(Ebook) With Wings As Eagles - The Eighth Air Force In World War II by Philip Kaplan ISBN 9781510705104, 1510705104

(Ebook) With Wings As Eagles - The Eighth Air Force In World War II by Philip Kaplan ISBN 9781510705104, 1510705104

Aviation Author and Photographer Philip Kaplan examines the history of the USAAF's Eighth Air Force in this illustrated history of its operational deployment from America to the UK, 1942-1945. The story of its formation in America followed by its rapid deployment to the UK by sea and air starts almost immediately after the Third Reich issued its own declaration of war on America in the wake of the Japanese attacks in the Pacific and elsewhere. Officially known as The USAAF Europe (USAAFE), the force was made up of VIII Bomber, Fighter, Air Support and Air Service Commands and all came into being in early 1942. Commanded by Major General Carl Andrew Spaatz (1891-1974), the first aircraft were soon crossing the Atlantic either via the long used Canadian Air Transport Route to the UK or in crates by sea transport routes. After a period of building up its Aircrew and Groundstaff, and either constructing new purpose built Airfields or repurposing RAF Airfields for their needs, both Bomber and Fighter Commands pronounced themselves ready to join with the RAF in attacking Occupied Europe. VIII Bomber Command flew its first daylight operation in July 1942 against Luftwaffe Airfields in The Netherlands, and its first operation to Germany took place in March 1944. In 1944 as part of a major reorganisation of the USAAF, VIII Bomber and Fighter Commands were disbanded and they were replaced with the Eighth Air Force's Formation as part of the USSTAF (USAAF Strategic Air Forces). After VE-Day 8 and the Italian based 15 Air Force were both deactivated over 1945-46 and replaced with USAFE. Over half of all USAAF Casualties in the entire war were members of the Eighth AF (in all its versions) with 44000 either Killed or Missing by wars end (Combat Losses Only).