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About The 8th Air Force (8af.org)

Our Mission

The 8th Air Force (8af.org) is dedicated to preserving and honoring the legacy of the men and women who served in the 8th Army Air Force from 1941-1945. As a division of the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, a Texas-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we collect, digitize, and share historical records, personal stories, and artifacts that document this critical chapter of World War II military aviation history.

The 8th Air Force Legacy

The 8th Air Force, nicknamed "The Mighty Eighth," played a pivotal role in World War II. Operating primarily from bases in England, its fighter groups cleared the skies of the German Luftwaffe while heavy bombers, including the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator aircraft, struck strategic targets from the French coast to deep within the German homeland. The 8th Air Force suffered over 26,000 casualties during the war, more than the entire Marine Corps, highlighting the extraordinary sacrifice of these brave men and women. Our organization ensures these contributions to American and world history are never forgotten.

Who We Are

The 8af.org brings together historians, veterans, family members, and enthusiasts dedicated to preserving the 8th Air Force's remarkable legacy. Our team includes:

  • Professional military historians specializing in Army Air Forces operations
  • Archivists and digital preservation specialists
  • Veteran volunteers with direct connections to the Eighth Air Force
  • Family members of 8th Air Force personnel

We work collaboratively to ensure that the stories, sacrifices, and achievements of the 8th Air Force remain accessible for future generations.

Our Digital Archive

The 8af.org website houses one of the most comprehensive digital collections related to the 8th Air Force, featuring:

  • Over 55,000 web pages of historical information
  • Comprehensive rosters of 8th Air Force service members
  • Missing Air Crew Reports (MACRs)
  • Digitized official military documents and unit histories
  • Award records and citations (General Orders)
  • Enemy encounter reports from fighter pilots
  • Personal accounts and photographs

Our dedicated historians work alongside volunteers to transcribe names, awards, and other historical narratives from official Army Air Forces documents. This ongoing work continues to expand our searchable database, making these valuable 8th Air Force records accessible to researchers, family members, and history enthusiasts worldwide.

Our Artifact Collection

Our world-class collection of 8th Air Force artifacts includes:

  • Uniforms and insignia
  • Medals and ribbons
  • Flight gear and equipment
  • Original documents and photographs
  • Wartime souvenirs and scrapbooks
  • Personal items from service members

From ground crew to flight crews, our collection preserves the stories of all military occupational specialties that contributed to the 8th Air Force's success during World War II.

Current Preservation Projects

Our team is actively working on several 8th Air Force preservation initiatives:

  • Transcription of award documents and General Orders
  • Digitization of enemy encounter reports and unit histories
  • Processing and cataloging Missing Air Crew Reports
  • Digitizing photographs and scrapbooks from our museum collection
  • Converting military service records to digital formats

Research

  • Service record research
  • Unit history information
  • Mission details and combat records
  • Connecting families with similar histories
  • Educational resources for students and educators studying the 8th Air Force

How You Can Help

The preservation of 8th Air Force history depends on support from people like you. Here's how you can contribute:

  • Donate Materials: Family photographs, letters, documents, uniforms, or artifacts related to 8th Air Force personnel
  • Volunteer: Assist with transcription projects
  • Financial Support: Make a tax-deductible donation to fund our 8th Air Force preservation efforts
  • Share Stories: Submit your family member's 8th Air Force service history for inclusion in our archives

Contact Us

  • Contact: Complete our contact form to reach one of our historians.

The 8af.org is a division of the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.




VOLUNTEERING

Are you an AAC, AAF or USAF Veteran, family member, historian or WW2 enthusiast? We Need YOU! Contact us today to see how you can help the Army Air Corps Library and Museum, a Texas Not-For-Profit Corporation. We need your help! We are looking for volunteers that can help us with the following tasks. Typing and Transcriptionists: One of our big projects is extracting data from the thousands of documents we have and putting this data into a database where we can display the information on a website such as this one.

Contact About Volunteering