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US Eighth Air Force

Eighth Air Force
(Air Forces Strategic - Global Strike)
USAF B-2 Spirit.jpg
B-2A Spirit, AF Ser. No. 82-1069, "Spirit of Indiana", 509th Bomb Wing


Barksdale-b52-emblem.jpg


B-52H Stratofortress, 2d Bomb Wing
Active 19 January 1942 – present
Country  United States
Branch Flag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Type Numbered Air Force
Role Provides conventional and nuclear bomber forces to U.S. Strategic Command and serves as the air component for global strike for U.S. Strategic Command
Part of Air Force Global Strike Command.png  Air Force Global Strike Command
Seal of the United States Strategic Command.svg  U.S. Strategic Command
Garrison/HQ Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
Nickname(s) "The Mighty Eighth"
Engagements
  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Streamer.jpg
    World War II European-African-Middle Eastern Theater
  • Asiatic-Pacific Streamer.png
    World War II Asiatic-Pacific Theater
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 Eighth Air Force - Emblem.png
External video
Target For Today – 1943 VIII Bomber Command film on YouTube


Barksdale-b52-emblem.jpg

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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Wikipedia

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