Air War WW2 Portal 
8th Air Force Europe in April 1942
TUESDAY, 7 APRIL 1942
ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ War Department): The War Department officially
states that the 8th Air Force will be established in the UK as an
intermediate command between US Army Forces in British Isles (USAFBI) and the
AAF commands. General George C Marshall notifies Major General James E Chaney
of this decision.
WEDNESDAY, 8 APRIL 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO): Harry L Hopkins, Special Assistant to
President Franklin D Roosevelt, and General George C Marshall, US Army Chief of
Staff, arrive in London for talks with British service and supply chiefs
concerning the integration of US and British manpower and war production for
action in Europe. General Marshall urges an offensive in the west to relieve
pressure upon the USSR and promises a constant flow of US troops, including many
air units, to the UK.
THURSDAY, 9 APRIL 1942
AMERICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS
ZONE OF INTERIOR (HQ AAF): 8th Air Force HQ echelon is located at Bolling
Field, Washington, DC, to prepare the 8th for a move overseas.
TUESDAY, 14 APRIL 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO): The British Government and Chiefs of
Staff (CoSs) accept General George C Marshall's Operation BOLERO plan for the
Allied build-up in the UK for an attack on Germany.
MONDAY, 27 APRIL 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) (8th Air Force): Advanced echelon
(ADVON) of HQ 8th Air Force and bomber, interceptor and base commands, along
with 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 2d Air Depot Group, and a weather
detachment totalling about 1,800 men, sail from Boston, Massachusetts for the
UK.
TUESDAY, 28 APRIL 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) (8th Air Force): HQ VIII Ground Air
Support Command is activated at Bolling Field, Washington, DC.
Source:
COMBAT CHRONOLOGY OF THE US ARMY AIR FORCES
Jack McKillop
USAF (Airways and Air Communications Service)
1955-59
used sources by McKillop:
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force History,
Headquarters USAF, 1961, ISBN 0-912799-02-1
COMBAT SQUADRONS OF THE AIR FORCE, WORLD WAR II, Office of Air Force
History, Headquarters USAF 1982
THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN WORLD WAR II: COMBAT CHRONOLOGY, 1941-1945 by the
Office of Air Force History, Headquarters USAF, 1973
