Earle Partridge
Military | General | Commanding General
Formerly command pilot. CG 3rd AD 21 June 1944 to May 1945. Retired 31 July 1959.
DSCSSLMDFC w/ 2 Oak Leaf ClustersAM w/ 9 Oak Leaf Clusters
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Command
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'.
Constituted as VIII Bomber Command on 19 Jan 1942, the command conducted the heavy bombardment operations. Redesignated Eighth AF on 22 Feb 1944. Afterward, engaged primarily in bombardment of strategic targets in Europe. Transferred, without personnel, equipment, and combat elements, to Okinawa on 16 Jul 1945. Although some personnel and combat units were assigned before V-J Day, the Eighth did not participate in combat against Japan. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US on 7 Jun 1946. Re manned and re-equipped as part of Strategic Air Command.
Military | General | Commanding General
Formerly command pilot. CG 3rd AD 21 June 1944 to May 1945. Retired 31 July 1959.
DSCSSLMDFC w/ 2 Oak Leaf ClustersAM w/ 9 Oak Leaf Clusters
Military | 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...
Military | Lieutenant General | Commanding General, 8th Air Force Fighter Command
From 1909 to 1913, Kepner served in the US Marine Corps. By 1916 he was a second lieutenant in the Indiana National Guard. After a short spell in the US cavalry, in 1917 he transferred to the infantry as a captain and commanded a company at the Battle...
Headquarters
Eighth Air Force Headquarters became USSTAF in February 1944 and oversaw all Strategic Air Force activities in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theatre of Operations, particularly the operations of the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces.
Command
Command
Command
VIII Fighter Command was established as VIII Interceptor Command at Selfridge Field on 2 February 1942.
Division
In December 1944, the 1st Bomb Division was redesginated the 1st Air 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.
Division
In December 1944, the 2nd Bomb Division was redesginated the 2nd Air 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.
Division
In December 1944, the 3rd Bomb Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.
Division
The 3rd Bomb Division was Constituted in August 1943. In December 1944, the Division was redesginated the 3rd Air Division.
Wing
8 Reconnaissance Wing (P) established by 8th Air Force order No. 69 on 19 February 1944 and headquarters established at AAF Station 113 Cheddington on 23 February 1944.
...
Command
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.
8 October 1944
Black Week
9 February 1945
16 February 1945
19 February 1945
1,100 Heavies Hit Nazi Rails
...
27 February 1945
1,107 bombers and 745 fighters are dispatched to hit road and rail communications at Halle and Leipzig using H2X radar
Station | Location | Date |
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Based | High Wycombe | 22 February 1944 – 16 July 1945 |
Military | Technical Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Assigned to 548BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Regensburg in B-17 42-5886 'Jolly Roger' 17-Aug-43; A/C crashed 2 km SW of Wosnadrecht, Netherlands. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 387A
Awards: AM, PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Assigned to 548BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Regensburg in B-17 42-5886 'Jolly Roger' 17-Aug-43; A/C crashed 2 km SW of Wosnadrecht, Netherlands. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 387A
Awards: AM, PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Date | Contributor | Update |
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15 June 2022 14:06:57 | Emily | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
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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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
13 June 2022 15:08:28 | Emily | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
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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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
10 June 2022 14:05:11 | Emily | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
Sources | ||
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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
07 June 2022 08:33:36 | Emily | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
Sources | ||
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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
01 June 2022 13:05:42 | Emily | Changes to person associations |
Sources | ||
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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
30 May 2022 14:58:30 | Emily | Changes to person associations |
Sources | ||
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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
27 May 2022 14:52:44 | Emily | Changes to person associations |
Sources | ||
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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
26 May 2022 08:04:44 | Emily | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
Sources | ||
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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
23 May 2022 11:30:50 | Emily | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
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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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
20 May 2022 18:04:41 | Al_Skiff | Changes to description |
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
20 May 2022 11:14:56 | Emily | Changes to person associations and aircraft associations |
Sources | ||
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. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
20 January 2022 12:27:22 | Emily | Changes to aircraft associations |
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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. |
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03 January 2022 19:35:45 | dmccullo | Changes to media associations |
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Updated key image |
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03 January 2022 18:43:44 | dmccullo | Changes to media associations |
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Changed key image. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
07 June 2021 11:18:41 | Emily | Changes to motto |
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Removed Motto, which pertains to 8th Air Force post 1945. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
04 September 2019 11:05:21 | Emily | Changes to us air force combat units of world war ii description and commanding officers associations |
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Air Force Combat Units of World War II |
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18 June 2018 14:30:39 | ajgoebel | Changes to category |
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Correction |
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18 June 2018 14:05:46 | ajgoebel | Changes to category |
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June 18, 2018 |
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18 June 2018 14:03:15 | ajgoebel | Changes to type and media associations |
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June 18, 2018 |
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18 June 2018 13:52:45 | ajgoebel | Changes to nicknames, motto, insignia and media associations |
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June 18, 2018 |
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17 March 2017 16:45:12 | dwgdallas | Changes to media associations |
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From the Personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray |
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04 January 2015 12:52:55 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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04 January 2015 12:23:40 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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04 January 2015 10:40:01 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
03 January 2015 20:06:12 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
03 January 2015 17:53:38 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 January 2015 16:13:28 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 January 2015 13:07:06 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 January 2015 12:56:48 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
02 January 2015 11:56:46 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
31 December 2014 17:43:15 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
31 December 2014 13:14:37 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
30 December 2014 15:44:57 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
30 December 2014 13:59:33 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
30 December 2014 07:33:25 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
30 December 2014 07:24:14 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
30 December 2014 07:06:36 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit encompassing associations and aircraft associations |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
29 December 2014 21:07:14 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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Production list / mossie.org |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
27 September 2014 18:42:43 | AAM | AAM ingest |
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia |