Camp Griffiss
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Named Camp Griffiss after Colonel Townsend Griffiss, the first US casualty of the war, killed when his aircraft was downed by friendly fire.
Map location based on the position of General Eisenhower's office (known as SHAEF – Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force). The general and his staff moved here on March 2nd 1944.
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Detailed History
A group of temporary buildings in the northeast of Bushy Park became the official headquarters of the US Eighth Air Force (8AF) in August 1942 – under the codename 'Widewing' (also known as AAF-586).
In practice, the location name caused some confusion among servicemen and servicewomen, not least because 8AF's fighter aircraft were controlled by VIII Fighter Command HQ some 25 miles north at the differently spelled Bushey Hall, near Watford, Hertfordshire.
In turn, VIII Bomber Command HQ (in effect the operational control centre for 8AF) at High Wycombe (codename 'Pinetree') was similarly remote from Bushy Park.
In 1942/43, Brig General Ira Eaker, VIII BC's first commander, spent planning time at both High Wycombe and 'Widewing', meeting his own commander, Lt General Carl Spaatz, at the latter.
Eaker's residence, a house allocated by the British called Castle Combe, was close to both Bushy Park and Allied supremo General Eisenhower's own residence.
Eaker's receptions, dinners and card parties at Castle Combe featured a punch bowl and nine cups which have since become heraldic symbols for the Eighth Air Force.
In January 1944, 'Widewing' at Bushy Park was elevated to become HQ of the newly formed USSTAF (US Strategic Air Forces in Europe) under Spaatz. At the same time, High Wycombe (codenamed 'Pinetree') became HQ Eighth Air Force under Lt General James Doolittle.
General Eisenhower and his SHAEF staff (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force) moved to Bushy Park on March 2nd 1944, before relocating closer to Portsmouth just before D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: VIII Bomber Command Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Chief of Supply
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 379th Bomb Group 42nd Station Complement Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-522503
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Post Engineer / Station Utilities Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Headquarters (Eighth Air Force)
- Service Numbers: O-015010
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Aide de Camp
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 1982nd Quartermaster Company
- Service Numbers: O-1596081
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Auto Maintenance Officer; Platoon Leader
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 89th Station Complement Squadron
- Service Numbers: 1039465
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Chemical Warfare Officer
Revisions
Mighty Eighth Museum, Savannah, via Lt Gen EG Shuler Jr, USAF (Ret.)
Addendum sourced from:
www.af.mil/News/Features/Display/tabid/273/Article/143430/castle-coombe…
Ira Eaker biography: 'Air Force Spoken Here' (James Parton);
Mighty Eighth (various titles –Freeman);
USAF Combat Units (Maurer 1983)
Barry Anderson, Army Air Forces Stations (Alabama, 1985) / http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17011105