What was successively titled the 4th Bomb Wing, 3rd Bomb Division and
finally 3rd Air Division entered combat with the VIII Bomber Command in
May 1943. Under the charismatic leadership of Gen. Curtis LeMay, the
Force's crews in their B-17s forged the concept of 'shuttle' missions
with a run to North Africa on 17 August 1943, followed during the summer
of 1944 with several similar missions to and from Russia. Although
comprising the third and final element of the 'Mighty Eighth's' heavy
bomber force to be established in England, the Division's combat record
was to prove in all respects the equal of its contemporaries during its
two years of active operations.