80th Pursuit Squadron (80th PS)
80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "Headhunters"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG)

Background
Assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force, 8th Fighter Group (8th FG) as the 80th Pursuit Squadron (80th PS). During May 1942 redesignated 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS). Nicknamed "Headhunters" equipped with the P-38 Lightning flying combat missions in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) during World War II.

Wartime History
In early 1942 the 80th Pursuit Squadron (80th PS) was sent overseas to Australia. On March 6, 1942 arrives Brisbane. On March 13, 1942 the squadron moves to Lowood Airfield.

On May 1, 1942 six Airacobras took off on a ferry flight from Antil Plains Airfield flying northward with a refueling stop at Cooktown Airfield then encountered a storm near Horn Island. Due to bad weather and thick clouds, four Airacobras force land on Cape York Peninsula including P-39F- 41-7216 (survived).

During early May 1942 redesigned the 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS).

First Tour of Duty
On July 20, 1942 the squadron with P-39s and P-400 moves from Petrie Airfield to 12 Mile Drome (Berry) near Port Moresby.

On July 22, 1942 the squadron flies their first combat mission to strafe Japanese unloading barges off Buna and Gona.

On July 29, 1942 the squadron flies a close escort mission with Airacoras from the 41st Fighter Squadron for eight A-24 Dive Bombers from the 3rd BG dive bombing Japanese transports near Gona.

On August 31, 1942 Airacobras from the squadron escort B-26 Marauders from the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) bombing Lae. Lost is P-400 Airacobra BX147 pilot Cobb (survived).

On November 8, 1942 transfers Turnbull Field (No. 3 Strip) near Milne Bay.

On February 6, 1943 ends their first combat tour in New Guinea and transfers to Mareeba Airfield and transitions to the P-38 Lightning.

Second Tour of Duty
On March 21, 1943 the squadron returns to 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby starting their second combat tour in New Guinea.

On April 12, 1943 three Lightnings led by 1st Lt. Donald C. McGee with 2nd Lt. Robert Siebenthal While climbing, P-38G 42-12857  pilot Lt. Campbell P. M. Wilson on a patrol and while airborne were vectored to intercept an incoming Japanese formation of G4M1 Bettys escorted by A6M Zeros. Unable to climb due to engine trouble, P-38G 42-12857  pilot Lt. Campbell P. M. Wilson (WIA, survived) was jumped by a Zero and damaged then further damaged while landing. Meanwhile, at Iron Range Airfield while taxing P-38G 43-2382 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert M. Bennett suffered a nose wheel strut failure and was damaged.

On April 21, 1943 lost is P-38G 43-2205  pilot Lt. Homer F. Harrington (survived) crashed on take off.

P-38G pilot McIntyre  crashed April 29, 1943.

P-38G pilot Neater crashed July 11, 1943.

On July 21, 1943 lost is P-38 pilot McCarthy.

On August 20, 1943 the squadron flew a mission against Wewak. Returning P-38G Lightning 43-2201 pilot 2nd Lt. Earl W. Smith (MIA) decided to perform aerobatics over a ship inside Fairfax Harbor. As he slow rolled, his plane crashed off Paga Point.

On August 21, 1943 sixteen P-38 Lightnings took off on a close escort mission for B-25 Mitchells striking Dagua and But. Inbound P-38 pilot Captain Norbert C. Ruff aborted due to oil pressure failure. South of Dagua, the formation was intercepted by approximately 20-40 Ki-43 Oscars and a dog fight began. U.S. planes claimed eleven enemy fighters shot down. Lost was P-38 pilot Feehan (MIA), P-38 pilot Guttel  MIA August 21, 1943, P-38 pilot Krisher  MIA August 21, 1943. Ditched is P-38F 42-12637  pilot DeGraffenreid (survived).

On August 23, 1943 lost is P-38H 42-66525 pilot Captain Leonidas S. Mathers (KIA).

On September 2, 1943 lost is P-38H 42-66563  pilot Adams (MIA).

During September 1943 transfers to 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby.

On September 15, 1943 the squadron flew a fighter sweep over Wewak ahead of B-24D Liberators from the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG). Lost returning is P-38G Lightning 42-12709 pilot 2nd Lt. Richard S. Strommen (survived).

On November 2, 1943 the squadron took off from Kiriwina Airfield on a mission to escort B-25D Mitchells over Rabaul. Lost is P-38G 43-2203 pilot F/O Willis F. Evers (MIA) and P-38H 42-66662 pilot 2nd Lt. Norman R. Shea (MIA).

On November 7, 1943 the squadron took off from Kiriwina Airfield on a mission to escort B-24D Liberators on a bombing mission against Rabaul. Inbound, P-38G "Lil-De-Icer / G.I. Annie" 43-2386  pilot F/O Robert M. Gentile aborts the mission and was escorted his element 1st Lt. Leland B. Blair roughly 30 miles south of Wide Bay before entering a bad weather went Missing In Action (MIA).

On December 11, 1943 transfers to North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15) with P-38s.

On December 22, 1943 seventeen P-38s escorts B-25 Mitchells from the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) on a strike against Wewak. Over the target, the formation was intercepted by enemy fighters including Ki-43 Oscars and Ki-61 Tonys from the 68th Hiko Sentai (68th Flying Regiment) and 78th Hiko Sentai (78th Flying Regiment). Lost are P-38J 42-67142 pilot 2nd Lt. Howard B. Donaldson (MIA) and P-38H "My Gal Sal" 42-66631 pilot 1st Lt. Jennings L. Myers (MIA).

On December 26, 1943 twelve P-38s from the 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) led by Major Edward Craig shoot down 9 aircraft: BW Adams claims two Vals, Ed Cragg claims an Oscar, Ken Ladd claims two Val's, CB Ray claimed a Val, Jay Robbins claimed two Zeros and "Corky" Smith claimed an Oscar. Lost is P-38H "Porky II" 42-66506 pilot Major Edward "Porky" Cragg (MIA).

On January 23, 1944 the squadron flew an escort mission for B-24D Liberators over Wewak. Lost is P-38J 42-67152 pilot 1st Lt. Jess E. Gidley (MIA).

On February 24, 1944 the squadron transfers to Cape Gloucester Airfield on New Britain.

On March 25, 1944 the squadron moves to Nadzab Airfield on New Guinea.

On May 7, 1944 force landed i P-38J "Jandina III" 42-103988  pilot Captain Jay T. Robbins (survived).

On June 18, 1944 the squadron moves to Owi Airfield.

On September 20, 1944 the squadron moves to Morotai.

On November 15, 1944 the ground echelon moves to Dulag Airfield on Leyte while the flight echelon continues to operate from Morotai.

On December 20, 1944 the squadron moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro. By the end of the month, the entire squadron moves to Dulag Airfield.

On August 5, 1945 transfers from San Jose Airfield on Mindoro to Ie Shima Airfield off Okinawa.

On August 12, 1945 lot is P-38L 44-27142 pilot Hochuli (MIA).

On August 19, 1945 P-38 Lightings from 80th Fighter Squadron and B-25J Mitchells from 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) escort G6M1-L Betty "Bataan I" and G4M1 Betty "Bataan II" with the Japanese surrender delegation to Ie Shima Airfield.

Other Known Aircraft
P-38F Dottie From Brooklyn" 42-12647  transfered to a service squadron force landed January 1944.
P-38H "Staten Island or Bust" 42-66535  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.
P-38H "Corky Jr" 42-66668  transfered to the 36th Fighter Squadron.
P-38H "Jandina" 42-668??  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.
P-38G "Ruff Stuff" 43-2212  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.
P-38J "Corky III" 42-67580  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.
P-38J "Jandina II" 42-67590  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.
P-38J "Jandina IV" 43-28832  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.
P-38H 42-66835  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.
P-38J 42-103983  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.
P-38J 42-103992  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.
P-38J "Corky IV"  ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 282-283 (80th Fighter) [PDF pages 294-295]
Stars & Bars (1995) page 25 (80th PG / 80th FG)
Attack & Conquer The 8th Fighter Group in World War II (1999) unit history of the 8th Fighter Group (8th FG)
P-39 Airacobra Aces of World War 2 (2001) page 9
"P-39s of the USAAF's 8th PG (all pursuit groups were redesignated fighter groups in May 1942)"