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=8th Air Force-"Mighty Eighth"=

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Name: Eighth Air Force Country/Headquarters: United States of America/High Wycombe Active: 1942-present Branch of military: United States Air Force Commanders/Battles: Brigadier General Ira C. Eaker, General James H. Doolittle/ Mission 1, Attack on Hamburg, and the support of the Battle of the Bulge

Friends
Brigadier General Ira C. Eaker

General James H. Doolittle

John C. Meyer

1st Lt. Wallace Spencer .

Ray Wetmore

=About Me=

The Eighth Air Force was an air force unit that led bombing missions in Nazi-occupied Europe, famous for its impressive record in World War Two. The Eighth Air Force was activated at Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia on January 28, 1942. Its original name was Eighth Bomber Command, but it was renamed the Eighth Air Force in 1944. After it was activated, Brigadier General Ira C. Eaker was named the commander. Under his leadership, the Eighth Air Force headquarters were moved to High Wycombe, England at a school for girls. The Eighth Air Force planned and carried out many strategic bombing missions using B-17 aircraft against targets in Nazi-occupied Europe from 1942 to 1945 in World War Two.

There were 985 missions completed in the Eighth Air Force during World War Two. The Eighth Air Force’s first official mission in World War Two was on August 17, 1942. Twelve B-17s, efficient bombing aircraft that the Eighth Air Force used to carry out missions, successfully bombed the Rouen/Sotteville marshalling yard in occupied France. All twelve aircraft returned from the mission. Another main mission of the Eighth Air Force was the Attack on Hamburg in late July, 1943, the seventy-sixth mission. British Royal Air Force and Eighth Air Force bombers bombed the German city of Hamburg over a ten-day period and caused great damage to the city. The attack killed many civilians and destroyed about thirteen square miles of land.

General Ira C. Eaker was replaced on January 6, 1944 after turning the Eighth Air Force into a prized unit. He was replaced by General James H. Doolittle. Under his leadership, the Eighth Air Force was the dominating unit in strategic bombing. The Eighth Air Force aided in the Battle of the Bulge on December 23, 1944. In this battle, the Eighth Air Force helped turn the tide of the battle by giving needed air support to Allied troops. The Eighth Air Force also helped in the Bombing of Berlin and D-Day. Under such generals as Ira C. Eaker and James H. Doolittle, the Eighth Air Force earned the nickname the “Mighty Eighth.”

The Eighth Air force is remembered as the greatest fleet of airships in history. Over 350,000 people served in the Eighth Air Force in the war in Europe. Numerous Awards were awarded to the Eighth Air Force including the following: seventeen Medals of Honor, 220 Distinguished Service Crosses, 850 Silver Stars, 7,000 Purple Hearts, and 47,000 Air Medals. To earn these achievements, many people sacrificed their lives. There were about 47,000 casualties with over 26,000 deaths in the Eighth Air Force. The Eighth Air force carried out many successful missions in Europe during World War Two, but after the war in Europe ended, the headquarters were relocated to Okinawa. The Eighth Air Force’s purpose during the war in the Pacific was to train new bomber units and groups for war against Japan. However, the Japanese surrendered and the war was over before the Eighth Air Force got involved in the Pacific. The Eighth Air Force’s involvement in World War Two greatly influenced the war outcome, and its legacy continues today.

Wall Posts

 * August 17, 1942 Rouen/Sotteville, France. Twelve B-17 planes from the Royal Air Force and Eighth Air Force bombed the Rouen/Sotteville marshalling yard. All aircraft returned safely.


 * July 25, 1943 Hamburg, Germany. Royal and Eighth Air Force planes bombed the German city of Hamburg, killing many civilians.


 * December 23, 1944 West Germany. Needed air support is given to Allied Troops by the Eighth Air Force during the Battle of the Bulge. This support helped turn the course of the battle.


 * February 22, 1945 Germany. The Royal and Eighth Air Force bomb German railroads for Operation Clarion.

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"Aces of the Eighth Air Force in World War Two." US 8th Air Force Aces, Mustang and Thunderbolt Fighter Pilots in WW2. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2015. .

"American Experience: TV's Most-watched History Series." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2015. .

"History of the Mighty Eighth Air Force @ the Mighty Eighth." National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2015. .

"The Mighty Eighth - Thursday, 22 February, 1945." The Mighty Eighth Daily Calendar. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2015. .