Air War WW2 Portal 
8th Air Force Europe in July 1942
WEDNESDAY, 1 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) (8th Air Force): The first B-17,
assigned to the 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the BOLERO air movement via
the N Atlantic route lands at Prestwick, Scotland.
FRIDAY, 3 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) (8th Air Force): 27th Fighter
Squadron, 1st Fighter Group based at Goxhill, England, begins operating
from Reykjavik, Iceland with P-38s.
SATURDAY, 4 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): First USAAF air
operation over W Europe. 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light) flying 6 American-
built Bostons belonging to No. 226 Squadron Royal Air Force, join a RAF low-
level attack on De Koog (2 aircraft), Bergen/Alkmaar, Haamstede and
Valkenburg (2 aircraft) Airfields in the Netherlands; 2 aircraft are lost, 1
damaged beyond repair and 1 damaged; 6 airmen are MIA. Aircraft flown by
Captain Charles C Kegelman, Squadron Commander, is severely damaged, but
Kegelman succeeds in bringing it back to base at Swanton Morley. VIII Air
Force Composite Command is activated in the US. Second B-17 arrives in the UK
via the N Atlantic ferry route.
MONDAY, 6 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): The RAF invites the
Eighth Air Force to share membership in important RAF operational committees
dealing with targets, operational research, interception, and bomber
operations. VIII Air Force Service Command sets up HQ at Bushy Park with
Major General Walter H Frank as Commanding General. 6 B-17s arrive in the UK
via the N Atlantic ferry route.
THURSDAY, 9 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): 7 P-38s arrive in the UK
via the N Atlantic route, this being the first time single-seater USAAF
aircraft have flown this route.
SATURDAY, 11 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): First formal decoration
ceremony held in the Eighth Air Force takes place when Major General Carl
Spaatz pins the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) on Major Charles C Kegelman
for extraordinary gallantry and heroism during the raid of 4 Jul.
SUNDAY, 12 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): 6 of 6 Bostons
borrowed from the RAF hit Abbeville/Drucat Airfield, France; 2 aircraft are
damaged; no casualties. The 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light) stands down
after this mission to prepare their own Bostons which are ex-RAF machines.
MONDAY, 13 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): HQ 52d Fighter Group
arrives at Eglinton, Co. Derry, Ireland from the US.
SATURDAY, 18 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO): Harry Hopkins, General George C
Marshall, Admiral Ernest V King, Prime Minister Winston S Churchill and the
British Chiefs of Staff begin a conference in London on the proposed invasion
of N Africa (Operation TORCH).
TUESDAY, 21 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): Lieutenant General
Dwight D Eisenhower assigns to the 8th Air Force the mission of carrying out,
in collaboration with the RAF, the degree of air operations with the view of
attaining air domination over W France by 1 Apr 43.
SUNDAY, 26 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): Lieutenant Colonel
Albert P Clark, Executive Officer of the 31st Fighter Group, is shot down
while flying an RAF fighter on a sweep over France, thus becoming the first
8th Air Force fighter pilot to be shot down in the ETO; he survives and is
taken prisoner by the Germans.
MONDAY, 27 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 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.
TUESDAY, 28 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): HQ VIII Fighter Command
opens at Bushey Hall, England following move from temporary HQ at High
Wycombe. Brigadier General Frank O'D Hunter, designated Commanding General
VIII Fighter Command on 14 May in the US, assumes command in England.
HQ VIII Ground Air Support Command, Brigadier General Robert C Candee,
Commanding General, arrives at Bushy Park, England from the US. General
Candee announces staff assignments and begins the organization of his
command in the UK.
WEDNESDAY, 29 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): 28th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 60th Troop Carrier Group arrives at Podington, England from the
US with C-47s.
FRIDAY, 31 JULY 1942
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO, 8th Air Force): Units of the Provisional
Troop Carrier Command are organized in UK.
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
