27 July 1942

MONDAY, 27 JULY 1942

8th Air Force): HQ VIII Bomber Command
issues an order establishing 1st Bombardment Wing at Brampton Grange
[replacing 1st Bombardment Wing (Provisional), established there on 15 Jun)
and 2d Bombardment Wing at Old Catton. 1st Bombardment Wing is commanded by
Colonel Claude E Duncan; 2d Bombardment Wing by Colonel Newton Longfellow. US
aircraft of 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) and 1st Fighter Group land at
Prestwick, Scotland, thus completing the first series of flights in
Operation BOLERO, air movement across the N Atlantic ferry route. 97th
Bombardment Group (Heavy) becomes the first US heavy bomber group complete
with air and ground echelons in the UK. Lieutenant General Ira C Eaker and
officers of the RAF Fighter Command agree to use Spitfire Mk IX's as high
fighter cover for B-17s of the VIII Bomber Command until the VIII Fighter
Command is ready for escort duty; this also will provide a test of the
Spitfire Mk IX against Fw 190s at high altitude.
HQ VIII Fighter Command moves from High Wycombe to Bushey Hall, England.