VIII Air Force Composite Command
The VIII Air Force Composite Command was a subordinate command of Eighth Air Force. It was originally responsible for combat training of aircrews arriving from the United States, a mission it continued until near the end of the war, when the air divisions began the training. Starting in late winter of 1944, the command took over special operations missions, including night leaflet dropping, infiltration of agents behind enemy lines and supplying resistance forces in occupied countries. As Allied forces advanced across Europe, most of its personnel were used to form provisional disarmament units. The command was disbanded in October 1948, when the United States Air Force decided it would have no future need for a level of command between major commands and air divisions.
| VIII Air Force Composite Command | |
|---|---|
 B-24 Liberator 858th Squadron B-24D marked for Carpetbagger operations[note 1] | |
| Active | 1942–1945 |
| Disbanded | 8 October 1948 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Training and Special Operations |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
Lineage
- Established as 8th Air Force Composite Command[note 2]
- Activated c. 4 July 1942
- Redesignated VIII Air Force Composite Command on 18 September 1942
- Inactivated c. 31 May 1945
- Disbanded 8 October 1948[1]
Assignments
- Eighth Air Force, c. 4 July 1942[note 3]
- Eighth Air Force, 22 February 1944[note 4]
- Ninth Air Force, February 1945 – c. 31 May 1945
Components
- Groups
- 1st Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Bombardment, Heavy, Special), 12 November 1943 – c. 31 May 1945
- 2d Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Bombardment, Heavy, Special), 12 November 1943 – c. 31 May 1945
- 3d Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Bombardment or Fighter, Special), 21 November 1943 – c. 23 September 1944, 10 October 1944 – 1 February 1945 (attached to Air Disarmament Command [Provisional])[2]
- 4th Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Bombardment or Fighter, Special), 21 November 1943 – c. 31 May 1945
- 5th Combat Crew Replacement Center Group, 3 November 1943 – c. 31 May 1945
- 328th Service Group, 26 February 1944–c. August 1944
- 482d Bombardment Group, 14 February – 1 October 1944[3]
- 492d Bombardment Group, c. 10 August – 1 October 1944[4]
- 495th Fighter Training Group, 26 October – December 1943, February 1944–September 1944[5]
- 496th Fighter Training Group, 11 December – December 1943; February – September 1944
- 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional) 28 March – 4 August 1944
- 2900th Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Provisional), 16 August – 14 November 1943
- 2901st Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Provisional), 20 August – 12 November 1943
- 2902d Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Provisional), 23 August – 21 November 1943
- 2915th Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Provisional), 16 August – 12 November 1943
- Squadrons
- 36th Bombardment Squadron, 26 February – 1 October 1944 (attached to 328th Service Group, 27 February 1944; 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional), 28 March 1944–4 August 1944)[6]
- 406th Bombardment Squadron, 26 February – 1 October 1944 (attached to 328th Service Group, 27 February 1944; 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional), 28 March 1944–4 August 1944)[7]
- 788th Bombardment Squadron, 11 May – 10 August 1944 (attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional))[8]
- 850th Bombardment Squadron, 11 May – 10 August 1944 (attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional))[9]
- 858th Bombardment Squadron, 19 June – 5 August 1944[10]
Stations
- Bolling Field, District of Columbia, c. 4 July 1942
- RAF Long Kesh (Station 232),[11] Northern Ireland, 12 September 1942 – 5 February 1944
- Kirkassock House (Station 231),[11] Northern Ireland, November 1942[note 5]
- RAF Cheddington (Station 113),[12] England, 22 February 1944
- RAF Watford (Station 341),[13] England, c. 1 October 1944
- Creil Airfield (see fr:Base aérienne 110 Creil, A-81),[14] France, February 1945
- Luxemburg Luxemburg, c. 30 April 1945–c. 31 May 1945
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- Aircraft is Consolidated B-24D-65-CO Liberator, serial 42-40509 "Cookie", Lost on 7 October 1943.
- The unit was constituted and activated with an arabic number in its name. The use of roman numerals to designate Army Air Forces combat commands did not begin until September 1942. "Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations". Air Force History Index. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- In February 1944, the original Eighth Air Force was redesignated United States Strategic Air Forces. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 463-464.
- In February 1944, VIII Bomber Command was redesignated Eighth Air Force. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 471-472.
- Although assigned a separate station number, this building was at Long Kesh.
- Citations
- AFOOR Letter 887e, 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbanding Inactive Units
- Bailey, Carl E. (January 5, 2008). "Factsheet 554 Electronic Systems Wing (AFMC)". Shaw Air Force Base. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- Robertson, Patsy (11 December 2012). "Factsheet 482 Operations Group (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- Haulman, Daniel L. (May 17, 2017). "Factsheet 492 Special Operations Wing (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
- "Factsheet 495th Fighter Group". Shaw Air Force Base. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 171
- Robertson, Patsy (6 April 2012). "Factsheet 906 Air Refueling Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 756
- Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 780
- Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 784
- Station number in Anderson, p. 23.
- Station number in Anderson, p. 46.
- Station number in Anderson, p. 60.
- Station number in Johnson, p.50.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
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