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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Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on 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...
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 | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 353rd Fighter Group
Assigned to 350FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Brussels, one of five A/C bombing Diest aerodrome, failed to rejoin after attack, cause unknown 29-Aug-44. 1st Lt Aal Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8312.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator, Top Turret Gunner | 445th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) 09/27/44 Shot down on Kassel mission crashed at Krauthausen in B-24 #42-51355
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Assigned to 67BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Brunswick mission 8-Apr-44 in B-24 42-7767 'Shack Rabbit'; Shot down by fighters, baled out. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 3849
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 91st Bomb Group The Ragged Irregulars
Flew 25 missions on 'Delta Rebel #2'
Military | Major | Fighter Pilot | 352nd Fighter Group
Assigned to 89FS, 80FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 322FS, 326FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 328FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) fighter sweep to Aachen area. Last seen in pursuit of enemy A/C near Aachen in P-51D 'Flossie III' 44-14710 24-Jan...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Togglier/ Bombardier | 398th Bomb Group
He had been a waist gunner in training to take over the Bombardier role and was in the nose. A German 88 anti aircraft shell had exploded in his lap, killing him instantly. The plane with its nose blown off and up into the windshield made it back to...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Ground crew | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 524BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Ground crew for 'Swamp Fire' 100 missions no aborts. ETD
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer | 381st Bomb Group
ETTG, Malleus, V. crew. 381st BG, 535th BS, 8th AF.
Credited with 1 German fighter destroyed on the 7 January 1944 Mission #58 to Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Assigned to 551BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. 24 x missions. On 10 Nov '44 while circling over base to form up for a mission, the plane 'War Horse' developed an oil leak. The engine caught fire and then the plane caught fire. All the crew bailed out but the...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Airplane Mechanic | 401st Bomb Group
'I was a Airplane Mechanic on the B-17 "Hells Angels Out of Chute 13" with the 401st Bomb Group + 612th Squadron. We were really proud of it because I finished 118 missions without an abort. It was shot up on the last mission of the war in Europe, but...
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 5/2/44; Kearney 24/2/44; Presque Is 11/3/44; Assigned 336BS/95BG [ET-O] Horham 11/3/44; with G.M. Jackman force landed B-53 Merville, Belg., 10/5/45; with Lt Henderson force landed A-70 Laon, France 20/5/45; 114m Returned to the USA...
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 328th BS, 93rd BG, 8th AF. Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW). Lost to flak and fighters on 19-Jan-43. Crashed into the sea 150 miles S.E. of Malta. MACR 15484.
B-24 Liberator
B-24D SN # 41-23690, from the 8th Air force in Britain, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 68th Bomb Squadron, was on a mission to bomb the naval installation at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The pilot was unable to find the target because of weather and...
B-24 Liberator
Although the B-24D Liberator, SN #41-23771, named, 'Jerk's Natural', was part of the 8th Air Force based in Britain, the the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 328th Bomb Squadron, it spent time on detached service to the 9th Air Force in North Africa, hence the...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24 Liberator, 'Hot Stuff', was the 1st heavy bomber in the 8th Air Force to complete 25 missions even though the B-17 Memphis Belle wears the label. 'Hot Stuff' crashed into a mountain in bad weather on its way back to the United States to tour...
B-24 Liberator
Assigned 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. TDY 9th AF, Benghazi. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, forced to abort.
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B-24 Liberator
The B-24D Liberator bomber, SN #41-23778 renamed 'Lady Luck' from 'Jenny' - Survived Operation Tidal Wave over Ploesti Romania, August 1, 1943.
...
B-24 Liberator
A/C flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya.
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B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 67BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Kiel with Chester Phillips crew; crashed north of Kiel 14-May-43. 7 x KIA, 4 x POW MACR 2748.
...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, named 'Victory Ship', SN # 41-23813, was assigned to the 8th Air force, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 68th Bomb Squadron in Britain. It took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943.
...
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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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03 January 2015 20:06:12 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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03 January 2015 17:53:38 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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02 January 2015 16:13:28 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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02 January 2015 13:07:06 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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02 January 2015 12:56:48 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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02 January 2015 11:56:46 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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USAAF Photo. |
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31 December 2014 17:43:15 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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31 December 2014 13:14:37 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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30 December 2014 15:44:57 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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30 December 2014 13:59:33 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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30 December 2014 07:33:25 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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30 December 2014 07:24:14 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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30 December 2014 07:06:36 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit encompassing associations and aircraft associations |
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29 December 2014 21:07:14 | Al_Skiff | Changes to aircraft associations |
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Production list / mossie.org |
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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 |