Today marks the 72nd anniversary of the activation of the Eighth Air Force here in Savannah. Formed as part of the immediate mobilization that followed the attacks on Pearl Harbor, the "Mighty Eighth" would grow to become the "greatest air armada of all time," helping to cripple the Nazi war infrastructure and change the tide of World War II.
On Jan. 28, 1942, the Eighth Air Force was formed at the National Guard Armory on Bull Street with only seven men and no airplanes.
By the end of World War II, more than 350,000 men had served in the Eighth, with the capability of launching more than 2,000 bombers and 1,000 fighters on a single mission.
These young men, many of whom had never even seen an airplane, trained all over the country to fly on B-17 and B-24 bombers, P-47 and P-51 fighters or to become experts on their mechanical systems to provide ground support for the aircraft. The Eighth Air Force's primary mission would be to conduct daylight strategic bombing campaigns, a concept that had never been tested in combat. Facing a ruthless enemy and impossible odds, the soldiers of the Eighth Air Force summoned great courage and character to ultimately achieve victory in the skies over Europe.
Under the leadership of great soldiers and airmen, including Gen. Ira Eaker, Gen. Carl Spaatz, Gen. James Doolittle and Savannah native Maj. Gen. Frank Hunter, the Eighth Air Force relentlessly destroyed the Nazi's capability to continue the war.
When asked if the men of the Eighth would fly in the face of horrendous losses in support of a greater mission against the Nazi war machine, Maj. Gen. Lewis Lyle, the Museum's founder, simply responded, "You better believe they will go." And they did.
By the end of the war, 26,000 Eighth Air Force crewmen gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. To put that into perspective, that is more than the entire U.S. Marine Corps lost during World War II.
Despite these numbers, men and women have continued to go for more than 70 years, flying missions in Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. These valiant service members have maintained a legacy of service and sacrifice that has made the Mighty Eighth Air Force one of the most prestigious and storied military units in America.
This legacy is ever present here in Savannah. Our landscape is dotted with installations, from Fort Stewart to Hunter Army Air Field to the Georgia Air National Guard Readiness Training Center. They remind us of the sacrifices the members of the military make to defend our freedom. We draw strength and inspiration from them.
At the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, we celebrate and welcome the brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces when they visit with their family, a reunion group or upon their return from deployment. I encourage all of you to pay tribute to them by visiting the museum to experience these stories and help us celebrate our freedom.
Henry Skipper is president and CEO of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.