Talk:United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe

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Military history: World War II C‑class

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Note: There is some controversy about the USSTAF insignia/emblem. Most sources state the letters stand for United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe. However, there is evidence indicating -- at least initially -- it was United States Strategic & Tactical Air Forces.

[1] Flight magazine article. UK, April 1944. [2] Armed Forces Insignia/Freedom’s War. Graphic on card, US Army photo. USA, 1944. [3] Il Bombardemento Strategico. E. Bonaiti. Italy, circ.2006. [4] Air Support in the Invasion. Air intelligence summary, w/e 18 June 1944. (Quoted in Trident Scholar report. US Naval Academy, Annapolis, 1994.) [5] Alliance Review. Article, USSTAF veteran quoted. Ohio, July 2012. [6] Rome News-Tribune. Article, USSTAF veteran quoted. Georgia, June 2019. [7] Gordon Ellis, USSTAF veteran, to this contributor. [8] Ralph Scott, USSTAF veteran, to this contributor.--Astra44 (talk) 07:37, 8 July 2019 (UTC)[reply]

USSTAF Control...[edit]

I've always read that USSTAF (previously USSAFE) only had operational control over, as the name implies, the strategic air forces in Europe, that is the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces. By the time of USSTAF's formation, the Ninth and Twelfth Air Forces were tactical air forces with no real strategic reach or pretensions. Granted, I've always been curious what the "T" in USSTAF stood for, so am I to assume it was for "Tactical"? What the hell is the real story? I'm scared.172.190.24.140 (talk) 23:36, 12 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I would like to suggest you to read below book, ---quote--- • Harry H. Crosby, a navigator in the 100th BG ("Bloody Hundredth") during World War II, wrote A Wing and a Prayer: The Bloody 100th Bomb Group of the US Eighth Air Force in Action over Europe in World War II [1] (Harpercollins 1993 / Hdcvr ISBN 0-06-016941-9 / Ppbk ISBN 0-595-16703-9). The account is an insightful look into the life of a typical air officer assigned to one of the 8th Air Force's most revered units.

unquote----

What I got is Chinese (translated) version, but I think its content will be more accurate. USSTAF did control both strategic and tactical missions of all four Air Forces of U.S. (i.e. 8th, 9th, 12th and 15th Air Forces.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.251.80.3 (talk) 07:28, 15 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

USSTAF = ?[edit]

USSTAF means United States Strategic and Tactical Air Forces. USSTAF controlled the 8th, 9th, 12th, 15th Air Forces.

8th and 15th Air Force are for strategic missions mostly. 9th and 12th Air Force are for tactical missions only. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.251.80.3 (talk) 02:42, 15 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

As far as I know, USSTAF stands for US Strategic Air Forces - and the term was usually qualified by the suffix "in Europe" to distinguish it from its counterpart in the Pacific theatre. The 'ST' in the abbreviation stands for 'strategic', because to leave the abbreviation as 'USSAF' could have caused confusion. By 1944, as a tactical organisation, the Ninth Air Force (under Lt Gen Brereton) served to support the Allied armies invading Europe - and was answerable to the invasion's air commander, Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory. USSTAF was established early in 1944 to control and co-ordinate the strategic bombing campaign conducted by the Eighth AF in England and the Fifteenth AF in Italy. After this time, the Ninth Air Force dedicated itself entirely to the forthcoming invasion, and began to take its orders from the commanders on the ground. However, its logistical needs continued to be met largely by the same administrative and supply organisation in Great Britain that served the Eighth Air Force, which by January 1944 came under USSTAF (led by Gen Carl Spaatz at 'Widewing', Bushy Park, near London). So, while Spaatz was the overall boss of the two strategic air forces in Europe (Eighth and Fifteenth), the Ninth and Twelfth (in Italy) were controlled by the armies they supported - and therefore did not merit a separate designation such as 'US Tactical Air Forces in Europe'. I am involved professionally with WW2 aviation history and was a close friend of the late Roger Freeman, author of "The Mighty Eighth". Just last year I was corresponding with a former Eighth Air Force commander who confirmed that the USSTAF term had long been a source of confusion.