VIII Air Support Command

VIII Air Support Command
VIII Air Support Command B-26 Marauder taking off[note 1]
Active	1942–1943
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Command of medium bomber units
Decorations	European Theater of Operations[1]

The VIII Air Support Command is a disbanded United States Army Air Forces unit. It was assigned to Eighth Air Force throughout its existence, and it was last stationed at Sunninghill Park, England, where it was disbanded on 1 December 1943.

VIII Air Support Command engaged in training, with one reconnaissance and one troop carrier group assigned, until July 1943. Afterward, carried out medium bombardment operations against the enemy on the Continent until October 1943 when all components and personnel were withdrawn from the command, with most transferred to Ninth Air Force, which transferred to England from Africa to become the primary tactical command for the invasion of Europe. The command was disbanded little more than a month later.

History

The 8th Ground Air Support Command was organized on 28 April 1942 at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. commanded by Col. Robert C. Candee and assigned to 8th Air Force.^[1] The command drew most of its cadre from 5th Air Support Command.^[2] Col. Candee was promoted to Brigadier General.^{[citation needed]} The command moved to Savannah, Georgia the following month, joining its parent, 8th Air Force. the command headquarters, but not its assigned units,^[2] for England in July, but did not open its headquarters at RAF Membury in Berkshire until 17 August.^[1]

The mission of VIII Ground Air Support Command was initially training reconnaissance and troop transport units. In February 1943, the command's mission was expanded to carrying out medium bombardment operations against the enemy on the Continent.

In February 1941, the first Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers were accepted by the Army Air Forces. It was to be in the European theater where the Marauder was to achieve its greatest success. In the United Kingdom, the Marauder formed the medium bomber forces of the VIII Air Support Command. The first B-26s arrived in the United Kingdom in February 1943. They were to be used in low-level missions against German military targets on the Continent.

On 16 October 1943, the B-26 Marauder units were reassigned to IX Bomber Command, leaving the command without operational units. Its command staff was reassigned to other units, and the command was disbanded on 1 December 1943.^[1]

Lineage

• Constituted as 8th Ground Air Support Command on 24 April 1942^{[note 2]}

Activated on 28 April 1942

Redesignated VIII Air Support Command c. 18 September 1942

Disbanded on 1 December 1943^[1]

Assignments

United States Air Forces in Europe, 28 April 1942 – 1 December 1943

Components

Wings

• 3d Bombardment Wing, c. 12 June 1943 – 16 October 1943^[1][3]
• 44th Bombardment Wing, c. 28 September 1943 – c. November 1943^[1][4]

Groups

• 68th Observation Group: attached c. 18–22 June 1942; assigned 23 June – c. 4 [July] 1942^[5]
• 386th Bombardment Group, 15 June – 16 October 1943^[6]

^{[note 3]}

Squadrons

• 6th Communications Squadron, Air Support: 10 June – c. 2 August 1942^[7]

Stations

• Bolling Field, District of Columbia, 28 April 1942
• Savannah, Georgia, 29 May-c. 20 July 1942
• Bushey Park (AAF-586),^[8] England, July 1942
• RAF Membury (AAF-466),^[9] England, 21 August 1942
• Sunninghill Park (AAF-472),^[10] England, 19 October 1942 – 1 December 1943^[11]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Airplane is Martin B-26C-5-MO Marauder, serial 41-34705 of the 453d Bombardment Squadron taking off from RAF Earls Colne, 18 August 1943.
2. Maurer indicates that the unit was constituted as the "VIII" Ground Air Support Command. However, 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.
3. Freeman indicates that the 60th Troop Carrier Group, then the 51st Troop Carrier Wing was assigned to the command. Freeman, p. 242. However, the Air Force Historical Research Agency history of the wing indicates the wing was assigned directly to Eighth Air Force. Robertson, Patsy (2 January 2008). "Factsheet 551 Electronic Systems Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 4 April 2014.. But compare Rumley, Christopher M. (25 January 2021). "Factsheet United States Air Forces in Europe (USAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 19 December 2021. (51st Wing not listed among components of Eighth Air Force in 1942) and Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 445-446 (one troop carrier group assigned while in the United States).

Citations

1. Maurer, pp. 445–446
2. Futrell, p. 14
3. See Freeman, p. 50
4. "Factsheet 44 Air Division, Bombardment". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
5. Stephens, Maj Tonia (19 June 2017). "Factsheet 53 Electronic Warfare Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
6. Bailey, Carl E. (3 June 2018). "Factsheet 386 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 18 October 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
7. Robertson, Patsy (31 July 2009). "Factsheet 6 Combat Training Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
8. Station number in Anderson, p. 39.
9. Station number in Anderson, p. 59.
10. Station number in Anderson, p. 32.
11. Station information in Maurer, pp. 445–446, except as noted.

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. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
• Freeman, Roger A. (1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England, UK: Macdonald and Company. ISBN 978-0-87938-638-2.
• Futrell, Robert F. (September 1956). "Command of Observation Aviation: A Study in Control of Tactical Airpower, USAF Historical Study No. 24" (PDF). Research Studies Institute, USAF Historical Division, Air University. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
• 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 17 December 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2016.