Eighth Air Force
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
The Eighth Air Force was a World War II, United States Army Air Force unit, which carried out day-time bombing operations in western Europe from airfields in eastern England from 1942. It later became the United States Air Forces in Europe.
The present Eighth Air Force began its existence as VIII Bomber Command and received its current designation when the original Eighth Air Force redesignated to United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF). It engaged in combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II and moved to the Pacific Theater in the final months of the war. Eighth Air Force served Strategic Air Command (SAC) after the war, both in the United States and overseas until SAC inactivated, then served Air Combat Command since June 1, 1992.
Commands During World War II
First Eighth Air Force
- VIII Air Support Command 1942-43
- VIII Bomber Command 1942-44
- VIII Fighter Command 1942-44
Second Eighth Air Force
- VIII Fighter Command 1944-45
