Long Reach or Down to Earth?

On Thursday 4th July 2013 I attended the Long Reach or Down to Earth? talk by Dr. Graham Cross at the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library. This was the third in a series of talks to celebrate 50 years of The 2nd Air Division Memorial Library. This event was about the importance of 8th Air Force Fighters during World War Two.

The Memorial Library is a unique “living memorial” to nearly 7,000 young Americans in the 2nd Air Division of the US 8th Air Force who lost their lives during the Second World War. Located in the landmark Forum building in the centre of Norwich, the Library have a lending collection of over 4,000 books covering all aspects of American life and culture, and a specialist collection devoted to the history of the 2nd Air Division.

These talks have been a fantastic way to celebrate 50 years of The 2nd Air Division Memorial Library. This was another interesting talk as Dr. Graham Cross told us about the use and tactics of 8th Air Force Fighters during World War Two. VIII Fighter Command was the fighter arm of the Eighth Air Force during World War Two. Its primary mission was to escort the heavy bombers of VIII Bomber Command to their targets in Occupied Europe, providing protection against Luftwaffe interceptors.