8th air force wwii roster

First Name. The first escort mission for the bombers was not flown until 5 December. debounceTimer = null; The Eighth Air Force includes the heart of America's heavy bomber force: the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the Rockwell B-1 Lancer supersonic bomber, and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber aircraft. 2023 Dues are due in January. . 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. Eighth Air Force spent its first decade in the continental U.S. building up its strategic capabilities. The 8th AF was primarily engaged in the bombardment of strategic targets in Europe. The nuclear arms race shifted into high gear. During the 17 months this unit was deployed to England, they flew 281 combat missions between 13 Dec 43 and 25 Apr 45. Redesignated Ninth AF in Apr 1942. Unit records are useful in piecing together stories about a unit or group, as well as about individuals who served in them. On 1 May, over 1,300 Eighth Air Force heavy bombers made an all-out attack on the enemy's rail network, striking at targets in France and Belgium. 8th AF 448th BG World War II. return; Eighth Air Force remained in Okinawa until 7 June 1946. 3d Air Division: 1943-1945. Start here! debounceTimer = setTimeout(function () { His directive was simple: "Win the air war and isolate the battlefield. "[citation needed]. 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-. Following the end of the war in Europe in May 1945 plans were made to transfer some of the B-17/B-24 heavy bomber groups of Eighth Air Force to the Pacific Theater of Operations and upgrade them to Boeing B-29 Superfortress Very Heavy (VH) bomb groups. (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. From May 1942 to July 1945, the Eighth planned and precisely executed America's daylight strategic bombing campaign against Nazi-occupied Europe, and in doing so the organization compiled an impressive war record. While posturing itself for that mission change, the Eighth also supported Operation Enduring Freedom in which the Air Force operates against targets in Afghanistan, and Operation Noble Eagle for the defense of North American airspace. Activated in the US on I Feb 1942. 8th and 15th AF flight, ground crew and crash photos: B-24, B-17, P-51, B-26, P-47, P-38. Nick was a life member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society, the 15th Air Force Association and the 414th Bombardment Squadron, 97th Bombardment Group Association. As a result, Eighth Air Force was incorporated into the new SAC. Although the Luftwaffe could, and did, mount effective attacks on the ever-larger formations of Allied heavy bombers, the sheer numbers of B-17s and B-24s attacking enemy targets was overwhelming the German fighter force, which simply could not sustain the losses the Eighth Air Force bombers and fighters were inflicting on it. In the year 2000, the Air Force decided to integrate information operations into Eighth Air Force. B-17 Aluminum Overcast. //initial desktop view Fifteen months after Operation Desert Storm, the Air Force reorganized. An advanced detachment was established in England on 23 Feb and units began arriving from the US during the spring of 1942. 4th Bombardment Wing: 1942-1943. It was a last-ditch effort to keep up the momentum of the German forces during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge (Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein). The Mighty Eighth's B-52 force consists of 76 bombers assigned to two active duty wings, the 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana and the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and one reserve wing, the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. 301st Fighter Wing: 1945- 1946. was activated on 28 January 1942 at the Chatham Armory in Savannah, Georgia. "translate(" + dstLeft + "px, " + dstTop + "px)"); Login; Frequently Asked . 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. Cold and clear weather was predicted for the last week of February 1944. Altogether, the Eighth Air Force dropped over 4,800 tons of high explosive on Berlin during the first week of March. Vast fleets of B-24s and B-17s escorted by P-51Ds and long-range P-38Ls hit refineries in Germany and Czechoslovakia in late 1944 and early 1945. $(".af3-caption-body").removeClass(detailSize); 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. On 7 April, Eighth Air Force dispatched thirty-two B-17 and B-24 groups and fourteen Mustang groups (the sheer numbers of attacking Allied aircraft were so large in 1945 that they were now counted by the group) to targets in the small area of Germany still controlled by the Nazis, hitting the remaining airfields where the Luftwaffe jets were stationed. The command conducted the heavy bombardment operations of Eighth AF from 17 Aug 1942 until early in 1944. 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. event.stopImmediatePropagation(); On D-Day, over 2,300 sorties were flown by Eighth Air Force heavy bombers in the Normandy and Cherbourg invasion areas, all aimed at neutralizing enemy coastal defenses and front-line troops. Throughout the first six months of Enduring Freedom, the Mighty Eighth's bombers were instrumental in the eradication of many targets and opposing combatants in Afghanistan. The 8th lost 31 bombers, the 15th lost 33. var origImgWth = $(".fancybox-image").prop("naturalWidth"); } $(".fancybox-content").removeAttr("style"); $(document).ready(function () { An official website of the United States government, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. $(".fancybox-content").css("width", newImgWth + "px"); In January 1945, the Luftwaffe attempted one last major air offensive against the Allied Air Forces. In the 1980s, the Eighth participated in several key operations such as running the tanker task force for Operation Urgent Fury in 1983 and directing all air refueling operations for Operation El Dorado Canyon in 1986 and Operation Just Cause in 1989. Colonel Frank A. Armstrong may have been the commander of the 97th, but at the time of the raid, not yet left seat qualified. SAC was founded by the men who fought in World War II, who knew the importance of fighter escorts. The 8th AAF suffered 26,000 deaths out of the 350,000 officers and men. On 1 January, the entire German fighter force in the West, comprising combat aircraft from some eleven Jagdgeschwader day fighter wings, took off and attacked 27 Allied airfields in northern France, Belgium and the southern part of the Netherlands in an attempt by the Luftwaffe to cripple Allied air forces in the Low Countries of Europe. Although there were many available which were returned from Twentieth Air Force in the Pacific Theater they were war-weary from the many long combat missions flown during the war. Eighth Air Force did not strike at oil industry targets until 13 May 1944 when 749 bombers, escorted by almost 740 fighters, pounded oil targets in the Leipzig area and at Brx in Czechoslovakia. The mission of "The Mighty Eighth" is to safeguard America's interests through strategic deterrence and global combat power. During the Cold War (19451991), 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. 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. Fighters from both Eighth and Ninth Air Forces made wide sweeps over the area, mounting strafing missions at airfields and rail networks. Download Hi-Res Beeby, John O. Even so, the "pathfinder" bombers of the RAF Alconbury-based 482d Bomb Group proved very capable of finding the targets and guiding the bombers to them. The command serves as Air Forces Strategic Global Strike, one of the air components of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). captionToggle(); $(".fancy-photo-detail-link").removeClass("photo-detail-gradient"); Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US on 7 Jun 1946. For the Mighty Eighth, that change heralded an interesting future, one that bring further restructuring, different aircraft system purchases, and a new challenging mission to the NAF. In a prelude to the invasion of France, American air attacks began in February 1944 against railroad junctions, airfields, ports and bridges in northern France and along the English Channel coastline. } 8th Air Force, 1st Wing, 1st Division The Ragged Irregulars. Read more about Supporting the AALCM. let $this = $('[data-fancybox]').fancybox($.extend(true, {}, $.fancybox.defaults, { Major General Jimmy Doolittle relinquished command of the Fifteenth Air Force to Major General Nathan F. Twining and on January 6, 1944, took over command of the Eighth Air Force from Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker at RAF Daws Hill. buttons: ['share'], Description Ask questions about records of the U.S. Army, Air Force, . No. General Resources and Sites. let debounceTimer; if ($(".fancybox-caption__body").hasClass("af3-caption-body")) { In addition, German airfields in France and Belgium were attacked. else { In the planned invasion of Japan, the mission of Eighth Air Force would be to conduct B-29 Superfortress raids from Okinawa in coordination with Twentieth Air Force operating from airfields in the Mariana Islands.[12]. 316th Bombardment Wing: 1945- 1946. showFBShare() + However, the P-51B was introduced as a tactical fighter, so the first deliveries of the P-51B in November 1943 were assigned to three groups in the tactical Ninth Air Force at the expense of VIII Bomber Command, whose need for a long range escort fighter was critical. This air force lost most of its men and equipment in the defense of the Philippines after 7 Dec 1941. $(".fancybox-caption__body").removeClass("half"); displayhgt = "90vh"; getDownloadURL($(this).parent()) + var ratio = Math.min(winWth / origImgWth, The next day, over 900 bombers and 700 fighters of Eighth Air Force hit more aircraft factories in the Braunschweig area. During World War II, under the leadership of such Generals as Eaker and Jimmy Doolittle, the 8th AF became the greatest air armada in history. Looking for Roster of American Officers in the 3rd Army at Operation Dragoon during WWII 0. $(".closing-box, .closingx").on("touchstart", function() { captionToggle(); }); if (detailSize === "half") { The Eighth's weapons inventory also changed to include KC-135 air refuelers and intercontinental ballistic missiles (the Atlas, Titan I and Titan II, and all Minuteman models.) })); Eighth Air Force trains, tests, exercises and demonstrates combat-ready forces for rapid employment worldwide. Less than a week after "Big Week", Eighth Air Force made its first attack on the Reich's capital, Berlin. The Japanese, however, surrendered before the Eighth's first combat sortie in the Pacific. 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). Air Offensive, Europe ; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace ; Central Europe; Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Importantly, the Eighth's bombing effectiveness influenced the North Vietnamese to end hostilities. Thank you for visiting our site. For the Mighty Eighth, that change heralded an interesting future, one that bring further restructuring, different aircraft systems, and a new challenging mission to the NAF. It became operational on 7 November 1942 (along with the 44th, 91st and 303rd . General Carl Spaatz returned to England to command the USSTAF. // Fancy box miscalculates because of race conditions with new layout It was the largest of the deployed combat Army Air Forces in numbers of personnel, aircraft, and equipment. Men born between about 1877 and . [citation needed]. "VIII Bomber Command" redirects here. Contact Us. See What the 8th Air Force is up to Today! Please visit the websites of our wonderful partners in history. On 22 February 1944, the Army reorganized its Air Forces in Europe by renaming Eighth Air Force as the United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe (now known as the United States Air Forces in Europe). The USAAF now finally had an aircraft that could compete on equal terms with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and the later models of the Messerschmitt Bf 109. An Eighth Air Force unit, the 2d Bomb Wing, spearheaded the air campaign by dispatching B-52s from Barksdale to launch conventional air-launched cruise missiles against Iraqi targets. 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. Under ACC, Eighth Air Force provides command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C2ISR); long-range attack; and information operations forces to Air Force components and warfighting commands. Photo Details VIII Bomber Command, after redesignation as Eighth Air Force, was assigned VIII Fighter and VIII Air Support Commands under its command. At first, the Eighth deployed its B-52 bomber and KC-135 tanker units from the U.S. to operating bases in Guam, Okinawa and Thailand. let isDesktopInit = false; The original Eighth Air Force was redesignated as the United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF). '

' + With the loss of two American crews, this first mission . The Air Force retired nearly all of its piston-engined B-29/B-50s and they were replaced by new Boeing B-47 Stratojet aircraft. VIII Bomber Command, re-designated as Eighth Air Force, and Ninth Air Force were assigned to (USSTAF). At Andersen AFB, the Eighth took over the direction of all bombing and refueling operations in Southeast Asia. Why pay every year? Over 60 Luftwaffe fighters were shot down with a loss of 19 US bombers and 5 US fighters. worldwartwoveterans@gmail.com. Were proud to be able to present archival issues below: INSTRUCTIONSStart here! }, Importantly, the Eighth's bombing effectiveness influenced the North Vietnamese to end hostilities. At the same time, a smaller force hit an Fw 190 repair depot at Zwickau. The end came on 25 April 1945 when Eighth Air Force flew its last full-scale mission of the European War. This was largely so that the Air Force could perpetuate the names of groups that had distinguished themselves in World War II. Notably, the Eighth's units played a key role in the 42-day Gulf War in 1991. '

' + How I am shooting the records. In addition, almost 300 German aircraft of all types were destroyed in strafing attacks. 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. function closeDetails() { Our research database contains information on Bomber, Fighter and Service Groups, their Bases both in England and the United States, Daily Missions and Targets throughout Europe. The modern day Eighth Air Force traces its lineage to the VIII BC, which came to life on 1 February 1942 at Langley Field, Virginia. The 8th Air Force was targeted in this operation. var winWth = $(window).innerWidth(); Each 8th Air Force WWII Decal is made with the highest quality 2.5mil High Gloss 5-Year Calendared vinyl. The losses of the Allied Air Forces were replaced within weeks. Several events in the late 1940s reversed the drawdown of United States strategic forces. SAC fighter wings assigned to Eighth Air Force were: Fighter escorts were no longer needed once SAC was equipped with Boeing B-47 Stratojet and then Boeing B-52 Stratofortress jet bombers carrying nuclear bombs. On 2 March, when Eighth Air Force bombers were dispatched to attack the synthetic oil refineries at Leipzig, Messerschmitt Me 262As attacked the formation near Dresden. $currentSlide.find(".fancy-detail-link").on("touchstart", function() { captionToggle(); }); 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. Year. / 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. return ' 0 && $(".af3-caption-body").css("height") != undefined) { It could, and often did, dispatch more than 2,000 four-engine bombers and more than 1,000 fighters on a single mission to multiple targets. It dispersed its planes to a large number of bases across the United States so as not to have too many concentrated at a single location. Eighth Air Force also provides conventional forces to U.S. Joint Forces Command and provides nuclear capable bombers, specified Global Strike assets, and C2ISR capabilities to U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM). We need help with transcribing data. Read here to learn more about who the 8th Air Force is. In all, twelve aircraft factories were attacked, with the B-17s heading to Leipzig (Allgemeine Transportanlagen-Gesellschaft[de] Junkers Ju 88 production and Erla Maschinenwerk[de] Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters), Bernburg-Strenzfeld (Junkers Ju 88 plant) and Oschersleben (AGO plant making Focke Wulf Fw 190A fighters), while the B-24s hitting the Gothaer Waggonfabrik (production of Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighters), the Fw 190 Arado Flugzeugwerke plant at Tutow and Heinkel's "Heinkel-Nord" headquarters at Rostock (production of He 111 bombers). // Animation complete. Communist victories in the Chinese Civil War in 1949 and the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950 meant that the United States would have to expand SAC to address these potential threats both in Europe as well as Asia. After the Southeast Asian war, Eighth Air Force moved on 1 January 1975 to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. The intensive bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong during 11 days in December 1972, known as Operation Linebacker II, was but one highlight of those war years. 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. Eighth Air Force bomb wings, stationed in the Persian Gulf region, also attacked Iraq's Republican Guard forces and numerous key strategic targets, while other units provided air refueling and tactical reconnaissance throughout the conflict. On this mission, he sat in the co-pilot's seat of the lead B-17, Butcher Shop[8][self-published source] The pilot in command and leader of this historic mission was Paul Tibbets, who on 6 August 1945, dropped the first Atomic Bomb, Little Boy, on Hiroshima from the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Enola Gay. This is from where the present-day Eighth Air Force's history, lineage and honors derive. $(".af3-caption-body").stop(true, false).animate({ height: "0vh" }, 800, function () { In May 1942 Command of the 8th Air Force was assumed by Major General Carl A. INSIGNE. isDesktopInit = false; Azure, in the lower lobe of the winged Arabic numeral 8 or a mullet throughout argent charged with a torteaux. In memory of those who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. $(".fancybox-caption__body").removeClass("af3-caption-body"); Annual Dues fund our work including the magazine* and reunions. Many more awards were made to Eighth Air Force veterans after the war that remain uncounted. } 2 views var newImgWth = (origImgWth * ratio); It was reassigned to Savannah Army Air Base, Georgia on 10 February 1942. The other American-flown Boston had been shot down over De Kooy[6]. The 91st Bomb Group Memorial Association's (BGMA) purpose is to keep alive the spirit of the 91st BG (H) and to maintain the fellowship of all those who fought together in WWII . Archived from the original on 4 December 2003. Eighth Air Force Bomb Group Tail Markings Prior to 13 September 1943 -- Several Groups were not yet assigned. 8th Air Force commander relieves two commanders at Minot. $(".fancy-photo-detail-link").html($(".fancy-photo-detail-link").html().replace("SHOW", "CLOSE")); By mid-1944, the unit had a total strength of more than 200,000 people, and it could send more than 2,000 four-engine bombers and 1,000 fighters on a single mission against enemy targets in Europe. One of the main benefits of membership in the Society is our Magazine, the 8th AF News. By the late 1940s, the B-17 Flying Fortresses and Consolidated B-24 Liberators used in the European Theater of the war were thoroughly obsolete as combat aircraft and were mostly sent to the smelters. Aircraft and ground crew of Boeing B-17F-25-BO Fortress "Hell's Angels" (AAF Ser. Get detailed instructios o how to register for the Reunion. 3d Bombardment Wing: 1942-1943. } 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. Personnel and group records to digital. The operation failed to achieve air superiority, even temporarily, and the German Army continued to be exposed to air attack. However, the Luftwaffe was successful in shooting down 46 bombers in a very unequal fight.[10]. 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 . 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. On 22 February 1944, a massive reorganization of American airpower took place in Europe. During World War II, the offensive air forces of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) came to be classified as strategic or tactical. The vinyl used is UV and water resistant, and will last many years without . The 1948 blockade of West Berlin by the Eastern bloc and the outbreak of the Cold War caused the United States to deploy SAC's B-29 bomber force back to the United Kingdom and West Germany. The assets of the former training units were simply assigned to Eighth Air Force. } On 7 April 1945, the Luftwaffe flew its most desperate and deadliest mission, with the dedicated aerial ramming unit Sonderkommando Elbe. Our Society is one of many organizations across the country that honor and preserve the legacy of the Mighty Eighth. At the close of 1946, they shared only a handful of operational bombers, all B-29 Superfortresses. Later in Dec 1941 headquarters and some crews and planes moved to Australia . The engine was to be the Packard V-1650-3, based on the Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk68. Last Name Beginning With (B) Updated 6/2/12. The USAAF was finally fully sold on the Mustang, and a letter contract for 2200 P-51Bs was issued. In its early days, SAC had fighter wings for the escorting its aircraft equipped with the new F-82E Twin Mustang along with long range F-51H Mustangs and F-47N Thunderbolts, all of which were designed late in World War II for use in the planned invasion of Japan. On 21 January 1951, Lt. Col. William Bertram, commander of the 523rd Fighter-Escort Squadron, shot down the first MiG-15 for the wing and became the first F-84 pilot with a confirmed MiG kill. } detailSize = "full"; '

' + In order to quickly assemble these formations, specially outfitted assembly ships were created from older bombers. 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. Visit our 8th Air Force Honor Project with rosters of servicemen who served in the groups of the 8th. Originally, the U.S. Army Air Forces activated the Eighth at Savannah, Georgia, on 28 January 1942 with three major subordinate units: the VIII Bomber Command (BC), the VIII Fighter Command (FC), and the VIII Ground Air Services Command (GASC). Bomber wings of the 8th Air Force include: This article incorporates public domain material from Eighth Air Force. Within weeks be able to present archival issues below: INSTRUCTIONSStart here P-51Ds and long-range P-38Ls hit in. Bombers, all B-29 Superfortresses North Vietnamese to end hostilities only a handful of operational bombers, all Superfortresses... 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