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VIII Bomber Command

Command

  • US and British Officers look out for the return of B-17 Flying Fortresses from the top of the Control Tower at Grafton Underwood after the 8th Air Force's first heavy bomber raid on 17 August 1942, over the Marshalling Yards at Rouen. General Carl A Spaatz stands to the left of the ladder, Beirne Lay behind the guide rope and Fred Castle on the near corner. Many other officers from 8th Air Force Bomber Command are also present. Image stamped on reverse: 'Photo Supplied Photopress Central.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'USA (BRI) CCC.' [written annotation] and '216036.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Picture shows: Aerodrome Personnel on the Control Tower watching for the return of the planes from the raid.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAAF 1, 17/8/42 A.'

    US and British Officers look out for the return of B-17 Flying Fortresses from the top of the Control Tower at Grafton Underwood after the 8th Air Force's first heavy bomber raid on 17 August 1942, over the Marshalling Yards at Rouen. General Carl A Spaatz stands to the left of the ladder, Beirne Lay behind the guide rope and Fred Castle on the near corner. Many other officers from 8th Air Force Bomber Command are also present. Image stamped on reverse: 'Photo Supplied Photopress Central.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'USA (BRI) CCC.' [written annotation] and '216036.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Picture shows: Aerodrome Personnel on the Control Tower watching for the return of the planes from the raid.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAAF 1, 17/8/42 A.'

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  • A P-40E Warhawk ('U', serial number 41-35934) of a HQ flight of aircraft in 1943. The HQ flight was a part of VIII Bomber Command, a component of the 1942-44 Eighth Air Force, and forerunner of the more famous 1944-onwards Eighth Air Force. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P04E. VIII BC. 41-35934? HQ Flt. 1943.' Major Glenn E. Hagenbuch, 303rd Bomb Group, 427th BS B-17 Pilot and 427th BS Commanding Officer, completed 25 missions on 29 June 1943. He was killed in the crash of P-40 41-35934 during a short flight in England, which occurred 8.5 miles north of Bovingdon, UK on 9 October 1943.

    A P-40E Warhawk ('U', serial number 41-35934) of a HQ flight of aircraft in 1943. The HQ flight was a part of VIII Bomber Command, a component of the 1942-44 Eighth Air Force, and forerunner of the more famous 1944-onwards Eighth Air Force. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P04E. VIII BC. 41-35934? HQ Flt. 1943.' Major Glenn E. Hagenbuch, 303rd Bomb Group, 427th BS B-17 Pilot and 427th BS Commanding Officer, completed 25 missions on 29 June 1943. He was killed in the crash of P-40 41-35934 during a short flight in England, which occurred 8.5 miles north of Bovingdon, UK on 9 October 1943.

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  • Wing Commander Raymond MB

    Wing Commander Raymond MB "The Dook" Duke-Woolley DFC*, DSO, DFC[US], 1939-45 Star, 1939-45 War Medal, Defense Medal. Leader of the Debden wing [Eagles] and 4th FG 8th AF USAAF. Pictured at time of presentation of US DFC.

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  • "Brig General Newton Longfellow, VIII bomber command, England Jul-44."

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  • "Brig General Newton Longfellow, VIII Bomber command. England."

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  • "King George talks with Gen Carl Spaatz, Maj Gen Ira C Eaker and Brig Gen Newton Longfellow. VIII bomber command, 8th AF England Dec-42."

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  • "King George VI reviews personnel of the VIII bomber command, 8th AF, England Dec-42."

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VIII Bomber Command was constituted and activated in 1942. It oversaw heavy bombardment operations until February 1944, when it was redesginated as the 8th Air Force.

US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description

Constituted as VIII Bomber Command on 19 Jan 1942. Activated in the US on 1 Feb 1942. An advanced detachment was established in England on 23 Feb and units began arriving from the US during the spring of 1942. The command conducted the heavy bombardment operations of Eighth AF from 17 Aug 1942 until early in 1944. Redesignated Eighth AF on 22 Feb 1944.

Commanding officers

  • Frederick Anderson

    Military | General | Commanding General | 95th Bomb Group
    Formerly senior pilot and CG of 4th Bomb Wing at Marks Hall from May 1943. Then appointed CG VIII BC 1 July 1943 to January 1944. ...

  • Ira Eaker

    Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding General, 8th Air Force
    Commanding General of 8th AF 1 December 1942 to 5 January 1944. Following that, Eaker was given command of all Allied air forces in the MTO, and in April 1945 became Deputy CG of the USAAF. Retired July 1947. ...

  • James Doolittle

    Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding General
    Became Commanding General of 12th AF September 1942; Commanding General of Northwest African Strategic Air Force March 1943; assumed command of 15th AF November 1943; Commanding General of 8th Air Force 6 January 1944 to 9 May 1945. Medal Of Honor for...

  • Newton Longfellow

    Military | Brigadier General | Commanding General, 8th Air Force Bomber Command
    Formerly command pilot. CG VIII Bomber Command 2 December 1942 to 30 June 1943. Awards: SS, WWII Victory, EAME, CBE (Commander British Empire).

Structure

Part of
  • Headquarters (8th Air Force)

    Headquarters (8th Air Force)


    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...

Encompassing
  • Headquarters Squadron (VIII Bomber Command)

    Headquarters Squadron (VIII Bomber Command)

    Command
    Headquarters VIII Bomber Command was established on 23 February 1942, General Ira Eaker was placed in charge, having arrived in the UK two days earlier with 6 Staff Officers. They were assigned to Wycombe Abbey, High Wycombe in April 1942.

  • 1st Bomb Division

    1st Bomb Division

    Division
    The groups under the command of the 1st Bomb Wing came under the command of the 1st Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 1st Air Division.

  • 2nd Bomb Division

    2nd Bomb Division

    Division
    The groups under the command of the 2nd Bomb Wing came under the command of the 2nd Bomb Division in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 2nd Air Division.

  • 3rd Bomb Division

    3rd Bomb Division

    Division
    The 3rd Bomb Division was Constituted in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.

  • 3rd Bomb Wing

    3rd Bomb Wing

    Wing
    One of four original bombardment wings of the Eighth Air Force, the 3rd Bomb Wing comprised four groups of B-26 Marauder medium bombers by September 1943, as part of VIII Air Support Command. ...

  • 1st Bomb Wing

    1st Bomb Wing

    Wing
    The First Bomb Wing arrived in the UK in July 1942. The wing command became the 1st Bomb Division in August 1943, while the wing was retitled the 1st Combat Bomb Wing.

  • 2nd Bomb Wing

    2nd Bomb Wing

    Wing
    The 2nd Bomb Wing arrived in the UK in July 1942. The wing command became the 2nd Bomb Division in August 1943, while the wing was retitled the 2nd Combat Bomb Wing.

  • 4th Bomb Wing

    4th Bomb Wing

    Wing

  • 2019th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon

    2019th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon

    Platoon
    Activated at Bradley Field, CT, 1 July 1943, per Order #245 Arrived in Liverpool, England on 20 October 1943. Reorganzied on 24 August 1944 under T/O&E 5-500 w/changes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 dated 31 July 1944.

  • 2025th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon

    2025th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon

    Platoon
    On 24 April 1944, two firefighters were killed when the aircraft they were flying crashed and burned a short distance from the fire station.

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Previously was
Not yet known
Became
  • 8th Air Force

    8th Air Force


    Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945. ...

Missions

  • Operation Tidal Wave

    1 August 1943
    Operation TIDAL WAVE. B24D Liberators attack the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The bombers flew low to avoid radar detection and dropped time delayed bombs. Out of the 177 B-24s that took part in the raid 167 managed to attack their targets. 57 B...

  • 384

    2 June 1944
    Operations on this day were specified for D minus 3 by the Overall Air Plan as modified by Headquarters A.E.A.F. All objectives were located in the Pas de Calais (Fortitude) area, the attacks having as their purpose deception of the enemy as to the...

  • 8th Air Force 851

    27 February 1945
    1,107 bombers and 745 fighters are dispatched to hit road and rail communications at Halle and Leipzig using H2X radar

  • 8th Air Force 851

    27 February 1945
    1,107 bombers and 745 fighters are dispatched to hit road and rail communications at Halle and Leipzig using H2X radar

  • 896

    19 March 1945

Stations

Station Location Date
Based High Wycombe 1942 – 22 February 1944
Established Langley Army Airfield 1 February 1942
Redesignated 8th Air Force High Wycombe 22 February 1944

Connections

People

  • Frederick Anderson

    Military | General | Commanding General | 95th Bomb Group
    Formerly senior pilot and CG of 4th Bomb Wing at Marks Hall from May 1943. Then appointed CG VIII BC 1 July 1943 to January 1944. ...

  • Frank Armstrong

    Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding Officer; Pilot | 306th Bomb Group The Reich Wreckers
    Commanded 97th BG from 31 July 1942 to 27 September 1942. ...

  • Wilson Baker

    Military | Captain | Statistical Control Officer
    When stationed at Bushey Park, London HQ USAF, Looked up one day and saw the king of England coming in an old Rolls Royce.

  • Peter Beasley

    Military | Colonel | Chief of Supply
    Beasley was one of 6 staff officers to accompany General Eaker to England in February 1942. He was commissioned into the military after working as an executive of Lockheed Aircraft Company. ...

  • William Brice

    Military | Major | Bombardier
    My father flew 29 missions with the James S. Seamans' Crew. The nickname for the crew was Seamans' Demons. He was lead bombadier on several if not most missions. He was a good man whom I loved very much. He told me stories of his missions and escapades...

  • J Briggs

    Military | Colonel | Aerial Observer | 303rd Bomb Group

  • Mary Cadmus

    Military
    WAC from 1942 to 1945

  • Leslie Clay

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Co-Pilot
    7 June 1943 emergency landing in B24 42-40615 in Iceland

  • Raymond Curtice

    Military | Colonel | Armament Officer
    Flew with 8th out of Sav'h Ga in April 1942 under orders of Arnold. Joined AAF in 1937

  • Raymond Duke-Woolley

    Military | Wing Commander | Pilot / Wing and later Group commander
    Took command of Debden Wing [3 x Eagle Sqn] ...

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Aircraft

  • 44-6115 Ice Col' Katy

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Accepted: 3 May 1944 ...

  • 44-6131 Fearless Fosdick

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Tulsa 10/5/44; Hunter 21/5/44; Grenier 31/5/44; Assigned 413BS/96BG [MZ-J] Snetterton 3/6/44; Aborted mission due to #1 engine failure, Hamm 7/1/45 with Peder Lansen, crash landed base (pilot error); Salvaged. FEARLESS FOSDICK.

Citations

None

Air Force
8th
Type
Combat
Type category
Bombardment
Nicknames
Not yet known
Motto
Not yet known
Insignia
Azure, in the lower lobe of the winged Arabic numeral “8” or a mullet throughout argent charged with a torteaux.

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
04 September 2019 11:02:39 Emily Changes to us air force combat units of world war ii description and commanding officers associations
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II
Date Contributor Update
04 September 2019 10:50:08 Emily Changes to unit part of associations
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II
Date Contributor Update
13 August 2019 14:47:20 Emily Changes to stations
Sources

USAAF Combat Chronology
Date Contributor Update
08 April 2017 14:57:27 ann mcelhaney Changes to person associations
Sources

Ann Warren McElhaney; annmclpc@aol.com
Date Contributor Update
10 March 2016 01:50:21 Jameswbrice Changes to media associations
Sources

James W Brice
Date Contributor Update
02 March 2015 15:43:11 Lucy May Changes to type and stations
Sources

Added High Wycombe as a base using Philip Grinton's 21 June 1943 listing as a source.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:42:44 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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