"The Mighty Eighth"

The U.S. Eighth Air Force began as VIII Bomber Command on 19 January 1942 and became Eight Air Force on 1 February 1942. Its air offensive campaigns in Europe included “Europe,” “Normandy,” “Northern France,” “Rhineland,” “Ardennes-Alsace,” and “Central Europe,” under commanders Maj. Gen. Ira C. Eaker, Brig. Gen. Newton Longfellow, Maj. Gen. Frederick L. Anderson, Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle, Maj. Gen. William Kepner, and Maj. Gen. Westside T. Larson. Its Medal of Honor recipients were 1st Lt. Jack Warren Mathis, SSgt. Maynard H. Smith, F/O John Cary Morgan, Col. Leon W. Johnson, 2nd Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes, Lt. Col. Earl A. Baker, Major John L. Jerstad, SSgt. Forrest L. Vosler, 1st Lt. William R. Lawley, Jr., 2nd Lt. Walter E. Truemper, SSgt. Archibald Mathies, 1st Lt. Edward S. Michael, Lt. Col. Leon Robert Vance, 1st Lt. Donald Joseph Gott, 2nd Lt. William E. Metzger, 2nd Lt. Robert E. Femoyer, and Brig. Gen. Frederick W. Castle. Its decorations included 226 Distinguished Service Crosses, 45977 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 12 Distinguished Service Medals, 864 Silver Stars, 442300 Air Medals, 2984 Bronze Stars, 488 Soldiers Medals, 7033 Purple Hearts, 209 Legion of Merit awards, 27 Distinguished Unit Citations, and 18 Meritorious Service Unit Plaques. The courageous sacrifices of over 300,000 men and women during World War Two in the U.S. Eighth Air Force honored the heritage of free peoples in their quest for world peace against tyranny and suppression of freedom, and nearly 50,000 were killed or did not return from their missions.

Riverside, Ohio · United States