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.
History
Lineage Established as 8th Air Force Composite CommandThe 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. Activated c. 4 July 1942 Redesignated VIII Air Force Composite Command on 18 September 1942 Inactivated c. 31 May 1945 Disbanded 8 October 1948AFOOR Letter 887e, 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbanding Inactive Units
Assignments Eighth Air Force, c. 4 July 1942In February 1944, the original Eighth Air Force was redesignated United States Strategic Air Forces. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 463-464. Eighth Air Force, 22 February 1944In February 1944, VIII Bomber Command was redesignated Eighth Air Force. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 471-472. 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]) 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 492d Bombardment Group, c. 10 August – 1 October 1944 495th Fighter Training Group, 26 October – December 1943, February 1944–September 1944 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)Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 171 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) 788th Bombardment Squadron, 11 May – 10 August 1944 (attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional))Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 756 850th Bombardment Squadron, 11 May – 10 August 1944 (attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional))Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 780 858th Bombardment Squadron, 19 June – 5 August 1944Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 784
Stations Bolling Field, District of Columbia, c. 4 July 1942 RAF Long Kesh (Station 232),Station number in Anderson, p. 23. Northern Ireland, 12 September 1942 – November 1942 Kirkassock House (Station 231), Northern Ireland, November 1942 -February 1944 RAF Cheddington (Station 113),Station number in Anderson, p. 46. England, 22 February 1944 RAF Watford (Station 341),Station number in Anderson, p. 60. England, c. 1 October 1944 Creil Airfield (see :fr:Base aérienne 110 Creil, A-81),Station number in Johnson, p.50. France, February 1945 Luxemburg Luxemburg, c. 30 April 1945–c. 31 May 1945
References
Notes Explanatory notes
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