Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Eighth Air Force began as the VIII Bomber Command on the 19th of January 1942. It activated at Langley Field, Virginia, two weeks later and moved an advanced detachment to RAF Daws Hill by late February.
Combat operations started with a raid on four airfields in the Netherlands on the 4th of July 1942. Six Douglas Boston bombers from the 15th Bombardment Squadron flew alongside six more from No. 226 Squadron RAF during this mission.
By mid-1944 the Eighth Air Force reached total strength exceeding 200,000 people. At peak strength it fielded forty heavy bomber groups and fifteen fighter groups.
By 1945 all but one fighter group were equipped with the P-51D. The North American P-51 Mustang entered squadron service in Europe with British forces in early 1942 before being adopted by USAAF units.
The Eighth Air Force did not strike oil industry targets until the 13th of May 1944 when 749 bombers pounded facilities in Leipzig and Brüx. Almost 740 fighters escorted these missions against German refineries.
The Eighth Air Force incorporated into new Strategic Air Command on the 7th of June 1946. Headquarters moved from Okinawa to MacDill Field Florida becoming SAC second numbered air force.