8th Air Force COMMAND CHANGE

22 December 1943

Description

Orders are issued for General Carl Spaatz to take command of US Strategic Air Forces in Europe (USSAFE). Lieutenant Genreal Ira C. Eaker, 8th AF Commanding General, is to be transferred to command of the Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). LGEN Eaker will remain in the UK until mid January 1944 to adivse GEN Spaatz and will be replaced by Lieutenant General James H. Doolittle, the New Commanding General , Eighth Air Force. LGEN Doolittle will institute new fighter tactics for bomber escorts. The strategy is to decimate the Luftwaffe whereever they can be found. This new strategy permits the fighters to leave the immediate escort of the bombers and free-range ahead of the bomber stream to intercept Luftwaffe fighters in the air before they can attack the bomber formations and catch as many on the ground as possible.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 27-Jul-2015. Added NEW Mission event based on "USAAF Combat Chronology", Jack McKillop.