strong> Carpetbagger: USAAF special operations for the OSS, working with Britain&rsquo;s SOE<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Unit:<\/strong> 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional), redesignated 492nd Bombardment Group in August 1944<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Base:<\/strong> Harrington (Station 179), Northamptonshire, from spring 1944; first missions from Tempsford<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Aircraft:<\/strong> Black-painted B-24 Liberators; also C-47s, A-26 Invaders and Mosquitos<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>First mission:<\/strong> Night of 4&ndash;5 January 1944<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Delivered:<\/strong> 1,860 sorties; 20,495 containers, 11,174 packages, more than 1,000 parachutists (January 1944&ndash;May 1945)<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Losses:<\/strong> 25 B-24s lost, 8 damaged beyond repair; initially 208 men killed or missing<\/li><li style=\"margin:4px 0\"><strong>Legacy:<\/strong> Forerunner of US Air Force special operations<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">From U-boat hunters to spy taxis<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The Carpetbaggers began as submarine hunters. In 1943, the B-24s of the 22nd and 4th Antisubmarine Squadrons were flying patrols over the Bay of Biscay when the US Navy took over the anti-submarine mission. The Army Air Forces crews needed a new job.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>In October 1943, at Bovingdon, Lieutenant Colonel Clifford Heflin and Major Robert Fish were told what it would be. Their crews would fly agents and supplies to resistance groups for the Office of Strategic Services, the American intelligence agency that preceded the CIA, working alongside Britain&rsquo;s Special Operations Executive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #1565c0;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><div><em>&ldquo;This work is harder than bombing&mdash;trickier. You&rsquo;re not following a formation&mdash;you&rsquo;re on your own. It takes a lot of training and flying ability to hit a drop zone right on the nose.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Col. Clifford Heflin<\/strong> &mdash; Commander of the Carpetbaggers, quoted in <em>Aviation History<\/em> (HistoryNet, 2019)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The RAF had been doing this since 1942 from Tempsford, where its special duties squadrons flew <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/handley-page-halifax\/\">Halifaxes<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/westland-lysander\/\">Lysanders<\/a> into occupied Europe. American crews trained with them, flying as co-pilots on British missions. On the night of 4&ndash;5 January 1944, the first American Carpetbagger missions took off from Tempsford.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Black Liberators<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The B-24 was ideal for the job: long range, a deep fuselage and a big bomb bay. It still needed a lot of surgery. The ball turret came out, leaving a 44-inch opening in the floor, smoothly lined and covered by a hinged plywood door. Crews called it the &ldquo;Joe hole,&rdquo; after the &ldquo;Joes&rdquo; who jumped through it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/carpetbagger-b-24d-playmate-rebecca-antenna-858th-bs.jpg\" alt=\"Flight engineer Sgt William T. Alexander standing beside the nose of black B-24D Liberator Playmate of the 858th Bomb Squadron, with a Rebecca radar antenna on the nose\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">Sgt. William T. Alexander, flight engineer, with B-24D 42-63980 <em>Playmate<\/em> of the 858th Bomb Squadron in 1944. The aerial on the side of the nose is for the Rebecca receiver that homed on beacons at the drop zones. US Army Air Forces photo \/ public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Bomb shackles were replaced with British release units to carry the cylindrical parachute containers. Waist guns and high-altitude oxygen gear were removed, flash suppressors and exhaust dampers fitted, and blister windows added so the pilot could see the ground. The aircraft were painted glossy black.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>For navigation, the bombers carried Gee, and a Rebecca receiver that homed on a Eureka beacon carried by the reception party. Near the drop zone, an S-Phone gave crews a two-way radio link with the people on the ground, very hard for the Germans to intercept.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 8px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iffbpvgsz_w\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 24px\">Wartime film from 1944 showing the stages of preparing a Carpetbagger supply mission, from the archive of l&rsquo;Atelier des Archives.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Station 179<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>In spring 1944 the group settled at Harrington in rural Northamptonshire, known as Station 179, a quieter and more secure base than its earlier homes. It grew from two squadrons to four, as the 788th and 850th Bomb Squadrons joined ahead of D-Day, under the name 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/raf-harrington-aerial-22-april-1944-801st-bomb-group.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial reconnaissance photograph of Harrington airfield in Northamptonshire on 22 April 1944 with aircraft of the 801st Bomb Group on the hardstands\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">Harrington airfield, Station 179, photographed from the air on 22 April 1944, weeks after the Carpetbaggers moved in. Aircraft of the 801st Bomb Group sit on the hardstands. USAAF 7th Photographic Group \/ English Heritage \/ public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Secrecy went far beyond a normal bomber base. Ground crews were told the black aircraft were for night pathfinding. Packers did not know where the loads were going. On the aircraft, often only the pilot and navigator knew the destination, and agents boarded at the last minute.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #1565c0;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><div><em>&ldquo;You are going to learn to fly your airplane 400 feet above the ground&mdash;10 miles per hour above stalling. And in addition you&rsquo;re going to do this at night and you&rsquo;re going to do it as a single ship mission.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Lt. Col. Robert W. Fish<\/strong> &mdash; Briefing new Carpetbagger crews in May 1944, quoted in <em>Aviation History<\/em> (HistoryNet, 2019)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Missions were flown in the moon periods, each aircraft on its own route. Crews crossed the coast high enough to stay clear of light flak, then dropped to a few hundred feet to read the landscape by moonlight: rivers, lakes, railway lines and towns. Staying low also made it harder for night fighters to attack from below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Over the drop zone, the B-24 slowed to about 120 miles per hour at around 400 feet. Agents went first, supplies on a second pass. Afterwards pilots often flew on deeper into enemy territory, so that an observer could not identify the field from where the bomber turned. Containers held rifles, explosives, ammunition and even bicycles; packages carried food, clothing, radio sets and carrier pigeons.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/carpetbagger-black-b-24h-scrappy-harrington-1945.jpg\" alt=\"Black-painted B-24H Liberator Scrappy of the 492nd Bomb Group parked on a grass dispersal at Harrington\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">B-24H 42-52749 <em>Scrappy<\/em> of the 492nd Bomb Group on its dispersal at Harrington. Most Carpetbagger Liberators were painted glossy black for night work. US Army Air Forces photo \/ public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The summer of 1944<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The invasion of France brought the peak. In July 1944 alone, the Carpetbaggers dropped at least 4,680 containers, 2,909 packages and 62 parachutists, according to the National Museum of the US Air Force. In August the group took over the designation of the disbanded 492nd Bombardment Group.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>It was dangerous work. On the night of 27&ndash;28 April 1944, the B-24 <em>Worry Bird<\/em> hit a hill at its drop zone near Saint-Cyr-de-Valorges in the Loire and broke apart. Five of its crew died. Two of the three survivors were taken in by the Maquis, lived with them for three months, and were finally picked up by an RAF Hudson.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #d32f2f;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7\"><div><em>&ldquo;In memory of five American airmen found dead under the debris of their aircraft, shot down in flames at this place April 28, 1944, whose mission was the parachuting of arms to our secret army for the liberation of France and the restoration of our ideal.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Memorial at Saint-Cyr-de-Valorges<\/strong> &mdash; Inscription on the monument to the crew of <em>Worry Bird<\/em> (translation, via HistoryNet and the Concord Free Public Library)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Once most of France was liberated in September 1944, the main French drops ended. The Carpetbaggers stripped their B-24s for a different job and hauled more than 800,000 gallons of fuel to the advancing armies in little more than a week. Some crews later flew night bombing missions, while others brought home evaders who had escaped across occupied territory or walked out of Switzerland.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 8px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PGZeAbwVOpA\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 24px\">Air Force Special Operations Command: Carpetbagger veteran Bill Becker recalls night missions in black B-24s to drop OSS agents.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Into Germany<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The secret war resumed in the spring of 1945, now over the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Germany itself. Over heavily defended Germany, the group also used fast <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/a-26-invader\/\">A-26 Invaders<\/a>, as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/c-47-skytrain\/\">C-47s<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/de-havilland-mosquito\/\">Mosquitos<\/a> for special tasks. Operations at Harrington wound down at the end of April 1945.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/carpetbagger-black-a-26-invader-harrington-1945.jpg\" alt=\"Black-painted A-26 Invader of the 492nd Bomb Group on the ground at Harrington in spring 1945\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">A black A-26 Invader of the 492nd Bomb Group at Harrington in spring 1945. The fast twin-engined Invaders were used for missions over heavily defended Germany. US Army Air Forces photo \/ public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The final tally, from January 1944 to May 1945, was 1,860 sorties, 20,495 containers, 11,174 packages and more than 1,000 parachutists, some 4,500 tons of supplies in all. It cost 25 Liberators shot down, eight more damaged beyond repair, and an initial count of 208 men killed or missing. Many of the missing later came home with the help of the resistance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 8px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S2VnIMbebdA\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;font-style:italic;margin:0 0 24px\">Pioneer PBS: veteran Robert Holmstrom on his secret OSS Carpetbagger missions over occupied Europe.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The 801st\/492nd is generally recognised as the forerunner of today&rsquo;s Air Force Special Operations Command, and its number lives on in the 492nd Special Operations Wing. The black Liberators never bombed a city or fought a famous battle. They did something quieter: they put the tools of resistance into the hands of people fighting from inside the occupied countries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><em>Sources: Wikipedia (Operation Carpetbagger), National Museum of the US Air Force (Operation Carpetbagger fact sheet), Harrington Aviation Museums, HistoryNet \/ <em>Aviation History<\/em> (Don Hollway, 2019), Concord Free Public Library oral history collection<\/em><\/p>\r\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\r\n\r\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n\r\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What was Operation Carpetbagger?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Operation Carpetbagger was a US Army Air Forces special operation in World War II that flew agents, weapons and supplies to resistance groups in occupied Europe for the OSS, working with Britain&rsquo;s SOE. The 801st\/492nd Bomb Group flew black B-24 Liberators alone at night from January 1944 to the spring of 1945.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why were the Carpetbagger B-24s painted black?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Carpetbagger B-24 Liberators were painted glossy black because they flew alone at night and at low level over occupied Europe. The dark finish made them harder for searchlights and night fighters to see. Flash suppressors on the guns and dampers on the engine exhausts reduced their visibility further.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What was the Joe hole on a Carpetbagger B-24?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Joe hole was a 44-inch round opening in the floor of a Carpetbagger B-24, created by removing the ball turret. Agents, known as Joes, parachuted through it, and packages not carried in containers were pushed out the same way. A hinged plywood door covered it when not in use.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Where were the Carpetbaggers based?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The first Carpetbagger missions flew from RAF Tempsford in January 1944. In spring 1944 the group moved to Harrington in Northamptonshire, known as Station 179, a more secluded base. Operations there continued until the end of April 1945, and the group returned to the United States in July 1945.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How many agents and supplies did the Carpetbaggers drop?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">According to the National Museum of the US Air Force, the Carpetbaggers flew 1,860 sorties between January 1944 and May 1945, delivering 20,495 containers and 11,174 packages and dropping more than 1,000 parachutists. Other accounts put the total at around 4,500 tons of supplies.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How many aircraft did the Carpetbaggers lose?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Carpetbaggers lost 25 B-24 Liberators, and eight more were too badly damaged to fly combat again. The initial count of personnel losses was 208 killed or missing, but many of the missing evaded capture and returned with the help of resistance networks.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Which modern unit descends from the Carpetbaggers?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The 801st\/492nd Bomb Group is generally recognised as the forerunner of US Air Force special operations. Its number lives on in the 492nd Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, part of Air Force Special Operations Command.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What was Operation Carpetbagger?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Operation Carpetbagger was a US Army Air Forces special operation in World War II that flew agents, weapons and supplies to resistance groups in occupied Europe for the OSS, working with Britain\u2019s SOE. The 801st\/492nd Bomb Group flew black B-24 Liberators alone at night from January 1944 to the spring of 1945.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why were the Carpetbagger B-24s painted black?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Carpetbagger B-24 Liberators were painted glossy black because they flew alone at night and at low level over occupied Europe. The dark finish made them harder for searchlights and night fighters to see. Flash suppressors on the guns and dampers on the engine exhausts reduced their visibility further.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What was the Joe hole on a Carpetbagger B-24?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Joe hole was a 44-inch round opening in the floor of a Carpetbagger B-24, created by removing the ball turret. Agents, known as Joes, parachuted through it, and packages not carried in containers were pushed out the same way. A hinged plywood door covered it when not in use.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where were the Carpetbaggers based?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The first Carpetbagger missions flew from RAF Tempsford in January 1944. In spring 1944 the group moved to Harrington in Northamptonshire, known as Station 179, a more secluded base. Operations there continued until the end of April 1945, and the group returned to the United States in July 1945.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many agents and supplies did the Carpetbaggers drop?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"According to the National Museum of the US Air Force, the Carpetbaggers flew 1,860 sorties between January 1944 and May 1945, delivering 20,495 containers and 11,174 packages and dropping more than 1,000 parachutists. Other accounts put the total at around 4,500 tons of supplies.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many aircraft did the Carpetbaggers lose?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Carpetbaggers lost 25 B-24 Liberators, and eight more were too badly damaged to fly combat again. The initial count of personnel losses was 208 killed or missing, but many of the missing evaded capture and returned with the help of resistance networks.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which modern unit descends from the Carpetbaggers?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The 801st\/492nd Bomb Group is generally recognised as the forerunner of US Air Force special operations. Its number lives on in the 492nd Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, part of Air Force Special Operations Command.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/westland-lysander-soe-moon-squadrons\/\">The RAF&rsquo;s Moonlight Taxi Into Occupied France<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-tidal-wave-ploesti-raid-1943\/\">The Raid That Flew at Fifty Feet<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/pegasus-bridge-horsa-gliders-d-day-1944\/\">Pegasus Bridge: Six Gliders, No Engines, One Pass<\/a><\/p><\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From RAF Harrington, black-painted USAAF B-24 Liberators flew alone at night in 1944&ndash;45 to drop agents and supplies to Europe&rsquo;s resistance movements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":29389341,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[666,664],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29389405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-and-legends","category-military-aviation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s of WWII | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Operation Carpetbagger: how black-painted USAAF B-24 Liberators flew from Harrington at night to drop OSS agents and supplies to Europe&#039;s resistance.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s of WWII | MiGFlug\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Operation Carpetbagger: how black-painted USAAF B-24 Liberators flew from Harrington at night to drop OSS agents and supplies to Europe&#039;s resistance.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Afterburner - MiGFlug&#039;s Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-24T15:51:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-24T15:51:35+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Connor Kerr\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Connor Kerr\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Connor Kerr\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9\"},\"headline\":\"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s That Armed the Resistance\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-24T15:51:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-24T15:51:35+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1908,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"History &amp; Legends\",\"Military Aviation\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/\",\"name\":\"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s of WWII | MiGFlug\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-24T15:51:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-24T15:51:35+00:00\",\"description\":\"Operation Carpetbagger: how black-painted USAAF B-24 Liberators flew from Harrington at night to drop OSS agents and supplies to Europe's resistance.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":720,\"caption\":\"Black-painted B-24 Liberator 42-51211 Miss Fitts of the 492nd Bomb Group Carpetbaggers taking off from Harrington\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Startseite\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s That Armed the Resistance\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"name\":\"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine\",\"description\":\"for those interested in flying military jets and aviation related  topics\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"width\":897,\"height\":278,\"caption\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/MiGFlug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/migflug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/migflug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/MiGFlug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/migflug.com\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.ch\\\/migflug\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9\",\"name\":\"Connor Kerr\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Connor Kerr\"},\"description\":\"Connor Kerr writes MiGFlug\u2019s long-form features \u2014 aviation history, how-it-works explainers and the stories behind the headlines.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/author\\\/connorkerr\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s of WWII | MiGFlug","description":"Operation Carpetbagger: how black-painted USAAF B-24 Liberators flew from Harrington at night to drop OSS agents and supplies to Europe's resistance.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s of WWII | MiGFlug","og_description":"Operation Carpetbagger: how black-painted USAAF B-24 Liberators flew from Harrington at night to drop OSS agents and supplies to Europe's resistance.","og_url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/","og_site_name":"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","article_published_time":"2026-10-24T15:51:21+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-10-24T15:51:35+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Connor Kerr","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@migflug","twitter_site":"@migflug","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Connor Kerr","Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/"},"author":{"name":"Connor Kerr","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9"},"headline":"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s That Armed the Resistance","datePublished":"2026-10-24T15:51:21+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-24T15:51:35+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/"},"wordCount":1908,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg","articleSection":["History &amp; Legends","Military Aviation"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/","name":"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s of WWII | MiGFlug","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg","datePublished":"2026-10-24T15:51:21+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-24T15:51:35+00:00","description":"Operation Carpetbagger: how black-painted USAAF B-24 Liberators flew from Harrington at night to drop OSS agents and supplies to Europe's resistance.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/carpetbagger-b-24-miss-fitts-takeoff-harrington.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"caption":"Black-painted B-24 Liberator 42-51211 Miss Fitts of the 492nd Bomb Group Carpetbaggers taking off from Harrington"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/operation-carpetbagger-black-b-24-liberators-harrington-oss-resistance\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Startseite","item":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Operation Carpetbagger: The Black B-24s That Armed the Resistance"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","name":"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine","description":"for those interested in flying military jets and aviation related  topics","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization","name":"MiGFlug GmbH","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","width":897,"height":278,"caption":"MiGFlug GmbH"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","https:\/\/x.com\/migflug","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/migflug\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/MiGFlug","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/migflug.com\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.ch\/migflug\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/bc7f2d09b1d7111c45fdb1335b8f2cf9","name":"Connor Kerr","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ed6d7365eb237a1c91b800bf8dfeb14b8e30a3712ed7fec9e18a70088fc423a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Connor Kerr"},"description":"Connor Kerr writes MiGFlug\u2019s long-form features \u2014 aviation history, how-it-works explainers and the stories behind the headlines.","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/author\/connorkerr\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29389405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29389405"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29389405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29389445,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29389405\/revisions\/29389445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29389341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29389405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29389405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29389405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}