Piercing the Fog - Air Force Historical Studies Office

The Air War in Europe: Organizing Eighth Air Force’s
Intelligence
At the Washington Conference of January 1941, American and British military
leaders had agreed that in the event of a wartime alliance, success would depend
on the close collaboration of intelligence agencies.76 Despite differences in
operational doctrine, experience, and requirements, the integration achieved
during the war was unique in the history of military intelligence. Immediately
after Pearl Harbor, the RAF’s Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence (ACAS
[I]), Air Vice Marshal C. E. H. Medhurst, flew to the United States to lay the
groundwork for this cooperation.
Integration of air intelligence functions in the United Kingdom began with
the arrival of Brig. Gen. Ira Eaker and the advance contingent of Eighth Air
Force in February 1942. Eaker decreed that in establishing its intelligence
structure, Eighth Air Force would complement rather than compete with
existing RAF and Air Ministry intelligence agen~ies.7~ As an initial step, the
RAF invited Major Hull and one of the five men who accompanied Eaker to the
United Kingdom, to attend the RAF Intelligence In May, ACAS (I)
agreed that RAF Bomber Command would supply its American counterparts
with “all requisite intelligence . . . on a parallel with R.A.F. Commanders” until
the U.S. intelligence functions were fully e~tablished.~~ The Air Ministry even
established a new section specifically to link its air intelligence with the
American Air Forces.80 The thread of RAF support ran throughout the early
period of activation and establishment. Looking back, General Charles Cabell,
who held critical positions both at HQ AAF and in Eighth Air Force, reflected,
“Their contributions to us. . . have been tremendous in giving us an intelligence
organization which we were entirely lacking.”’l
The crude state of American military intelligence prior to 1942 was
reflected in the tables of organization (TOs) of the initial air units to arrive in
the United Kingdom. They contained no full-time intelligence positions below
the level of VIII Bomber and Fighter Commands. Consequently, in March 1942
Eaker followed up a personal letter to Maj. Gen. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz,
Commanding General, Eighth Air Force, still in the United States, with a
message requesting fifty intelligence officers “as soon as possible.” So great
was the need that Eaker suggested commissioning selected individuals directly
from civilian life and sending them overseas.*2 Several of these individuals were
personally selected either by Major Hull or by highly placed Air Staff officers
and were “taught how to salute and put on to a plane.”83 More formally, fifty
new officers went directly to the United Kingdom from Officer Training
School. Nine graduates of the Harrisburg Intelligence School and one
experienced Air Staff officer also arrived in the fall.84 In spite of this influx,
Eighth Air Force requested an additional ninety intelligence officers in April
1943.8’
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