Eighth Air Force

E37161

The Eighth Air Force is a famed U.S. air formation best known for its strategic bombing campaigns over Europe during World War II and its continuing role in American airpower.


Statements (52)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Numbered air force
United States Air Force formation
aircraftOperated Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
surface form: "B-17 Flying Fortress"

B-1B Lancer
B-2 Spirit
B-21 Raider
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
surface form: "B-24 Liberator"

B-29 Superfortress
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
surface form: "B-52 Stratofortress"

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
surface form: "P-47 Thunderbolt"

North American P-51 Mustang
surface form: "P-51 Mustang"
associatedWith Strategic Air Command
branch United States Air Force
commandStructure Air Force Global Strike Command
componentOf United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe
conflict World War II
country United States of America
dateFormed 1942-01-28
era Cold War
Post–Cold War era
World War II
formerBranch United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Forces
garrison Barksdale Air Force Base
garrisonLocation Louisiana
United States of America
surface form: "United States"
hasEmblem Distinctive shield insignia of Eighth Air Force
heritage Major component of American strategic airpower tradition
nickname The Mighty Eighth
notableCommander Carl Spaatz
Ira C. Eaker
James H. Doolittle
notableFor Continuing role in U.S. strategic bomber operations
Large-scale daylight bombing campaigns over Europe in World War II
notableOperationType Daylight precision bombing
notableTargetType German aircraft industry
Oil refineries
Submarine bases
Transportation networks
partOf Air Force Global Strike Command
peacetimeRole Conventional global strike
Nuclear deterrence
primaryMissionDuringWorldWarII Allied bombing of Germany
surface form: "Daylight strategic bombing of Nazi Germany"
role Global strike operations
Strategic bombing
Strategic deterrence
theater European Theater of Operations, United States Army
surface form: "European Theater of Operations"
worldWarIIBomberStrength Thousands of heavy bombers at peak
worldWarIILosses Sustained heavy aircraft and aircrew casualties over Europe
worldWarIIPersonnelStrength Over 200000 personnel at peak
worldWarIIRole Strategic bombing of industrial and military targets in Germany
Support of Allied ground operations in Western Europe

Referenced by (12)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Ploiești raid airForceUnit Eighth Air Force
Fifteenth Air Force alliedWith Eighth Air Force
Allied bombing of Hungary carriedOutBy Eighth Air Force
United States Army Air Forces component Eighth Air Force
Operation Crossbow coordinatedWith Eighth Air Force
this entity surface form: "USAAF Eighth Air Force"
Operation Tidal Wave executedBy Eighth Air Force
this entity surface form: "Eighth Air Force in Europe"
Camp Griffiss garrison Eighth Air Force
this entity surface form: "United States Eighth Air Force"
Strategic Air Command hasComponent Eighth Air Force
Big Week involvedForce Eighth Air Force
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress operatedBy Eighth Air Force
RAF Honington usedBy Eighth Air Force
this entity surface form: "USAAF Eighth Air Force"