Birthplace of Eighth Air Force GHM 025-86, Chatham Co.
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GA Cacher
N 32° 03.876 W 081° 05.840
17S E 490812 N 3547600
Birthplace of Eighth Air Force State Historical Marker
Located at Old Chatham Armory, Bull St. near Park Ave.,
Waymark Code: WM2JN0
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 11/12/2007
Views: 89
BIRTHPLACE OF EIGHTH AIR FORCE
On 28 January 1942, the Eighth Air Force, was activated in the adjacent building, a National Guard Armory at the time.
Having moved to England, the Eighth was ready on 17 August to test the theory that daylight bombing raids could be made with profitable results. Twelve B-17's participated in this mission, striking the railway marshaling yards at Rouen, France, and returning safely to their home base. This highly successful mission established the pattern for the strategic bombardment of Nazi Germany -- the Eighth Air Force by day and the RAF by night.
Under the leaderships of Generals Carl A. Spaatz, Ira C. Eaker and James H. Doolittle, it flew over 600,000 sorties delivering over 700,000 tons of bombs and destroying over 15,000 German aircraft. On one single mission, December 24, 1944, it was able to send 2,000 B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators and nearly 1,000 fighters in the Battle of Germany.
The renowned winged-eight, the emblem of the Eighth Air Force, was designed by former Air Force Major Ed Winter, a native of Savannah.
025-86 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1966
