The B-24 was employed in operations in every combat theater during World War 2. Because of it's great range, it was particularly suited for such missions as the famous raid from North Africa against the oil industry at Ploesti, Rumania on August 1, 1943. This feature made the airplane suitable for long over-water missions in the Pacific Theater, and for long overland flights across China from the US war-time base in Chongqing (Chungking) in W.China to the eastern seaboard in order to liberate civilian internees held there in Japanese internment camps.

One such flight, code-named 'Duck Mission', was made on Friday, 17th August 1945, literally bringing rescue from the skies for the 1500 internees held in Civil Assembly Centre, Weihsien, Shandong. After several low flying passes to identify their goal, seven US parachutists tumbled out of the low-flying , silver-bodied B24 "Liberator", landing
in the gaoliang fields nearby. Their brave action was successful in bringing the priceless gift of freedom to us. We remember them with gratitude.