VIII Bomber Command

Command
Personnel of the 97th Bomb Group look out for the return of B-17 Flying Fortresses from a raid on Rouen, from the top of the Control Tower at Grafton Underwood. Image stamped on reverse: 'Photo Supplied Photopress Central.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'USA (BRI) CCC.' [written annotation] and '216036.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'Picture shows: Aerodrome Personnel on the Control Tower watching for the return of the planes from the raid.' Handwritten captio media-379323.jpg FRE 887 US and British Officers look out for the return of B-17 Flying Fortresses from the top of the Control Tower at Grafton Underwood after the 8th Air Force's first heavy bomber raid on 17 August 1942, over the Marshalling Yards at Rouen.

General Carl A Spaatz stands to the left of the ladder, Beirne Lay behind the guide rope and Fred Castle on the near corner. Many other officers from 8th Air Force Bomber Command are also present.

Image stamped on reverse: 'Photo Supplied Photopress Central.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'USA (BRI) CCC.' [written annotation] and '216036.' [Censor no.]

Printed caption on reverse: 'Picture shows: Aerodrome Personnel on the Control Tower watching for the return of the planes from the raid.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAAF 1, 17/8/42 A.' Roger Freeman Collection

Mission and person associations, and people identified in Freeman, Mighty Eighth War Diary

Image originally identified as 97th Bomb Group, as it was filed with 97BG images by Freeman.

Object Number - FRE 887 - US and British Officers look out for the return of B-17 Flying Fortresses from the top of the Control Tower at Grafton Underwood after the 8th Air...

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.

Commanding Officers

Major General Frederick L. Anderson Handwritten caption on reverse: 'M G Frederick L. Anderson.'

Frederick Lewis Anderson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: US Strategic Air Forces VIII Bomber Command 95th Bomb Group 412th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-17175
  • Highest Rank: General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General

Ira Clarence Eaker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Headquarters Squadron (VIII Bomber Command) Headquarters (Eighth Air Force) United States Army Forces in the British Isles
  • Service Numbers: O-7478
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General, 8th Air Force

James Harold Doolittle

  • 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

Newton Longfellow

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command 1st Combat Bomb Wing
  • Service Numbers: O-10995
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Commanding General, 8th Air Force Bomber Command

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Established

Langley Army Airfield 1 February 1942

Other

Redesignated 8th Air Force

High Wycombe 22 February 1944

Based

High Wycombe 22 February 1944

Encompassing

People

Donald J Harrison

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Watts Sherman Humphrey

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command 1st Combat Bomb Wing 306th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-901252
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Intelligence

D E Ingram

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command 303rd Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Donald Gordon Ivarson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command 1st Bomb Division 40th Combat Bomb Wing 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39281473
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Top Turret

John E Kennelle

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

Mission

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Air Force Combat Units of World War II

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

USAAF Combat Chronology

Date
Contributorann mcelhaney
Changes
Sources

Ann Warren McElhaney; [email protected]

Date
ContributorJameswbrice
Changes
Sources

James W Brice

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added High Wycombe as a base using Philip Grinton's 21 June 1943 listing as a source.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

VIII Bomber Command: Gallery (8 items)