Col. Clifford J. Heflin, CO 801st Carpetbaggers
There hasn’t been a post here in quite some time and I came across some links of interest regarding the Carpetbaggers. I have become interested in the Air Force career of Col. Clifford J. Heflin, CO of the 801
st as he later became instrumental during the Manhattan Project as CO of the 216
th Base Unit (Special) at Wendover Army Air Field. Col. Clifford J. Heflin as with many secret mission and project commanders, never seemed to receive credit due, I hope this post helps to correct this oversight. The Carpetbaggers’ hazardous, low-level, moon-lit night missions across the English Channel steadily expanded from dropping supplies, to also dropping agents and saboteurs, and then landing behind German lines to rescue downed Allied airmen. Each new mission required bomber modifications and innovative flying tactics; each first mission was piloted by Col. Heflin himself.
The mission of the Carpetbaggers was to fly Special Operations missions which entailed delivering supplies to resistance groups in enemy occupied countries, under the command of Col. Clifford J. Heflin. The Video link below is quit detailed regarding all aspects of the Carpetbagger mission a combined USAAF/OSS Operation.
The squadrons flew agents and supplies into southern France with B-24 Liberators that had all armament removed except in the top and tail turrets. In addition, the standard bomb shackles were removed from the bomb bay and British shackles were installed to accommodate special supply canisters. All unneeded radio gear was removed, as were the oxygen bottles. Flash suppressors were installed on the guns, flame dampeners were installed on the turbo-superchargers, and blackout curtains were installed over the waist gun windows. Light bulbs were painted red to spare night vision and special radio gear was added to assist in navigation and homing in on drop zones. The undersides of the aircraft were painted black to avoid detection by enemy searchlights. Combat with the enemy was avoided as it only endangered the success of the mission. Drops were also made using radio-navigation equipment. Supplies were also released in containers designed to be dropped from the existing equipment in the bomb bay. Pilots often flew several miles farther into enemy territory after completing the drop to disguise the actual drop zone in case enemy observers were tracking the plane's movement
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Harrington Carpetbaggers video:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/231587 Carpetbagger Aviation Museum:
http://www.harringtonmuseum.org.uk/801st492nd.htm USAAF/OSS combined operations:
http://www.plan-sussex-1944.net/anglais/pdf/infiltrations_into_france.pdf 801
st/492
nd BG detail:
http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-051228-020.pdf National Museum of the USAF Fact Sheet:
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=1502 Scott
Col. Clifford J. Heflin CO, 801st Provisional Bomb Group (H), “The Carpetbaggers” sitting at his deck, Harrington, UK (circa 1944)
[1] Clifford ...rs - Copy Col. Clifford J. Heflin CO, 216
th Base Unit (Special), Manhattan Project, standing with Col. Tibbets at Wendover Army Air Field (circa 1945)
[2] Col. Hefl... Wendover Col. Clifford J. Heflin CO, 216
th Base Unit (Special), Manhattan Project, standing alone; at Wendover Army Air Field (circa 1945); if you prefer.
[3] Col. Hefl...er - Copy Edit: 25Kingman49 added Col. Heflin photographs
post edited by 25Kingman49 -