At the request of the "First Lady of the Eighth Air Force," Mrs. Ruth A. Eaker,
this bronze likeness of her husband, General Ira C. Eaker, was returned to the
United States when the original home of the World War II Headquarters, VIII
Bomber Command, High Wycombe Air Station, England, was closed in late 1993.
Through the efforts of General Russel E. Dougherty, Commander of the Second Air
Force from 3 April 1971 to 30 April 1972 and Commander-In-Chief of Strategic
Air Command from 1 August 1974 to 1 August 1977, Barksdale Air Force Base, now
Headquarters for the historic "Mighty Eighth" Air Force, was chosen as the new
home for General Eaker's sculpture.
Dedicated December 12, 1994.