General James E Chaney had been posted to the UK to act as a Special Observer during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz, he also oversaw preparations for the possible establishment and employment of US Ground and Air Forces in the UK in 1941.
The Special Army Observation Group (SPOBS), led by Chaney, became United States Army Forces in the British Isles (USAFBI) on 8 January 1942. Chaney was appointed Commanding General.
USAFBI became the command organization for potential US Forces in the UK, and also brought in MAGNET (US Forces for Northern Ireland) under the command of Major General Edmund Leo Daley.
General Ira Eaker joined USAFBI in February 1942, following the establishment of VIII Bomber Command. He was instructed to proceed to RAF Bomber Command Headquarters to study bombing operations, and to make recommendations of certain airfields and submit plans for reception and assignment of Army Air Force Units.
In April 1942 the War Department determined that the Eighth Air Force would be established in the UK under the command of USAFBI. Following a recommendation by General Spaatz that the Eighth Air Force, which had been slated for service in North Africa, could be assigned there.
On 8 June 1942, the US War Department established ETOUSA in the place of USAFBI. Its mission was to conduct planning for the eventual retaking of Europe and to exercise administrative and operational control over US Forces.
Military | Major General | Special Army Observer, Theatre Commander
James E Chaney was a Military Officer he served with the Army until 1917, when he was detailed to the US Air Service to act as Chief of Air Service for the American Expeditionary Force during the First World War.
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Headquarters
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...
Depot
The 12th Replacement Control Depot was assigned to USAFBI in April 1942, as one of a number of units earmarked to form the Eighth Air Force. Upon the establishment of ETOUSA in August 1942, the unit was assigned to the newly formed 8th Air Service...
Major General James E Chaney, an Army Air Corps officer, arrived in the United Kingdom on 18 May 1941 and established , Headquarters, Special Observer Group (SPOBS) on the following day in London.
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Headquarters
Headquarters European Theater of Operations US Army (ETOUSA) was established in London by General Order 3, ETOUSA on 8 June 1942. It succeeded Headquarters US Army in the British Isles (USAFBI), established in London by General Order 1, USAFBI, 8...
| Station | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Established | London | 8 January 1942 |
Military | Major General | Special Army Observer, Theatre Commander
James E Chaney was a Military Officer he served with the Army until 1917, when he was detailed to the US Air Service to act as Chief of Air Service for the American Expeditionary Force during the First World War.
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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.
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 13 August 2019 14:21:51 | Emily | Created entry with type, name, nicknames, description, unit previously was association, person associations and commanding officers associations |
| Sources | ||
Craven and Cate, The Army Air Forces in World War II https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Theater_of_Operations,_United_Sta... |
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