Eighth Air Force
Command
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 5298 - The insignia of the 8th Air Force.
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force in February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
The Eighth Air Force earned the unofficial nickname 'The Mighty Eighth' in the 1970s following the publication of Roger Freeman's book 'The Mighty Eighth'.
Commanding Officers
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 3rd Air Division
- Service Numbers: O-15502
- Highest Rank: General
- Role/Job: Commanding General
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Headquarters (Eighth Air Force) Fifteenth Air Force
- Service Numbers: O-271855
- Highest Rank: General
- Role/Job: Commanding General
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: VIII Fighter Command 2nd Air Division
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
- Role/Job: Commanding General, 8th Air Force Fighter Command
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Unit stations
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
|
Based |
High Wycombe | 22 February 1944 - 16 July 1945 |
Previously was
Encompassing
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Three B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 94th Bomb Group are attacked by a Nazi Fighter aircraft during a mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-62641 USAF: Nazi fighter plane attacking Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortresses" during a bomb run over enemy installations somewhere in Europe, 10 September 1944. 100th[sic] Bomb Group, 3rd Bomb Division. U.S. Air Force Photo.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408505.jpg.webp?itok=zJwHCUjh)
- Unit Hierarchy: Division
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Combat organisation
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
![Colonel Neal Creighton, General H.H. Arnold, Major General Henry J.F. Miller, and General Ira C. Eaker. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 3 Sept 1943.' [stamp], '34579.' [censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'US ARMY AIR FORCES OFFICIAL PHOTO. From left to right: Colonel Nel Creighton, of Chapel Hill, NC, Post Commander of Camp Griffiss, General H H Arnold, Major General Henry JF Miller, Commanding General of VIII Air Force Service Command, and General Ira C Eaker, commanding General of](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-456672.jpg.webp?itok=h_9rxyvS)
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Eighth Air Force 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35366441
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Eighth Air Force
- Role/Job: Doctor
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Eighth Air Force
- Service Numbers: O-819967
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Eighth Air Force
- Service Numbers: O-005142
- Highest Rank: Brigadier General
- Role/Job: 8th Air Force Chief of Staff
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Eighth Air Force
- Service Numbers: 13029610
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
Aircraft
Mission
Revisions
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
Regular removal of erroneous people and aircraft associations to record- individual people and aircraft were never directly assigned to the USAAF's Combat Air Forces.
Removed aircraft with a serial number from fiscal year 1943 or earlier, due to increased likelihood of being an erroneous association. The 8th Air Force did not officially exist as a unit before February 1944, as such aircraft would have been assigned to Headquarters (8th Air Force), or one of the commands it encompassed before this date.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia