Connected not only with the history of development North America by the British in the 17th century, but is also directly related to the history of England in the mid-20th century. The US Eighth Air Force, stationed in England during World War II, began its history in Savannah. And now there is an aviation museum here.
2. The history of the US Eighth Air Force began on January 2, 1942 at an air base in Savannah, Georgia. On January 8, an order was received to create the American Air Forces in the British Isles (USAFBI).
The 8th Air Force arrived in England in the summer of 1942, constantly increasing the number of battle groups and their range, going to increasingly distant targets and conducting strategic bombings of German territory. Equipped with long-range heavy bombers, Eighth Air Force was tasked with destroying key German industrial targets. On August 17, 1942, B-17 bombers struck the French city of Rouen, using the method of daylight bombing for the first time.
By the end of 1943, American aircraft were striking all military targets in German-held areas Western Europe and in Germany itself. American planes bombed Berlin, Cologne, Magdeburg, Dresden, Mannheim, Hanover and Hamburg. As a result of the raids, the production of fuel and lubricants was sharply reduced, and the German Air Force suffered significant damage.
By mid-1944, the Eighth Air Force had become the largest armada in history. More than two thousand four-engine bombers and a thousand fighters could take off into the air at once. For this power, the Eighth Air Force received the nickname Mighty Eighth.
By mid-April 1945, the strategic air war ended when units of the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Armies no longer had strategic targets to bomb. The US Air Force was refocused on supplying ground forces until the surrender of Germany.
The strategic forces of the 8th Air Force did not take part in the Korean War, but the 27th Fighter Escort Wing from the Eighth Air Force participated in battles using Soviet MiG-15 aircraft.
In 1955, the strategic aviation fleet was updated - B-47 bombers and KC-97 tankers were replaced by B-58 and B-52 jet bombers and KC-135 tankers.
Since 1965, the Eighth Air Force participated in the Vietnam War, using bases on the islands of Guam, Okinawa and Thailand. In December 1972, the massive bombing of the cities of Hanoi and Haiphong (known as the Christmas Day Bombing Campaign) brought the North Vietnamese government to the negotiating table to end the war.
The US Eighth Air Force played a key role in the start of Operation Desert Storm. Launched from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, B-52 bombers attacked strategic targets in Iraq.
Currently, the Mighty Eighth is subordinate to the US Air Force Global Strike Command).
3. The museum is located very advantageously - at exit 102 (Exit 102) of the I-95 highway, where the exhibit aircraft are visible from the road. There is a large parking lot in front of the museum with picnic tables in the shade and a café inside the building, making the Eighth Air Force Museum not only interesting for learning the history of US aviation, but also a convenient stop on the road from Atlanta to the coast..
4. Soviet jet fighter MiG-17A with an improved VK-1A engine. The museum displays an aircraft with serial number 1589, armed with two HP-23 (23 mm) and one N-37 (37 mm) cannons. The VK-1 (RD-45) engine is the first Soviet turbojet engine to be mass-produced. Based on the British Rolls-Royce Nene engine.
5. These fighters took part in the Vietnam War, and the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum displays the aircraft in its livery. air force Northern Vietnam.
6. American fighter-bomber McDonnell-Douglas F-4C Phantom. Serial number 64-0815. These aircraft took an active part in the Vietnam War, where Soviet MiGs were their main opponents in the air.
9. Main hall of the Eighth Air Force Museum.
10. Busts of heroes.
12. Posters from the Second World War.
13. Americans will always fight for freedom!
14. The food service point, traditional for museums, is decorated in the style of an English pub.
12. Military aircraft during the war years.
17. Continuity of generations of strategic aviation Mighty Eighth Air Force.
18. One of the elements of the museum’s interior is an open parachute.
19. In the souvenir department, traditional for American museums, you can buy these badges.
20. And also these meaningful stripes.
8th Air Army
The first Mustangs (P-51B) entered service in November 1943 with the 354th Fighter Group of the 9th Tactical Air Force. This caused displeasure among the leadership of the 8th Air Army, where such vehicles were more needed. To mitigate the conflict, the 354th Group was transferred to the command of the 8th Air Force until June 6, 1944. Thanks to this circumstance, the 9th Air Force was also able to boast several famous aces.
The aircraft of the 354th Group wore typical camouflage and quick identification features - white propeller spinners with a 12-inch stripe in front of the exhaust manifold, and a set of white stripes on the wings and tail. Additionally, the aircraft carried letter designations (according to the RAF scheme), made in white paint. This circumstance applied to all P-51s of the 8th Air Force. Only planes without camouflage carried black letters instead of white letters. A special feature of the aircraft was the serial number moved from under the tail to the fin. The number was stenciled with yellow (black on planes without camouflage) paint. The number consisted of five, six or seven digits. The first digit always indicated the last digit of the year in which the item was ordered.
P-51D from 6. FS (C), 2. ACG, spring 1945, India. Note the exclamation mark on the keel.
P-51D-20-NA from 45S. FS, 506. FG awaiting B-29 approach, Iwo Jima. Before this, the plane belonged to 72. FS, 21. FG and had the number 257. Remnants of the previous color markings are visible on the nose, and diagonal blue stripes on the tail.
P-51D from 47.FS, 15.FG during refueling in Saipan before flying to Iwo Jima. The tactical number is visible on board.
A milestone in the history of the USAAF aircraft color designation system can be considered on February 15, 1944, when the 56th Fighter Group declared red as the group color. However, the pilots of the 4th Fighter Group disagreed with this, believing that their group, as the oldest group of the 8th Air Force, had the right to be the first to choose its color. As a result, red became the color of the 4th Group, and the 56th Group painted the noses of its P-47 fighters in the colors of the squadrons: 61st - red, 62nd - yellow, 63rd - blue. It was later discovered that the P-47 and P-51 were noticeably different from each other, so the 56th Fighter Group was authorized to use red paint. As a result, red became the color of two fighter groups in the 8th Air Force.
Beginning December 4, 1943, all tactical markings on the P-51, including quick identification elements, were done with fluorescent inks. Until then, only identification marks were applied with fluorescent paint.
P-51D-2Q-NA from 462. FS, 506. FG, 20. AF, Iwo Jima. Note the yellow background under the last three digits of the serial number - this is a remnant of the aircraft's original livery.
From the book Results of the Second World War. Conclusions of the defeated author German Military SpecialistsAir war in Germany The goal - to destroy the economic potential of the enemy and thereby deprive his army of everything necessary - was first achieved in practice in civil war in the United States of America. In the First World War, the blockade had the same goal
From the book Swastika in the Sky [The Struggle and Defeat of the German Air Force, 1939–1945] by Karl BartzWar economy and air war Since mid-1943, the German military industry and the military economy as a whole began to be greatly influenced by the increasing frequency of enemy air raids. The main place in the German aviation construction program has long been
From the book Balkans 1991-2000 NATO Air Force against Yugoslavia author Sergeev P.N.Chapter 12 ALLIED AIR POWER The longer the war went on, the larger and larger the shadow that American air power loomed over Germany. In 1939, just before the outbreak of war, the United States had approximately 500 Army and naval aviation, and the total
From the book Kozhedub by the author Bodrikhin Nikolay Georgievich From the book R-51 “Mustang” Part 2 by Ivanov S. V. From the book Pilots at War by the author Chechelnitsky Grigory Abramovich8th Air Force The first Mustangs (P-51B) entered service in November 1943 with the 354th Fighter Group of the 9th Tactical Air Army. This caused displeasure among the leadership of the 8th Air Army, where such vehicles were more needed. To mitigate the conflict, the 354th group was transferred to
From the book Aircraft Carriers, Volume 2 [with illustrations] by Polmar Norman354th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force - Boxted Airfield (various bases in France since 23 June 1944) For a long time the group was operationally subordinate to the 8th Air Force, so its description is placed here. The group included the 353rd (FT), 355th (GQ), and
From the book Aviation and Cosmonautics 2013 10 author15th Air Force - Italy All British fighter aircraft in Italy were assembled as part of the 306th Fighter Wing. The wing's four groups flew the P-51B and D. None of the wing's Mustangs had camouflage. In the Mediterranean theater of operations, all Allied single-engine aircraft
From the book Smersh vs Abwehr. Secret operations and legendary intelligence officers the author Zhmakin Maxim5th Air Force - Philippines, Okinawa P-51s with teardrop canopies were in service with two 5th Air Force fighter groups: the 3rd Air Group and the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group. The aircraft arrived at the end of 1944. Not a single vehicle had camouflage. Before landing on
From the book Air War over the USSR. 1941 author Kornyukhin Gennady VasilievichChapter two. The Army is Replenishing, the Army is Learning In the spring and early summer of 1943, among air army officers, they heard more and more often: “Our regiment has arrived.” And perhaps then the most difficult question for the command was where to place new flying units: airfields
From the book Hitler's Spy Machine. Military and political intelligence of the Third Reich. 1933–1945 by Jorgensen ChristerThe Air War over Vietnam Since the Tonkin Incident last fall, the American fleet has maintained Task Force 77, consisting of 3 attack aircraft carriers and escort ships, in the South China Sea. In response to Viet Cong raids on American bases in
From the book Unknown Lavochkin author Yakubovich Nikolai VasilievichThe Great Air Race Vladislav Morozov From England to Australia The development of aviation in the first decades of the 20th century followed exactly the laws of all other extreme sports, and at times was downright adventurous in nature. At first, enthusiasts built in
From the author's bookChapter 4. Soviet aerial reconnaissance Aerial reconnaissance occupied an important place among other types of reconnaissance and was carried out in close contact with them. By the beginning of the war, there were army and corps air reconnaissance. The first consisted of separate intelligence
From the author's bookChapter 3. Air war in the Arctic
From the author's book"Heavenly Eye": aerial reconnaissance As mentioned earlier, the First world war led to the emergence of the most effective means of observing the enemy - the aircraft. During the period between the two wars, these initially clumsy winged machines became more reliable and
Relevance of the database: 2019.08.19
To use "KLADR" - Address Classifier Russian Federation on the website, we receive current data from the State Register of Addresses of the Federal Tax Service of Russia.
- Code KLADR: 34000001000047600
| 1,10a,11,11b,12,14,14a,15,15a,16,19,19b | 400137 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
| 20,21a,22,24,26,26a,28,28b,28d,3,30,32 | 400137 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
| 23a,27,27a,29,31,33,33b,33d,35,35a,35d | 400117 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
| 28a | 400052 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
| 32a,34,36,38,38a,38d,5,6,6a,6b,7,9,9a,9d | 400137 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
| 37,37a,37b,39,40,41,42,43,44,44a,44d,45 | 400117 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
| 46.46b,47.47a,47astr1,47b,47d,47k,48.48a | 400117 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
| 48g,48d,48str1,48str2,50,50astr2,52,52a | 400117 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
| 53a,54,54b,54d,56,56a,58,58a,58d,66,66a | 400117 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
| 66str1 | 400117 | 18401365000 | 3443 |
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candidate historical sciences,
Associate Professor of the Department of History of the Fatherland,
GOU VPO "Chuvash State
pedagogical university them.
Soviet aviation in the Battle of Stalingrad
(using the example of the combat work of the 8th Air Army)
During the Battle of Stalingrad, according to a number of researchers, including foreign ones, German aviation suffered its first crushing defeat. After this, the Luftwaffe could no longer achieve the advantage that was observed in the summer of 1942. The 8th Air Army (VA) played a significant role in the battles for air superiority.
In April 1942 Main headquarters The Air Force proposed to Headquarters to form air armies based on disparate aviation units, which had a number of advantages, the main one of which was the centralization of air force control. The strategically correct proposal was approved by the country's top leadership and four VA were formed in May. On June 11, the Air Force of the Southwestern Front, together with the arriving reserves, was transformed into the 8th VA, the commander of which was appointed thirty-year-old Hero Soviet Union Major General Timofey Timofeevich Khryukin (). The young commander had extensive military experience: he received his first award (Order of the Red Banner) for fighting in the skies of Spain, T. Khryukin became a Hero of the Soviet Union in 1939 for carrying out assignments in China, in the Soviet-Finnish war he was awarded the second Order of the Red Banner. At the age of 30, he became a major general of aviation, with more than 100 combat missions to his credit.
Soviet aviation in the battle for the sky of Stalingrad was opposed by the aircraft of the 4th Air Fleet of Germany, whose commander was Wolfram von Richthofen. The first formation of the 8th VA included 10 air divisions (about 450 aircraft), while the enemy had more than double superiority - about 1000 aircraft, of which there were 3002 fighters alone. In July, Khryukin’s army received another 10 fighters, 9 attack aircraft and 3 bomber air regiments (about 200 aircraft), but the forces were still not enough. In such a situation, Soviet aviation suffered heavy losses. German fighters (FV-189, Me-109, Me-PO), operating in groups of up to 12-20 aircraft, relatively easily hit single-seat attack aircraft Il-2, I-16 and British Hurricanes. IN air battles enemy fighters operated in pairs, echeloned in height and attacking from above and in the tail. The enemy opened fire from a distance of 100-150 m, which ensured accurate hits. The Germans also widely practiced “free hunt”, which consisted of intercepting and destroying individual Soviet aircraft, especially Po-2s, forcing the latter to switch to flights at dusk, night and dawn. At the same time, Soviet fighter pilots were not fully prepared for battles with such a serious enemy. The lack of sufficient flight training and basic indiscipline had an effect3. In the air, the pilots had little control over the situation, ignored signals from the ground and maneuvers, and interaction within and between pairs was not worked out. So, on October 28, 1942, a group of six Yak-1s of the 287th IAD, covering our troops in Stalingrad, entered into battle with two Me-109Gs. The battle was fought in a crowded manner, without sufficient caution, altitude separation, commands from the guidance point were not carried out, as a result of which one Yak-1 was shot down4. Unlike German aces our pilots opened fire to kill, including at bombers, from long distances, which was ineffective. Lack of self-confidence forced the fighters to descend to a height of up to 100 m, while losing the initiative to maneuver vertically. There were also shortcomings in the actions of bomber and attack aircraft of the Soviet Air Force. The command of the 8th VA noted poor teamwork, inability to maneuver, poor training of shooters and poor organization of fire interaction in the group. Thus, on December 13, 1942, six Pe-2s, accompanied by four Yak-1s, were attacked by six Me-109Gs and, despite their superiority, one Pe-25 was lost.
In the summer-autumn of 1942, air battles were so bloody that on average an aviation regiment was sent for reorganization after 2-3 weeks of fighting; an attack aircraft managed to make 10-15 sorties before it was shot down. Particularly fierce fighting began in mid-July, when enemy troops launched a direct attack on the city. German bombers, having previously suppressed the defenders' air defense systems, allowed themselves single attacks on targets. These days, the intensity in the fighter regiments amounted to 7 sorties, in the assault regiments - 4 sorties per plane per day. On August 23, German aircraft carried out a heavy raid on Stalingrad: about 2,000 sorties were made that day, as a result of which the city was reduced to ruins. It should be noted that the commissar of the 926th IAP of the 220th IAD of the 8th VA, a native of the village of Lebedkino, Morgaushsky district of the Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, Hero of the Soviet Union, took part in the heavy August battles. On August 19, while conducting an air battle against twelve German Me-109 fighters, he shot down one enemy plane in a pair and, wounded, carried the Yak-1 to the front line6.
During September, enemy aircraft carried out 17.3 thousand sorties, reaching maximum levels. In order to weaken the bombing attacks on troops in the Stalingrad area, an operation was developed to destroy enemy aircraft at airfields west of the city, which was carried out at the end of October mainly by the forces of the 8th VA with the support of long-range aviation. As a result, it was possible to significantly reduce the activity of the Luftwaffe: if in October 59 thousand enemy sorties were counted, then in November there were 31 thousand.
Simultaneously with the build-up of the air force at Stalingrad, Soviet aviation began to technically modernize, receiving new combat vehicles (La-5) and ammunition. Thus, according to the order of the People's Commissar of Defense dated January 1, 2001, instructions for controlling, warning and guiding aircraft by radio were put into effect, which made it possible to accelerate its widespread implementation and use. The summer-autumn defensive battles gave the pilots the opportunity to gain experience in conducting air battles. Fighter combat tactics were noticeably enriched: battle formations for performing certain tasks were established, a new form of attack during vertical maneuver was introduced, and radio communications began to become widespread. The accumulation of experience was also evidenced by the frequent resort to “free hunting” by fighters. A new tactic of attack aircraft operating from medium altitude with the transition to a dive was born and fully justified itself. Such actions made it possible to significantly reduce losses among attack aircraft. Also, innovations in her work included conducting active defensive combat with enemy fighters, intercepting enemy bombers by attack aircraft, “free hunting” and reconnaissance in German rear areas. The experience of the Stalingrad battles required the introduction of a two-seater cabin for the Il-2, improved weapons and equipment. The Po-2 light bombers found significant combat use, which showed good results in covering river boats that transported troops and cargo for the 62nd Army across the river. Volga. Using bombs and a ShKAS machine gun, the Po-2 successfully fought against anti-aircraft artillery, hitting enemy searchlights, vehicles and infantry. In general, the level of tactical training of command and flight personnel has increased significantly, and the navigational, bomber and fire training of air units has increased. At the same time, shortcomings in the combat work of Soviet aviation remained.
Its commander did a lot to increase the effectiveness of the combat work of the 8th VA. On his orders, for the first time near Stalingrad, a system of aviation control points in battle was deployed: aviation observers with radio stations were located in the ground troops, who corrected the actions of the aircraft. His decisions also included the organization of 32 false airfields, which were periodically bombed by enemy aircraft, the formation of aces from the 9th Guards and 434th Fighter Regiments, whose pilots became Heroes of the Soviet Union in battles with the elite enemy formations “Udet” and “As- Peak".
During the counteroffensive near Stalingrad, a successful air offensive was carried out at the operational-strategic level. According to the developed operation, the forces of the 8th VA established clear interaction with the 16th and 17th air armies and delivered a massive strike, which effectively contributed to the advancement of ground forces during the encirclement German troops. The so-called “air offensive”, developed in the 8th VA, later entered into practice and became one of the important pages in the history of military art.
In total, during the Battle of Stalingrad, units of the 8th VA carried out over 55 thousand combat sorties. The pilots took part in 1,187 air battles and destroyed more than 1,850 aircraft, including at airfields. The losses of the army itself amounted to about 1,400 combat vehicles and 1,116 pilots. The bravery, courage, and self-sacrifice of the soldiers and officers of the air force were appreciated by the country's leadership: 25 aces became Heroes of the Soviet Union. For mass heroism, military units of the army were awarded guards ranks: 5 divisions and 15 regiments received their names. In addition, another 17 air regiments that were part of the 8th VA different times During the Battle of Stalingrad, they received guards banners, and 1 air corps, 3 divisions and 8 regiments received the honorary name “Stalingrad”. The commander of the 8th VA himself was awarded the Order of Kutuzov, 1st degree, for his skillful and courageous leadership of the unit’s combat operations during the Battle of Stalingrad.
1 See for example: Hayward, Joel S. A. Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East, Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 19p.
2 Collection of military documents of the Great Patriotic War. Vol. 7. - M.: Military Publishing House of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the USSR, 1948. - P. 9.
3 For details, see: Smirnov, A. Combat work Soviet and German aviation in the Great Patriotic War. - M.: ACT: ACT MOSCOW: Transit book, 20 p.
4 Collection of combat documents of the Great Patriotic War. Vol. 7. - P. 13.
6 Mikhailov, Chuvashia in the Battle of Stalingrad // From the history of Chuvashia Soviet period. Sat. articles. - Cheboksary: Research Institute YaLIE under the Council of Ministers of the Chuvash SSR. - P. 84-85.
Bid
to participate in the conference " Battle of Stalingrad. A look after 65 years"
2. Place of work. State Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education “Chuvash State Pedagogical University named after. »
3. Position. Deputy Dean for Educational Work, Faculty of History
4. Academic degree, title. Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of History of the Fatherland
5. Address. Chuvash Republic, Cheboksary, Lenin Ave., 18A, apt. 17
6. Telephone. Worker - (8352), home - (8352)
7. Email. Nestor13@yandex.ru
8. Title of the report. “Soviet aviation in the battle for Stalingrad (based on the example of the combat work of the 8th Air Army)”
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Civil aviation in Russia air transport - yesterday, today and tomorrow |
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Beginning in the spring of 1944, the U.S. Eighth Air Force was temporarily withdrawn from strategic missions and, together with the RAF Bomber Command, was reoriented to other objectives, receiving orders to operate in a tactical role in support of the upcoming invasion of Europe. Only after this could she again begin strategic flights and strikes against Germany.
On January 4, 1944, the heavy four-engine Boeing B-17 and Consolidated B-24 bombers flew missions for the last time as part of the US VIII Bomber Command. On this day, the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces were unified under central command, namely the new United States Strategic Air Forces (USAF), headquartered at Bushy Hall. In reality, this transformation represented a reorganization of the US 8th Air Force. On 22 February, VIII Bomber Command in turn was renamed Eighth Air Force and ceased to exist as its former corps.
General Carl Spaatz returned to England to lead the US Air Force. At the same time, Major General "Jimmy" Doolittle handed over command of the 15th Air Force to Major General Nathan E Tuiting and took over the new 8th Air Force at High Wycombe. Dolittle's approach was simple and direct: "Win the war in the sky and cut off the enemy on the battlefield." Spaats and Doolittle intended to engage the US Air Force in a program of highly coordinated raids against enemy targets as part of Operation Argument. The American efforts during the day were to be supported by the night actions of Bomber Command, and the goal was to shred and crumble the German aircraft industry into small pieces as quickly as possible.
By mid-1944, the US 8th Air Force, in terms of manpower, had reached a strength of over 200 thousand troops, rising to its peak; it included 40 groups of heavy bombers, 15 groups of fighters and four groups of specialized support aircraft. This state of affairs allowed the 8th Army to regularly send on missions more than 2,000 four-engine bombers and more than 1,000 escort fighters in one day to several targets at once. Within the US Air Force as a whole command, the main contribution to the offensive operations in the skies of Germany, nicknamed “Big Week,” was made by the 8th Air Force. Escort fighters deliberately destroyed Luftwaffe interceptors as German fighter pilots tried to shoot down bombers on missions to bomb the German aircraft manufacturing facilities. Eighth Army heavy bombers also flew deep into the heart of Germany, making daylight raids on Berlin.
"Consolidated" B-24D "Liberator"
491st Bombardment Group/8th Air Force, North Pickenham, Norfolk, 1944.
Each group of Liberators included one brightly painted aircraft to facilitate the formation of a group over the UK before the vehicles crossed the English Channel or the North Sea on their way to assigned targets. Repurposed from “war-weary” vehicles, such unarmed aircraft, having completed the task of assembling a group, then returned to their airfield.
Crew: 10
Powerplant: 4 x 895 kW. (1200 hp) Pratt & Whitley Twin Wasp radial piston engine Max speed: 488 km/h Range: 1730 km Service ceiling: 8540 m Dimensions: wingspan 33.53 m; length 20.22 m; height 5.49 m Weight: 32,296 kg in running order
Armament: 1 (usually 3) x 12.7 mm machine gun in the nose, plus 2 x 12.7 mm machine gun in the dorsal, tail and retractable ball turrets; 2 side-mounted machine guns aft of the midsection; up to 3629 kg bombs
Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress
388th Bombardment Group/8th Air Force, 1944
This B-17F landed at Rinkabi in neutral Sweden on February 29, 1944 and was later used by the country as a 14-seat passenger aircraft with the appropriate markings. So, from October 6, 1944, the combat aircraft, repurposed as a civilian transporter, began to serve peaceful purposes.
Crew: 8-10
Powerplant: 4 x 895 kW. (1200 hp) radial piston engine "Wright Cyclone" Max speed: 475 km/h Range: 2071 km Service ceiling: 10,975 m Dimensions: wingspan 31.6 m; length 22.8 m; height 5.85 m Weight: 25,400 kg in running order
Armament: 12 x 12.7 mm machine guns; 7983 kg bombs
1st AIR DIVISION (MAY 1945)
Part of Group Headquarters
1st Bomb Wing Bassingbourne 91st, 381st, 398th bombs. gr.
40th Bombs, Turley Wing 92nd, 305th, 306th Bombs. gr.
41st Bombs, Molesworth Wing 303rd, 379th, 384th Bombs. gr.
94th Bombs, Polebrook Wing 351st, 401st, 457th Bombs. gr.
67th extermination Wing Walcot Hall 20th, 352nd, 356th, 359th, 364th Ret. gr.
Tactical Raids
Prior to the Allied invasion of France in June 1944, heavy bomber groups from the Eighth Air Force carried out tactical raids in preparation for and then to provide tactical support to Allied ground forces in the invasion area and further inland from coastal beachheads. The aircrews also assisted in the amphibious assault on Arnhem in the Netherlands in September 1944, and also attacked German ground forces during the “Battle of the Wedge” later that year.
Such missions, however, were costly to personnel, and 50 percent of US Army Air Force casualties in World War II were attributable to the Eighth Air Force: 26,000 killed and over 21,000 wounded. The Eighth Army's contributions, as well as the breadth of allied operations in Europe, are best expressed by the Air Force's awarding of 17 Medals of Honor, 220 Distinguished Service Crosses, and 442,000 Air Force Medals. There were 261 fighter aces in the 8th Air Force, 31 of whom were responsible for over 15 downed enemy aircraft.
Last raids
The last raid of the 8th Air Force took place on April 25, 1945, when B-17s raided the Skoda arms plant in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, and B-24s attacked railway installations around Hitler's alternate lair at Berchtesgaden, meanwhile The 15th Air Army attacked mountain passes in order to prevent German troops from trying to get out of Italy along them.
After the end of the war in Europe, some combat units began to be transferred to the Pacific Ocean. Eighth Air Force headquarters arrived in Okinawa on July 16, 1945, but the Eighth Air Force itself never served in the Pacific theater.
"De-Haviyaend Mosquito" PR.Mk XVI
653rd Bomb Squadron (Light) / 8th US Army Air Forces, Ugon, Norfolk, 1944.
This aircraft was used for weather reconnaissance and visual assessment of bombing results after raids. As befits a reconnaissance aircraft from aerial photography, the aircraft is painted blue with black and white “invasion stripes” on the lower surface of the fuselage, and its affiliation with the US Army Air Forces is expressed in state symbols, red tail section and 653rd Bomb Squadron insignia on the horizontal stabilizer rudder.
Powerplant: 2 x 1253 kW. (1680 hp) Merlin 72 engine Max speed: 668 km/h Range: 2400 km Service ceiling: 000 m Dimensions: wingspan 16.52 m; length 12.43 m; height 5.3 m Weight: 6490 kg empty