8th US Army Air Force

During World War II, the Eighth Air Force was a United States Army Air Forces command and control organization, which primarily carried out strategic daytime bombing operations in Western Europe from airfields in eastern England from 1942 through the end of the war in 1945.

1. When was the 8th Air Force activated?

• January 1, 1942
• February 1, 1942
• March 1, 1942

2. Who was the first commander?

• Major General Carl A. Spaatz
• Major General Michael Wallace
• Major General Lee Rogers

3. Eighth Air Force deployed overseas and was headquartered at Bushy Park, England effective June 25, 1942.

• True or False?

4. The first combat group of VIII Bomber Command of the 8th AAF to arrive in the United Kingdom was the ground echelon of the 97th Bombardment Group, which arrived on June 9, 1942. What RAF air field were they assigned?

• RAF Polebrook
• RAF Wingate
• RAF Bond Park

5. After a few weeks of familiarization training with the new aircraft, six American crews from the 15th Bomb Squadron joined with six RAF crews from RAF Swanton Morley for a low-level attack on Luftwaffe airfields in the Netherlands, becoming the first USAAF unit to bomb targets in Europe. What was the date?

• July 4, 1942
• August 4, 1942
• December 4, 1942

6. At the end of July, who replaced Lieutenant Colonel Cousland as CO of the 97th Bombardment Group at RAF Grafton Underwood?

• Colonel Frank A. Armstrong
• Colonel Mark Reynolds
• Colonel James Stewart

The VIII Fighter Command was constituted initially as "VIII Interceptor Command" at Selfridge Field, Michigan on January 19, 1942.

• True or False?

7. VIII Fighter Command flew three types of aircraft during 1942-43. What was NOT fighter used by the VIII?

• Supermarine Spitfire
• Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
• Curtiss-Wright P-40 Warhawk

8. The VIII Ground Air Support Command was constituted on April 24, 1942 at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. and assigned to Eighth Air Force. It was deployed to England, without personnel or equipment in June 1942, being redesignated "VIII Air Support Command". The mission of VIII Air Support Command was initially training and reconnaissance and troop transport.

• True or False?

9. On February 22, 1944 a massive reorganization of American airpower took place in Europe. The VIII Bomber Command and Ninth Air Force were brought under control of a centralized headquarters for command and control of the United States Army Air Forces in Europe. What was the name of the new command?

• United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF)
• United States Bomber Air Forces (USBAF)
• Command United States Army Air Forces (CUSAAF)

10. As part of this plan, Eighth Air Force headquarters was reassigned to Okinawa, being assigned to the United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific. What was the date?

• July 16, 1944
• July 16, 1945
• July 16, 1946

8th US Army Air Force Answers

1. February 1, 1942
2. Major General Carl A. Spaatz
3. True
4. RAF Polebrook
5. July 4, 1942
6. Colonel Frank A. Armstrong
7. True
8. True
9. United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF)
10. July 16, 1945

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