U.S. Eighth Air Force
| Eighth Air Force | |
|---|---|
B-2A Spirit, 82-1069, "Spirit of Indiana", 509th Bomb Wing
B-52H Stratofortress, 2d Bomb Wing |
|
| Active | 19 January 1942 – present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Part of |
 Air Force Global Strike Command
|
| Garrison/HQ | Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana |
| Nickname(s) | "The Mighty Eighth" |
| Engagements |
|
| Decorations |
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Maj Gen Thomas A. Bussiere |
| Notable commanders |
James Doolittle Ira C. Eaker Carl Spaatz |
| Insignia | |
| Emblem of the Eighth Air Force |  |
 Target For Today – 1943 VIII Bomber Command film on YouTube
|
The Eighth Air Force (8 AF) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Forces Strategic – Global Strike, one of the air components of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). The Eighth Air Force includes the heart of America's heavy bomber force: the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the B-1 Lancer supersonic bomber, and the B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber aircraft.
Established on 22 February 1944 by the redesignation of VIII Bomber Command at RAF Daws Hill in High Wycombe, England, 8 AF was a United States Army Air Forces combat air force in the European Theater of World War II, engaging in operations primarily in the Northern Europe AOR; carrying out strategic bombing of enemy targets in France, the Low countries, and Germany; and engaging in air-to-air fighter combat against enemy aircraft until the German capitulation in May 1945. It was the largest of the deployed combat Army Air Forces in numbers of personnel, aircraft, and equipment.
During the Cold War, 8 AF was one of three Numbered Air Forces of the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC), with a three-star general headquartered at Westover AFB, Massachusetts commanding USAF strategic bombers and missiles on a global scale. Elements of 8 AF engaged in combat operations during the Korean War; Vietnam War, as well as Operation Desert Storm.
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