VIII Air Force Composite Command explained

Unit Name:	VIII Air Force Composite Command
Dates:	1942–1945
Role:	Training and Special Operations
Battles:	European Theater of Operations
Disbanded:	8 October 1948

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.

Lineage

• Established as 8th Air Force Composite Command^[1]

Activated c. 4 July 1942

Redesignated VIII Air Force Composite Command on 18 September 1942

Inactivated c. 31 May 1945

Disbanded 8 October 1948^[2]

Assignments

• Eighth Air Force, c. 4 July 1942^[3]
• Eighth Air Force, 22 February 1944^[4]
• 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])^[5]
• 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^[6]
• 492d Bombardment Group, c. 10 August – 1 October 1944^[7]
• 495th Fighter Training Group, 26 October – December 1943, February 1944–September 1944^[8]
• 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)^[9]
• 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)^[10]
• 788th Bombardment Squadron, 11 May – 10 August 1944 (attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional))^[11]
• 850th Bombardment Squadron, 11 May – 10 August 1944 (attached to 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional))^[12]
• 858th Bombardment Squadron, 19 June – 5 August 1944^[13]

Stations

• Bolling Field, District of Columbia, c. 4 July 1942
• RAF Long Kesh (Station 232),^[14] Northern Ireland, 12 September 1942 – November 1942 ^[15]
• Kirkassock House (Station 231),^[14] Northern Ireland, November 1942 -February 1944 ^[15]
• RAF Cheddington (Station 113),^[16] England, 22 February 1944
• RAF Watford (Station 341),^[17] England, c. 1 October 1944
• Creil Airfield (see, A-81),^[18] France, February 1945
• Luxemburg Luxemburg, c. 30 April 1945–c. 31 May 1945

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

• Book: Anderson, Capt. Barry. 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. 1985. Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Maxwell AFB, AL. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160123155923/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf . 23 January 2016. 28 June 2017.
• Book: Johnson, 1st Lt. David C.. U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day. 1988. Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Maxwell AFB, AL. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150929064443/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-026.pdf . 29 September 2015. 26 June 2017.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. 1961. 17 December 2016. reprint. 1983. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-912799-02-1. 61060979.
• Book: Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. 1969. reprint. 17 December 2016. 1982. Office of Air Force History. Washington, DC. 0-405-12194-6. 72556. 70605402.

Notes and References

1. 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. Web site: Air Force Historical Research Agency Organizational Reconds: Types of USAF Organizations. 9 January 2008. Air Force History Index. 19 September 2016.
2. AFOOR Letter 887e, 8 October 1948, Subject: Disbanding Inactive Units
3. In February 1944, the original Eighth Air Force was redesignated United States Strategic Air Forces. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 463-464.
4. In February 1944, VIII Bomber Command was redesignated Eighth Air Force. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 471-472.
5. Web site: Factsheet 554 Electronic Systems Wing (AFMC). Bailey. Carl E.. 5 January 2008. Shaw Air Force Base. 12 January 2022.
6. Web site: Factsheet 482 Operations Group (AFRC). Robertson. Patsy. 11 December 2012. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 16 January 2022.
7. Web site: Factsheet 492 Special Operations Wing (AFSOC). Haulman. Daniel L.. 17 May 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 16 January 2022.
8. Web site: Factsheet 495th Fighter Group. 12 April 2013. Shaw Air Force Base. 29 June 2016.
9. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 171
10. Web site: Factsheet 906 Air Refueling Squadron (AMC). Robertson. Patsy. 6 April 2012. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 24 February 2014.
11. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 756
12. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 780
13. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 784
14. Station number in Anderson, p. 23.
15. Web site: 2016-04-13 . Kircassock House . 2023-11-05 . GI Trail NI - discover the path the GI's took in Northern Ireland. . en-GB.
16. Station number in Anderson, p. 46.
17. Station number in Anderson, p. 60.
18. Station number in Johnson, p.50.