VIII Air Force Composite Command

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.

VIII Air Force Composite Command
B-24 Liberator 858th Squadron B-24D marked for Carpetbagger operations[note 1]
Active	1942–1945
Disbanded	8 October 1948
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Training and Special Operations
Part of	Eighth Air Force
Engagements	European Theater of Operations

History

Lineage

• Established as 8th Air Force Composite Command

Activated c. 4 July 1942

Redesignated VIII Air Force Composite Command on 18 September 1942

Inactivated c. 31 May 1945

Disbanded 8 October 1948

Assignments

• Eighth Air Force, c. 4 July 1942
• Eighth Air Force, 22 February 1944
• 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 – September 1944, October 1944 – c. 31 May 1945
• 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
• 492d Bombardment Group, c. 10 August 1944 – 1 October 1944[1]
• 495th Fighter Training Group, 26 October 1943 – December 1943, February 1944–September 1944[2]
• 496th Fighter Training Group, 11 December 1943 – December 1943, February 1944–September 1944
• 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional) 28 March 1944–4 August 1944
• 2900th Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Provisional), 16 Aug 43-14 Nov 43
• 2901st Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Provisional), 20 Aug 43-12 Nov 43
• 2902d Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Provisional), 23 Aug 43-21 Nov 43
• 2915th Combat Crew Replacement Center Group (Provisional), 16 Aug 43-12 Nov 43

Squadrons

• 36th Bombardment Squadron, 26 February 1944–1 October 1944 (attached to 328th Service Group, 27 February 1944; 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional), 28 March 1944–4 August 1944)[3]
• 406th Bombardment Squadron, 26 February 1944–1 October 1944 (attached to 328th Service Group, 27 February 1944; 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional), 28 March 1944–4 August 1944)[4]
• 788th Bombardment Squadron, 11 May 1944–10 August 1944 (attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional))[5]
• 850th Bombardment Squadron, 11 May 1944–10 August 1944 (attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional))[6]

Stations

• Bolling Field, District of Columbia, c. 4 July 1942
• RAF Long Kesh (Station 232),[7] Northern Ireland, 12 September 1942 – 5 February 1944
• Kirkassock House (Station 231),[7] Northern Ireland, November 1942[note 2]
• RAF Cheddington (Station 113),[7] England, 22 February 1944
• RAF Watford (Station 341),[7] England, c. 1 October 1944
• Creil Airfield (A-81),[8] France, February 1945
• Luxemburg Luxemburg, c. 30 April 1945–c. 31 May 1945

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Aircraft is Consolidated B-24D-65-CO Liberator, serial 42-40509 "Cookie", Lost on 7 October 1943.
2. Although assigned a separate station number, this building was at Long Kesh.

Citations

1. Haulman, Daniel L. (May 17, 2017). "Factsheet 492 Special Operations Wing (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
2. "495th Fighter Group". Shaw Air Force Base. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
3. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 171
4. Robertson, Patsy (6 April 2012). "Factsheet 906 Air Refueling Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
5. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 756
6. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 780
7. Station number in Anderson.
8. Station number in Johnson.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
• Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
• 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. Retrieved December 17, 2016.