SUNDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 1942

ETO - THEATER OF OPERATIONS: In the UK, Lieutenant Colonel Townsend Griffiss, aide to Major General James E Chaney, is killed when the aircraft in which he is a passenger is mistakenly shot down by RAF Polish fliers. He is the first US airman to die in the line of duty in Europe since the US entered World War II. The 8AF base at Bushy Park is later named Camp Griffiss in his honour.

(8AF): HQ VIII BC arrives at Daws Hill, England from the US; Major General Ira C Eaker assumes command.

ZI - ZONE OF INTERIOR: (HQ AAF): Major General Carl Spaatz suggests that the now "task-less 8AF" be made the nucleus for AAFIB.

For the build-up of US armed forces in the UK for an attack on Europe, to General George C Marshall in London. The plan calls for establishment of the 8AF in the UK.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): HQ VIII Ground Air Support Command is activated at Bolling Field, Washington, DC

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Major General Carl Spaatz is designated 8AF commander.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Major General Carl Spaatz assumes command of HQ 8AF at Bolling Field, Washington, DC.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): The transport SS ANDES docks in the UK, carrying about 1,800 personnel for various 8AF units. This is the first large shipment of AAF troops to the UK.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): 39 officers and 348 enlisted men of HQ and the bomber, interceptor and service commands arrive at High Wycombe, England where the VIII Interceptor Command sets up HQ.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Major General Ira C Eaker is designated commander of Detachment, HQ 8AF in addition to his duties as Commanding General VIII BC. Brigadier General Frank O'D Hunter assumes command of VIII Interceptor Command. 15BS(L), VIII BC, arrives at Grafton Underwood, England without aircraft.

Main photo - Major General Carl Spaats left and Major General Ira C Eaker.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): HQ VIII Bomber Command transfers to Daws Hill, High Wycombe, England.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Detachment, 8AF, with the help of the VIII BC staff, issues a directive defining its mission, which is the organization, training and supplying of units advanced echelons of 8AF to prepare for immediate operations upon arrival of tactical elements of the 8th. 50 US intelligence officers arrive in the UK for training by the RAF Bomber Command.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Agreement is reached on a plan to transfer the repair depot at Burtonwood, UK to US forces following a period of joint control to begin at the end of Jun 42; Burtonwood later becomes the greatest AAF depot overseas.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): A HQ AAF schedule, with tables of composition and strength, indicating a total of 3,649 aircraft, is set up for the AAF in the UK.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): The second contingent of personnel for HQ 8AF and subordinate commands, including the main body of the VIII AF Services Command, arrives in the UK.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): The main part of the ground echelon, including ground echelons of the 97BG(H), 1 and 31FGs, 60TCG and 5th Air Depot Group, and service units arrive in the UK aboard the QUEEN ELIZABETH. Units arriving in England from the US: HQ 1FG, 71 and 94FSs at Goxhill (first missions are 1Sep and 3 Aug respectively); 12TS, 60TCG, at Chelveston with C-47s; and 308FS, 31FG, at Atcham (first Mission is 17 Aug).

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Units arriving in England from the US: HQ 31FG at Atcham; 10th and 11TS, 60TCG, at Chelveston; 307FS, 31FG, at Atcham (first Mission is 17 Aug); and 340th and 414BS(H), 97BG(H) at Polebrook with B-17s (first Mission is 17 Aug).

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Major General Carl Spaatz, Commanding General 8AF, arrives in the UK. The VIII BC takes a significant step toward development of the organization for control of combat operations by establishing the 1BW (Provisional) at Brampton Grange, England.
The First Air Division HQ was established at the Grange Hotel, Brampton and very quickly became operational on 15th June 1942 under the command of Colonel Claude E Duncan; on 19th August, Brampton was officially activated as the First Bomb Wing Headquarters. This was also the site of No 16 'Splasher' medium frequency radio beacons used to enable formation assembly in 'solid overcast' weather.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): HQ 8AF opens in London with Major General Carl Spaatz commanding. The British Air Ministry publishes a tentative list of 87 airfields to be made ready for the 8AF.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): General George C Marshall's letter of instruction to Brigadier General Dwight D Eisenhower reveals plan to integrate all US air units in the UK into the 8AF.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Major General Carl Spaatz is informed that Operation ROUNDUP (plans for the invasion of Western Europe) has been put off until Spring 1943. This postponement is due to a decision to mount Operation TORCH (plan for Allied landings in North and Northwest Africa in Nov 42), which will necessitate the diversion of large numbers of aircraft earlier slated for the 8AF in the UK.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Air echelons of the 3FG are established at Atcham and High Ercall, England by this date. These are the first combat personnel of the VIII Fighter Command to reach the UK.

ETO - EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (8AF): Captain Charles C Kegelman [Commanding Officer, 15BS(L)], flying on a mission with 12 RAF Bostons against Hazebrouck marshalling yard, France, becomes the first member of the 8AF drop bombs on enemy-occupied Europe.

Main image - Major Charles C Kegelman [Commanding Officer, 15BS(L)]

The first pilot fatality of the 8AF in the ETO is suffered when
First Lieutenant Alfred W Giacomini of the 31FG crashes a Spitfire while landing at Atcham, England.

First 8th Air Force Operation