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The Mighty Eighth 12 September, 1942 |
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SATURDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 1942 EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) 8th Air Force: HQ VIII Air Force Composite Command arrives in Ireland and is temporarily stationed at Long Kesh, County Down. Following units arrive in England from the US: HQ 3d Bombardment Wing at Elveden Hall; HQ 4th Bombardment Wing at Camp Lynn but soon loses its personnel to the XII Bomber Command and is not manned again until Jan 43; HQ 91st Bombardment Group (Heavy) at Kimbolton; HQ 303d Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 358th, 359th, 360th and 427th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Molesworth with B-17s (first mission 17 Nov); HQ 305th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 366th and 422d Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy) at Grafton Underwood with B-17s (first mission 17 Nov); 66th and 68th Bombardment Squadrons (Heavy), 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) at Cheddington with B-24s (first mission is 7 Nov). In England, HQ 4th Fighter Group and 334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons are activated at Bushey Hall with Spitfires to be manned by US pilots who formerly flew with the RAF Eagle Squadrons; and the 27th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, moves from High Ercall to Colerne with P-38s (first mission is 2 Oct). Twelfth Air Force: The following units arrive in England from the US: HQ Twelfth Air Force, XII Fighter Command and XII Air Force Services Command; HQ 319th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 437th, 438th, 439th and 440th Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) at Shipdham with B-26s (first mission 28 Nov); HQ 320th Bombardment Group (Medium) and 441st, 442d and 443d Bombardment Squadrons (Medium) at Hethel with B-26s (first mission 22 Apr); |
