CHATANOOGA CHOO CHOO (PIC 4)

NAME	TP	-	M#	SER	-	BLK	-	MF	SERIAL #	AF	BG	BS	SC	RCL/#	V#-P	PHOTO CREDITS
CHATANOOGA CHOO CHOO	B	-	24	D	-	-	-	CO	40-698	9	376	513	~	52	00-4	N/A

Starboard (Right) Side - Transferred from ASG to 7th BG/9th BS (#28) - Transferred to 376th BG/513th BS (#5 Then #52)
376th BG EmblemLIBERANDOS

Contributor - Ed Clendenin

Info Contributor - Jim Augustus
On 7 Apr 1942, Col. Caleb V. Haynes arrived in Karachi, India flying 40-698. This was the first B-24D to arrive in any combat theater. Haynes was in charge of Project Aquilla, a plan designed to bomb mainland Japan with heavy bombers from bases in China. However, the loss of bases in China due to the heavy push by the Japanese, made Haynes' mission impossible. In mid June 42 the war against Rommel in North Africa had become a higher priority and on 28 Jun 42, 17 heavy bombers (including 40-698) were sent to the mid east to support the North African campaign. This group of 17 heavies (7th BG / 9th BS) was eventually combined with the Halverson Detachment to form the 1st Provisional Bomb Group (1PBG), which was later absorbed by the 376th Bomb Group.