Could someone explain...

[daddog]

The difference between -

The Eighth Air Force created in England in January in 1942 for strategic operations against German-occupied Europe

and

The Ninth Air Force which was created in England in December in 1942 for tactical operations against German-occupied Europe.

Thanks in advance.  

[Vosper]

Without knowing for certain, I would expect the difference to be their targets: the 8th hitting things like factories, and the 9th hitting airfields or supply depots.  

Striking at the source of the war effort versus striking at the pointy end of the war effort.

Just a guess, fwiw

Cheers

[Rocket]

I would go with Vosper's view.
Strategy being things with long term effects on the war.
The 8ths targets being factories, refineries, etc. Germanys way of making war over all.
Tactical being do deal with things that directly effect the battle(s) at hand.
If you looked you may find the 9ths targets being closer at hand like the airfields near a battle area, tank staging areas, or troop staging areas or even local HQ areas.

S!
Rocket

[Nath-BDP]

The 9th also flew the photo recon sorties.

[Sancho]

The 9th AF was in direct support of the Army (ground pounders) along the front lines.  The 8th was primarily hitting strategic targets behind enemy lines like factories, reducing the enemy's ability to wage war.

Look at the fighter groups of each Air Force.  8th AF FGs were tasked with escorting bombers.  9th AF FGs were tasked primarily as fighter bombers--although the 354th FG actually flew mostly bomber escort with the 8th while being officially assigned to the 9th.  And of course later in the war 8th AF FGs began beating up ground targets on the way home from escort missions.

[This message has been edited by Sancho (edited 02-28-2001).]

[Guppy35]

9th AF was geareed to follow the troops onto the continent and to support them by keeping the skies clear above the lines and hitting the tanks etc that were in the way.

8th was there to take the bombers to Germany and for the most part remained in England although there were a few times where individual groups spent time on the continent.

9th AF had tactical recon squadrons while the 8th had the recon squadrons that covered the bomber targets.

Dan