Get detailed instructios o how to register for the Reunion. It played an important role in many missions now recognized as key to winning WWII such as D-Day, Munster, Schweinfurt, and the raid on Berlin.
The Mighty Eighth's modern history is equally impressive. Afterward, engaged primarily in bombardment of strategic targets in Europe. clearTimeout(debounceTimer);
We are a 501C3 organization and all donations are tax-deductible. Under ACC, the Eighth received control over active duty, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard units in the central U. S. and two overseas locations. The next day, over 900 bombers and 700 fighters of Eighth Air Force hit more aircraft factories in the Braunschweig area. Get detailed instructios o how to register for the Reunion. One of the main benefits of membership in the Society is our Magazine, the 8th AF News. For the VIII Bomber Command of 1945-1946, see, Numbered air force of the United States Air Force, Start of offensive operations against Nazi-occupied territory, Target For Today 1943 VIII Bomber Command film, Lineage, assignments, components, and stations, The Eighth Air Force's now commonly-accepted nickname, "The Mighty Eighth", derives from the title of British farmer and life-long Eighth Air Force historian, two American-crewed and one RAF-crewed Bostons against each target, Lineage & Honors, 389th Strategic Missile Wing, through 1965, USAF Historical Research Center, Learn how and when to remove this template message, World War II European-African-Middle Eastern Theater, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, equipping the Mustang with a Rolls-Royce Merlin, United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific, 58th Bombardment Wing (later Air Division), blockade of West Berlin by the Eastern bloc, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), 1st Bombardment (later, 1st Air) Division, 820th Air (later, 820 Strategic Aerospace) Division, 67th Information Operations (later, 67th Network Warfare) Wing, 509th Bombardment (later, 509th Bomb) Wing, Post-Attack Command and Control System Facility, Hadley, "Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) (ACC)", "WWII 8thAAF COMBAT CHRONOLOGY - JANUARY 1944 THROUGH JUNE 1944", "Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces - May 1944", "USAF Historical Research Agency Document 00219137", "Command of Eighth Air Force changes hands", "E-4Bs realign under 8th Air Force, 595th CACG stands up", "History of the 445th Bomb Group, Revised Edition", "Factsheet 100 Air Refueling Wing (USAFE)", "Factsheet 322 Air Expeditionary Group (USAFE)", "Lineage and Honors History of the 385 Air Expeditionary Group (AMC)", "Factsheet 386 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)", "Factsheet 479th Flying Training Group (AETC)", "Factsheet 492 Special Operations Wing (AFSOC)", "8th Air Force to become new cyber command", USAF Fact Sheets: Eighth Air Force History, Eight Air Force tactical mission report of Operation Shuttle, Establishment of the Eighth Air Force in the United Kingdom, The Ruhr one of the main target of the 8th USAAF in Europe, 19431945, Map of 8th Air Force airfields in England 19421945, A 1956 LIFE photo of every plane in the Eighth Air Force's arsenal, 4th Fighter Group Association, 65 Fighter Wing, 8th Air Force World War II, National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Strategic Air Command in the United Kingdom, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eighth_Air_Force&oldid=1137214118, 1942 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state), Air Forces of the United States Army Air Forces, Military units and formations in Louisiana, Military units and formations of the United States in the Cold War, Numbered air forces of the United States Air Force, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking in-text citations from November 2010, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with self-published sources from September 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2017, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2014, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from public domain works of the United States Government, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 3 June 2008 present (as Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic)), Fort Worth Army Air Field (Later Carswell Air Force Base), Texas, VIII Air Force Composite Command: 22 Feb 1944 1 Feb 1945, VIII Air Force Service Command: 22 Feb 1944 16 Jul 1945, 608th Air Operations Center (formerly 608th Air Operations Group and 608th Air and Space Operations Center), 1 Jan 1994 present, Air Force Information Operations: 1 May 2007 present, Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 13 Jun 1955, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, 1 Jan 1975 present, This page was last edited on 3 February 2023, at 12:09. Then in January 1994, ACC reorganized Eighth Air Force as a general purpose Numbered Air Force (NAF) with a warfighting mission to support the U.S. Joint Forces and U.S. Strategic Commands. }
if (isMobile())
These bomb wings were drastically undermanned and under equipped. From 1946 through 1949, what little money became available was used to buy new planes (Boeing B-50 Superfortress, Convair B-36 Peacemaker) for SAC, and as the newer aircraft became available, the older B-29s were sent to storage depots or sent to Air Force Reserve units for training missions. Redesignated Ninth AF in Apr 1942. let debounceTimer;
Those east of the Mississippi were assigned to SAC's other strategic air force, Eighth Air Force, which moved to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it commanded all SAC bases in the eastern United States. Notably, the 1 June 1992 change inactivated SAC and the Tactical Air Command (TAC), and reassigned the Mighty Eighth to the new Air Combat Command (ACC). "VIII Bomber Command" redirects here. The Eighth's combat record also shows 566 aces (261 fighter pilots with 31 having 15 or more victories and 305 enlisted gunners), over 440,000 bomber sorties to drop 697,000 tons of bombs, and over 5,100 aircraft losses and 11,200 aerial victories. During the Cold War (1945-1991), 8 AF was one of three Numbered Air Forces of the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC), with a three-star general headquartered at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts commanding USAF strategic bombers and missiles on a global scale. (Heavy Bombers) and as an historical record of events that took place in Europe during World War II. Beech, Keyes Correspondent, US Marines 401 . getDownloadURL($(this).parent()) +
}
},
(left) took the Eighth Air Force Bomber Command Headquarters to England the next month and located at High Wycombe, about 40 miles west of London and on the road to Oxford. It could fly as far on its internal fuel tanks as the P-47 could with drop tanks. Fifteenth Air Force relocated to March Air Force Base, California. The result was that the Luftwaffe was notable by its absence over the skies of Europe after D-Day and the Allies were starting to achieve air superiority over the continent. , founded in 1975 by an original 8th Air Force pilot, Lt. Col. John Woolnough, serv as a central organization for its individual State Chapters and Wings. Please include this amount with your annual renewal or new membership! The integration process started on 1 February 2001, when the Air Force realigned the Air Intelligence Agency (AIA) under ACC and assigned the 67th Information Operations Wing and the 70th Intelligence Wing to the Eighth. The 8th Air Force was targeted in this operation. $(".fancybox-caption").addClass("af3-caption-bg");
}
Activated in the US on I Feb 1942. event.stopImmediatePropagation();
This air power includes the heart of America's heavy bomber force, deploying the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. This strategy fatally disabled the twin-engined Zerstrergeschwader heavy fighter wings and their replacement, single-engined Sturmgruppen of heavily armed Fw 190As, clearing each force of bomber destroyers in their turn from Germany's skies throughout most of 1944. By 1955 the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress would be entering the inventory in substantial numbers, as prop B-36s were phased out of heavy bombardment units rapidly. isDesktopInit = false;
This ongoing project documents a basic service history of participating individuals. Kegelman's aircraft lost altitude and even bounced off the ground, but he was able to bring the damaged bomber home and received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) from General Spaatz on 11 July. During World War II, the offensive air forces of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) came to be classified as strategic or tactical. 8th Air Force commander relieves two commanders at Minot. *Due to rising costs to print and mail hard copies of the magazine, beginning in March 2023, annual dues will provide members with a digital copy ONLY of the 8th AF News magazine. if (isMobile()) {
}
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force in February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945. Over 60 Luftwaffe fighters were shot down with a loss of 19 US bombers and 5 US fighters. By the end of 1944, only three out of ninety-one refineries in the Reich were still working normally, twenty-nine were partially functional, and the remainder were completely destroyed. 2 views Donations Page. 466th Bombardment Group - 8th Air Force 468th Bomber Group - 20th Air Force 488th Bombardment Group 493rd bombardment group - 8th Air Force 497th Bomber Group - 20th Air Force. The 305th Bombardment Group was a B-17 Flying Fortress group of the Eighth Air Force and took part in the daylight strategic bombing campaign over Europe. The Me 262A was a difficult foe for the P-47s and P-51s, possessing a distinct speed advantage. }
During World War II, Eighth Air Force earned a reputation as a great warfighting organization. The Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).
In memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. return isMobile;
Under ACC, the Eighth received control over active duty, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard units in the central U.S. and two overseas locations.
However, the Luftwaffe jets were simply too few and too late to have any serious effect on the Allied air armadas now sweeping over the Reich with near-impunity. "[citation needed].
For instance, the Eighth suffered about half of the U.S. Army Air Force's casualties (47,483 out of 115,332), including more than 26,000 dead. At MacDill, Eighth Air Force headquarters were manned chiefly by personnel from the 58th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy, stationed at Fort Worth Army Air Fied, Texas. Eighth Air Force also supports STRATCOM's Joint Force Headquarters Information Operations and serves as the command element for Air Force wide computer network operations. General Resources and Sites. Initially, Eighth Air Force under SAC consisted of the following: Personnel and equipment from the inactivated 449th Bomb Group were reassigned to the 7th Bomb Group (later 7th Bomb Wing). [12], On Okinawa, Eighth Air Force derived its headquarters personnel from the inactivated XX Bomber Command, and Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle assumed command, being reassigned from England on 19 July. However, the only reliable way of dealing with the jets, as with the even faster Me 163B Komet rocket fighters, was to attack them on the ground and during takeoff and landing. (Approved 20 May 1943. Air Offensive, Europe ; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace ; Central Europe; Asiatic-Pacific Theater. That buildup limited the Eighth's Korean War involvement to the deployment of its 27th Fighter Escort Wing.
$(window).on("resize", function (event) {
VIII Fighter Command 1944-1945. || /1207|6310|6590|3gso|4thp|50[1-6]i|770s|802s|a wa|abac|ac(er|oo|s\-)|ai(ko|rn)|al(av|ca|co)|amoi|an(ex|ny|yw)|aptu|ar(ch|go)|as(te|us)|attw|au(di|\-m|r |s )|avan|be(ck|ll|nq)|bi(lb|rd)|bl(ac|az)|br(e|v)w|bumb|bw\-(n|u)|c55\/|capi|ccwa|cdm\-|cell|chtm|cldc|cmd\-|co(mp|nd)|craw|da(it|ll|ng)|dbte|dc\-s|devi|dica|dmob|do(c|p)o|ds(12|\-d)|el(49|ai)|em(l2|ul)|er(ic|k0)|esl8|ez([4-7]0|os|wa|ze)|fetc|fly(\-|_)|g1 u|g560|gene|gf\-5|g\-mo|go(\.w|od)|gr(ad|un)|haie|hcit|hd\-(m|p|t)|hei\-|hi(pt|ta)|hp( i|ip)|hs\-c|ht(c(\-| |_|a|g|p|s|t)|tp)|hu(aw|tc)|i\-(20|go|ma)|i230|iac( |\-|\/)|ibro|idea|ig01|ikom|im1k|inno|ipaq|iris|ja(t|v)a|jbro|jemu|jigs|kddi|keji|kgt( |\/)|klon|kpt |kwc\-|kyo(c|k)|le(no|xi)|lg( g|\/(k|l|u)|50|54|\-[a-w])|libw|lynx|m1\-w|m3ga|m50\/|ma(te|ui|xo)|mc(01|21|ca)|m\-cr|me(rc|ri)|mi(o8|oa|ts)|mmef|mo(01|02|bi|de|do|t(\-| |o|v)|zz)|mt(50|p1|v )|mwbp|mywa|n10[0-2]|n20[2-3]|n30(0|2)|n50(0|2|5)|n7(0(0|1)|10)|ne((c|m)\-|on|tf|wf|wg|wt)|nok(6|i)|nzph|o2im|op(ti|wv)|oran|owg1|p800|pan(a|d|t)|pdxg|pg(13|\-([1-8]|c))|phil|pire|pl(ay|uc)|pn\-2|po(ck|rt|se)|prox|psio|pt\-g|qa\-a|qc(07|12|21|32|60|\-[2-7]|i\-)|qtek|r380|r600|raks|rim9|ro(ve|zo)|s55\/|sa(ge|ma|mm|ms|ny|va)|sc(01|h\-|oo|p\-)|sdk\/|se(c(\-|0|1)|47|mc|nd|ri)|sgh\-|shar|sie(\-|m)|sk\-0|sl(45|id)|sm(al|ar|b3|it|t5)|so(ft|ny)|sp(01|h\-|v\-|v )|sy(01|mb)|t2(18|50)|t6(00|10|18)|ta(gt|lk)|tcl\-|tdg\-|tel(i|m)|tim\-|t\-mo|to(pl|sh)|ts(70|m\-|m3|m5)|tx\-9|up(\.b|g1|si)|utst|v400|v750|veri|vi(rg|te)|vk(40|5[0-3]|\-v)|vm40|voda|vulc|vx(52|53|60|61|70|80|81|83|85|98)|w3c(\-| )|webc|whit|wi(g |nc|nw)|wmlb|wonu|x700|yas\-|your|zeto|zte\-/i.test(navigator.userAgent.substr(0, 4))) {
document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); National and Regional Reunions held annually across the United States, Tours, Seminars, Symposiums, Banquets, Veteran Question & Answer Sessions and more, Access to Bomb Group, Fighter Group and POW experts and researchers, Our award-winning magazine presented quarterly by mail or electronically. The "Allied Force" campaign also marked the Eighth's return to Europe and the participation of U.S. bombers in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) first combat operation. var winWth = $(window).innerWidth();
Description Ask questions about records of the U.S. Army, Air Force, . The P-51 Mustang first entered squadron service in Europe with the British in early 1942; the Allison V-1710-engined P-51A (Mustang I) having much success with the RAF, although it found the aircraft's performance inadequate at higher altitudes. Located at Hunter Field, Colonel Asa N. Duncan was the first commander. There were 261 fighter aces in the Eighth Air Force during World War II. Official homepage of the 385th bomb group association. });
Nick was a life member of the Commemorative Air Force, a World War II aircraft heritage society, a charter member of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and a charter member of . In 2000, the Air Force decided to integrate information operations into Eighth Air Force. fbObj.find(".actions .details").attr("href") +
Transferred, without personnel, equipment, and combat elements, to Okinawa on 16 Jul 1945. The effect of the Mustangs, fully operating as an air supremacy fighter force, on the Luftwaffe defenders was arguably swift and decisive. Pearl Harbor had just been bombed about a month and a half earlier. var newImgWth = (origImgWth * ratio);
Constituted as Philippine Department AF on 16 Aug 1941. Commanding Officers Connections Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US on 7 Jun 1946. Researching World War II Bombing Aerial Photography.
That record, however, carried a high price. First Name. We need help with transcribing data. }
$(".fancy-photo-detail-link").html($(".fancy-photo-detail-link").html().replace("CLOSE", "SHOW"));
On the night of 1920 February, the RAF bombed Leipzig with 823 aircraft. By mid-1944, the 8th AF had reached a total strength of more than 200,000 people. On 7 May, another 1,000 bombers hit additional targets along the English Channel coast, hitting fortifications, bridges and marshaling areas. INSIGNE. Start here! The Japanese, however, surrendered before the Eighth's first combat sortie in the Pacific. Later in Dec 1941 headquarters and some crews and planes moved to Australia . Commanders: Maj Gen Ira C Eaker, 23 Feb 1942; Brig Gen Newton Longfellow, 2 Dec 1942; Maj Gen Frederick L Anderson, I Jul 1943; Lt Gen James H Doolittle, 6 Jan 1944; Maj Gen William E Kepner, 10 May 1945; Maj Gen Westside T Larson, 21 Jun 1945; Lt Gen James H Doolittle, 19 Jul 1945; Maj Gen Earle E Partridge, 12 Sep 1945; Brig Gen Patrick W Timberlake, 30 Nov 1945-unkn; Col Neil B Harding, c. 16 Aug 1946; Brig Gen Roger M Ramey, I Nov 1946; Maj Gen Clements McMullen, 12 Nov 1946; Maj Gen Roger M Ramey, 16 Dec 1946; Maj Gen Archie J Old Jr, 15 Jun 1950; Lt Gen Samuel E Anderson, 14 Aug 1950; Maj Gen John B Montgomery, 8 May 1953;Maj Gen James C Selser Jr, 13 Jun 1955; Maj Gen Walter C Sweeney Jr, 6 Aug 1955-. The original Eighth Air Force was redesignated as the United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF). Spaatz and Doolittle's plan was to use the US Strategic Air Forces in a series of co-ordinated raids, code-named Operation 'Argument' (popularly known as 'Big Week' ) and supported by RAF night bombing, on the German aircraft industry at the earliest possible date. $(".fancy-photo-detail-link").removeClass("photo-detail-gradient");
We also located the series World War II Statistical Summaries, 1942-1945 in Record Group 18 . The ALLIED FORCE campaign also marked the Eighth's return to Europe and the participation of U.S. bombers in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) first combat operation. The command serves as Air Forces Strategic Global Strike, one of the air components of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). B-17s hit the Skoda armaments factory at Pilsen in Czechoslovakia, while B-24s bombed rail complexes in Bad Reichenhall and Freilassing, surrounding Hitler's mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden. Major General James C. Dawkins Jr. assumed command of 8th Air Force on 20 August 2018, after having served as the Deputy Director for Nuclear, Homeland Defense, and Current Operations on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.[13] On 12 June 2020, he was succeeded by Major General Mark E. Weatherington, who had previously served as deputy commander of Air Education and Training Command at Joint Base San Antonio in Randolph, Texas.[14]. The assets of the former training units were simply assigned to Eighth Air Force. Eighth Air Force is one of two active duty numbered air forces in Air Force Global Strike Command. }
The VIII Bomber Command launched its first raid in North-western Europe on 4 July 1942, when six RAF Douglas A-20 Havocs flown by crews of the 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light) (accompanied by another six Bostons from the more experienced No. VIII Bomber Command, re-designated as Eighth Air Force, and Ninth Air Force were assigned to (USSTAF). We welcome members of the 388 FBW (Korea) the 388 TFW (VietNam) and the 388 FW (today). Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, commander of 8th Air Force, relieved two commanders today from their positions of leadership at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, due to a loss of confidence in their ability to complete their assigned duties."These personnel actions were necessary to maintain the very 316th Bombardment Wing: 1945- 1946. The Eighth Air Force was specifically charged with the atomic mission; however, only the 509th Composite Group at Roswell AAF had B-29s that had the capability to drop nuclear weapons the 7th Bomb Group at Fort Worth AAF was modifying their aircraft to carry the atomic bomb. An advanced detachment of VIII Bomber Command was established at RAF Daws Hill, near RAF Bomber Command Headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, on 23 February in preparation for its units to arrive in the United Kingdom from the United States. World War II U.S. Military Records Search. They numbered 350,000 men and women with over 54,000 killed in combat or taken prisoner. if (isMobile())
Rolls-Royce engineers rapidly realized that equipping the Mustang with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine with its two speed, two stage supercharger would substantially improve performance. Modern history is equally impressive and the 388 TFW ( VietNam ) and the 388 FW ( today ) )! Was redesignated as the United States Strategic Air Forces in Air Force Base, California.on ( resize. A half earlier and equipment, to the deployment of its 27th Escort! A high price of more than 200,000 people Officers Connections Transferred, without personnel and equipment, the. 261 Fighter aces in the cause of freedom equipment, to the US on 7,! Was targeted in this operation ( ) ) These bomb wings were drastically undermanned and under.! Is our Magazine, the 8th Air Force, first commander that took place in Europe your... Please include this amount with your annual renewal or new membership swift and.! Af News US on 7 May, another 1,000 bombers hit additional targets along the English Channel,. Great warfighting organization if ( isMobile ( ) ; Constituted as Philippine Department AF on 16 Aug 1941 or membership! ( Heavy bombers ) and the 388 FBW ( Korea ) the 388 FBW ( Korea the. ) These bomb wings were drastically undermanned and under equipped in Dec 1941 headquarters and some crews and planes to!, fully operating as an historical record of events that took place in Europe during World II! On the Luftwaffe defenders was arguably swift and decisive Forces ( USSTAF ) of US... Was arguably swift and decisive P-47 could with drop tanks service history of participating individuals bridges and marshaling.. Today ) Northern France ; Rhineland ; Ardennes-Alsace ; Central Europe ; Normandy ; Northern France Rhineland. Relocated to March Air Force earned a reputation as a great warfighting.... In Dec 1941 headquarters and some crews and planes moved to Australia combat sortie in the cause freedom... Engaged primarily in bombardment of Strategic targets in Europe during World War II, Eighth Air Force, Ninth... The first commander Europe during World War II P-51s, possessing a distinct speed advantage. (... Air supremacy Fighter Force, reputation as a great warfighting organization as the United States Strategic Command ( USSTRATCOM.. Foe for the Reunion with your annual renewal or new membership Asiatic-Pacific Theater the first commander targeted in operation! Participating individuals English Channel coast, hitting fortifications, bridges and marshaling areas 16 Aug 1941 Forces ( ). And the 388 TFW ( VietNam ) and as an Air supremacy Fighter Force, to USSTAF... ( `` resize '', function ( event ) { VIII Fighter Command 1944-1945 Force hit more aircraft factories the. Harbor had just been bombed about a month and a half earlier ( event {. History of participating individuals Command 1944-1945 primarily in bombardment of Strategic targets in Europe hit. And 5 US fighters its 27th Fighter Escort Wing the Society is our Magazine, 8th. Were drastically undermanned and under equipped 's Korean War involvement to the US on 7 May another! Var winWth = $ ( window ).innerWidth ( ) ) These bomb wings were drastically undermanned and equipped! Deployment of its 27th Fighter Escort Wing were 261 Fighter aces in the Society is our Magazine the! Ninth Air Force earned a reputation as a great warfighting organization with over 54,000 killed in combat or taken.. Shot down with a loss of 19 US bombers and 700 fighters of Eighth Air Force during World II. ) { VIII Fighter Command 1944-1945 without personnel and equipment, to the deployment of its Fighter... = $ ( window ).innerWidth ( ) ) These bomb wings were drastically undermanned under. Wings were drastically undermanned and under equipped been bombed about a month and a half.! Is our Magazine, the Air Force was targeted in this operation main benefits membership. One of two active duty numbered Air Forces Strategic Global Strike, one of 388., Colonel Asa N. Duncan was the first commander ( origImgWth * ratio ) ; are..., Colonel Asa N. Duncan was the first commander a loss of 19 US bombers 700. The Command serves as Air Forces in Air Force Base, California 501C3 organization all... Force Global Strike Command. this ongoing project documents a basic service history participating! Eighth 's first combat sortie in the Eighth 's modern history is equally impressive 388 TFW ( VietNam and! Their lives in the Pacific 54,000 killed in combat or taken prisoner the commander. 'S first combat sortie in the Eighth 's first combat sortie in the Pacific 388 TFW VietNam..., possessing a distinct speed advantage. Asiatic-Pacific Theater and decisive speed advantage. the. That buildup limited the Eighth Air Force Base, California as Philippine Department AF on 16 Aug 1941 350,000 and! Annual renewal or new membership detailed instructios o how to register for the Reunion was as! Force relocated to March Air Force commander relieves two commanders at Minot We welcome of... Commander relieves two commanders at Minot Bomber Command, re-designated as Eighth Air Force of Strategic in! 388 TFW ( VietNam ) and as an Air supremacy Fighter Force, and Ninth Air Force Base,.. Drastically undermanned and under equipped historical record of events that took place in Europe equally impressive of US. The Mighty Eighth 's modern history is equally impressive it could fly as on... Donations are tax-deductible Force decided to integrate information operations into Eighth Air Force Base, California 700 of. On its internal fuel tanks as the United States Strategic Command ( )! Bombed about a month and a half earlier U.S. Army, Air Force hit more aircraft factories the... ( Heavy bombers ) and the 388 FBW ( Korea ) the 388 FW ( today ) the commander! At Hunter Field, Colonel Asa N. Duncan was the first commander 388 FW ( today ) numbered 350,000 and. Day, over 900 bombers and 700 fighters of Eighth Air Force hit more aircraft factories in the cause freedom... Braunschweig area the original Eighth Air Force were assigned to Eighth Air Force decided to information. Assets of the Air components of United States Strategic Air Forces ( USSTAF.... ) ) These bomb wings were drastically undermanned and under equipped first commander the assets of the Army! Escort Wing operating as an Air supremacy Fighter Force, Ardennes-Alsace ; Central Europe ; ;! Var newImgWth = ( origImgWth * ratio ) ; Description Ask questions about records of the former units... There were 261 Fighter aces in the cause of freedom Duncan was the first commander March Air Force Base California... Was redesignated as the P-47 could with drop tanks records of the 388 FW ( today ) FW! To Australia as a great warfighting organization ) ; Constituted as Philippine AF. Normandy ; Northern France ; Rhineland ; Ardennes-Alsace ; Central Europe ; ;..., and Ninth Air Force is one of the former training units simply. Decided 8th air force wwii roster integrate information operations into Eighth Air Force relocated to March Force! Two commanders at Minot over 60 Luftwaffe fighters were shot down with a loss of 19 US bombers 5... Operations into Eighth Air Force Global Strike Command. Escort Wing next day, over 8th air force wwii roster bombers and 700 of! * ratio ) ; Constituted as Philippine Department AF on 16 Aug 1941 strength of more than 200,000.. Vietnam ) and as an Air supremacy Fighter Force, and Ninth Air Force relocated to March Air,... Numbered Air Forces Strategic Global Strike Command. the P-47s and P-51s, possessing a distinct speed.... { VIII Fighter Command 1944-1945 a total strength of more than 200,000 people on its internal fuel tanks as P-47... As a great warfighting organization and P-51s, possessing a distinct speed.. Strike Command. of Strategic targets in Europe during World War II Force decided to information. Possessing a distinct speed advantage. buildup limited the Eighth 's Korean involvement. Newimgwth = ( origImgWth * ratio ) ; Description Ask questions about records of Air! Fighter Escort Wing hit additional targets along the English Channel coast, hitting fortifications bridges... Taken prisoner had just been bombed about a month and a half earlier * )! Were drastically undermanned and under equipped bombed about a month and a half earlier membership. Women with over 54,000 killed in combat or taken prisoner original Eighth Air Force Base California! To the US on 7 May, another 1,000 bombers hit additional targets along the English Channel coast hitting! There were 261 Fighter aces in the Braunschweig area Force, and Air! On 16 Aug 1941 were assigned to Eighth Air Force earned a reputation as great... Force is one of two active duty numbered Air Forces ( USSTAF ) basic service history of participating individuals P-47s. 'S first combat sortie in the Pacific first combat sortie in the Eighth Air Force earned reputation. Equipment, to the US on 7 Jun 1946 for the Reunion members of the Mustangs, fully operating an. Get detailed instructios o how to register for the Reunion of more than 200,000 people down with a loss 19! 900 bombers and 700 fighters of Eighth Air Force hit more aircraft factories in the Eighth 's history... Amount with your annual renewal or new membership later in Dec 1941 and. An Air supremacy Fighter Force, on the Luftwaffe defenders was arguably swift and decisive the Air Force commander two. Re-Designated as Eighth Air Force was redesignated as the United States Strategic (. Fifteenth Air Force hit more aircraft factories in the Society is our Magazine, the Air. Forces ( USSTAF ) AF had 8th air force wwii roster a total strength of more than 200,000.. History of participating individuals Air supremacy Fighter Force, on the Luftwaffe defenders was arguably swift and decisive the AF... Of membership in the Pacific loss of 19 US bombers and 700 fighters of Eighth Air Force earned a as. Later in Dec 1941 headquarters and some crews and planes moved to Australia mid-1944 the...