Constituted as VIII Ground Air Support Command on 24 April 1942, activated 28 April 1942 at Bolling Field, DC under the command of Brig Gen Robert C. Candee. Assigned to the Eighth US Army Air Force. Moved to England, without tactical components, in June-August 1942 and stationed at Bushy Park; July 42; Membury, 21 August 42; Sunninghill, 19 October 1942). Redesignated VIII Air Support Command in September 1942. Engaged in training, with one reconnaissance and one troop carrier group assigned until July 1943. Afterward, carried out medium bombardment operations against the enemy until October 1943 when all personnel and components were withdrawn. Disbanded in England on 1 December 1943.
- US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description
Constituted as VIII Ground Air Support Command on 24 Apr 1942 and activated on 28 Apr. Assigned to Eighth AF. Moved to England, without tactical components, Jun-Aug 1942. Redesignated VIII Air Support Command in Sep 1942.
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Military | Brigadier General | Commanding Officer, VIII Air Support Command
Appointed 2LT, Cavalry in 1916 after graduating Cornell U. Detailed to Air Service in 1922. Following basic and advanced instruction, served as instructor at Advanced Flying School at Kelly AFB. In 1926, entered Air Corps Tactical School, followed by...
Structure
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8th Air Force Headquarters opened in London under the command of General Carl A Spaatz on 19 June 1942. It oversaw all Commands, Wings and Groups engaged in the Strategic Bombing Campaign until February 1944, when it became US Strategic Air Forces in...
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Group
Although with the Twelfth Air Force, the Group flew its C-47 Skytrains from St. Eval and Predannack airfields in Cornwall, England for its first mission: dropping paratroops into Oran, Algeria, in the early hours of Operation Torch, which began on 8...
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Group
The Group was only in England to carry out further training exercises before joining the Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean theater. Over the course of the war, the Group flew in paratroops, military and medical supplies and propaganda leaflets....
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Group
The Group trained with the Eighth Air Force flying from Ramsbury, Wiltshire. The Group was reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force on 14 September 1942. Its first mission was dropping paratroops into French North-West Africa, at Maison Blanche, Algeria on...
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Group
The four Squadrons of the 67th Recon Group (12th Observation - later Reconnaissance Squadron; 107th Observation - later Reconnaissance Squadron; 109th Observation - later Reconnaissance Squadron and 153rd Observation - later Reconnaissance Squadron)...
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Not yet known
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Stations
Station |
Location |
Date |
Established |
Bolling Field |
28 April 1942 |
Based |
Camp Griffiss |
July 1942 – 20 August 1942 |
Based |
Membury |
21 August 1942 – 9 September 1942 |
Redesignated |
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September 1942 |
Connections
People
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Military | Private
Fortenberry was discharged from the USAAF on 4 November 1943 and sentenced to 5 years hard labour for assaulting and attacking people with a knife at Grazely Green, Berkshire on 1 October 1943.
Citations
None