36th Pursuit Squadron (36th PS) / 36th Fighter Squadron (36th FS)
"The Flying Fiends"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG)

Background
Assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG) as the 36th Pursuit Squadron (36th PS) and later renamed the 36th Fighter Squadron (36th FS) and nicknamed "The Flying Fiends" equipped with the P-39 Airacobra and later the P-38 Lightning flying combat missions in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) during World War II.

Wartime History
In early 1942 the 36th Pursuit Squadron (36th PS) was sent overseas to Australia. On March 6, 1942 arrives Brisbane. On March 13, 1942 the squadron moves to Lowood Airfield. In late April 1942 the squadron arrives at 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On April 30, 1942 eleven P-39 Airacobras from the 35th FS and 36th FS led by Lt. Col Boyd D. "Buzz" Wagner took off on a mission to strike Lae Airfield. This was the first combat mission of the 8th Pursuit Group (8th PG) in New Guinea. At 2:37pm, the Airacobras strafed Lae Airfield targeting parked aircraft and seaplanes in Huon Gulf, then depart the target area. Near Salamaua, A6M2 Zeros of the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) attack the formation. Lost are P-39D 41-6982 pilot 1st Lt. Paul G. Brown (survived) force landed later rescued and P-39F 41-7186  pilot 1st Lt. James J. Bevlock (survived) force landed later rescued.

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-39D "Erminie" 41-6951 pilot Lt. Charles Faletta (survived), P-39F 41-7215 (survived) and P-39F pilot 2nd Lt. Robert R. Love.

During early May 1942 redesigned the 36th Fighter Squadron (36th FS).

On May 1, 1942 six Airacobras led by Lt. Falletta took off from Antill Plains Airfield via Cooktown Airfield and Horn Island Airfield on a ferry flight bound for 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. Flying in bad weather and thick clouds, three force landed inland from Cape Orford Ness, near the Escape River near Weipa. Lost are P-39D 41-6951 pilot Lt. Charles Faletta (survived), P-39F 41-7215  pilot Lt. Walter Harvey (survived), P-39F Airacobra pilot 2nd Lt. Robert R. Love (KIA) and P-39F 41-7216 pilot Lt. Yundt from 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS).

On May 3, 1942 ten Airacobras took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Morsby on a mission to intercept incoming Japanese bombers. Lost is P-39D 41-6909  pilot 2nd Lt. Joseph S. Lovett, Jr.

On May 4, 1942 in the early morning ten Airacobras from 36th FS and 35th FS took off from 7 Mile Drome on a strafing mission against Lae Airfield at dawn. Inbound there was poor weather and clouds over the Owen Stanley Range that caused five to aborted the mission. The Airacobras that managed to reach Lae approached from Huon Gulf and strafed four G4M1 Bettys parked at Lae Airfield. Four Airacobras (two from 35th FS and two from 36th FS) failed to return from the mission and were presumed lost due to bad weather. Lost from 36th FS are P-39D 41-6956  pilot 2nd Lt. Charles L. Schwimmer (MIA) and P-39D 41-6971  pilot 1st Patrick M. Armstrong, Jr. (MIA). Lost from 35th FS are P-39D 41-6825 pilot 1st Lt. Jeff D. Hooker, Jr. (MIA), and P-39F 41-7145 pilot 1st Lt. Victor R. Talbot (MIA).

On May 9, 1942 lost is P-39D 41-6800 pilot 2nd Lt. Don McGee (survived) force landed on Fishermans Island (Daugo).

On May 17, 1942 lost is P-39F 41-7122 pilot 2nd Lt. Jessie M. Bland (survived) ditched off Pyramid Point near Bootless Bay.

On May 18, 1942 lost is P-39F 41-7191 pilot 2nd Lt. Charles H. Chapman, Jr. (MIA).

On May 27, 1942 lost is P-39F 41-7162  pilot Captain Thomas W. Hornsby (survived) force landed at Rigo.

On May 28, 1942 the squadron scambles to intercept A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) over Port Moresby. Lost is P-39F 41-7190 pilot Captain Wyatte P. Exum (survived).

On June 30, 1942 the squadron moves from Port Moresby to Garbutt Field at Townsville.

On September 14, 1942 moves from Ross River Airfield to Milne Bay. On September 25, 1943 lost is P-39D 41-38339  pilot 1st Lt. Paul G. Brown (MIA).

On February 22, 1943 moves from Milne Bay to Mareeba Airfield.

On October 11, 1943 four Airacobras took off from Port Moresby on a gunnery training mission. Lost is P-39Q Airacobra pilot 1st Lt Frederic T. Burley (KIA) crashed near the beach to the south of Bootless Bay near Tubusereia.

On October 28, 1943 four Airacobras took off from 5 Mile Drome (Wards) on an an armed patrol bound for the Nadzab area. During the flight, the formation experienced a violent weather front with 100% overcast with visibility above overcast of twenty miles, and flew along the coast at 20,000' to avoid the weather. Only P-39Q Airacobra pilot 1st Lt John J. Perkins returns landing at 5:05pm. Lost is P-39Q 42-19959  pilot 2nd Lt. William H. Melville (MIA), P-39Q 42-19987  pilot 1st Lt Francis J. Pitonyak (MIA) and P-39Q 42-20031 pilot 2nd Lt George E. Fenn (MIA).

On March 15, 1944 the squadron flies a high cover escort mission over Wewak. Lost is P-38H 42-66528 pilot Captain Warren R. Danson (MIA).

On March 19, 1944 the squadron flies an escort mission over Wewak. Lost is P-38H Lightning pilot 2nd Lt. Irwin Weiss (MIA).

P-38 piloted by Perkins crashed March 21, 1944

On April 16, 1944 a four plane flight "Agate Special" took off from Nadzab Airfield on a mission to escort a B-25 Mitchell from 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) searching for B-25G Mitchell 42-64835 that force landed four days earlier. Returning, the formation encountered heavy overcast the proceeded towards Madang in hopes of landing at Saidor Airfield. Instead, the weather worsened and the four split up into pairs. Lost is P-38H 42-66???  pilot 1st Lt. Eugene A. Zielinski (MIA), P-38H 42-66555  pilot Mikucky (MIA), P-38H 42-66832  pilot 1st Lt Lawrence Reeves and P-38H 42-66668  pilot Keown (MIA). Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Black Sunday" for the number of aircraft lost.

On October 15, 1944 the squadron escorts B-24 Liberator on a mission against Balikpapan. Over the target, intercepted Ki-44 Tojos to keep them away from the bombers. Lost is P-38L "Nulli Secundus" pilot Captain Kenneth G. Ladd (MIA).

On January 3, 1945 the squadron escorts A-20s over Puerta Princessa on Palawan Island. Lost is P-38L Lightining 44-25217 pilot Lt. Col Grattan "Grant" Mahony (KIA) shot down by anti-aircraft fire after strafing a seaplane.

On July 13, 1945 four P-38s took off from Murtha Airfield on Mindoro on an orientation flight for two new pilots. Lost is P-38L 44-26538  pilot 1st Lt. Richard P. Stier (KIA) and P-38L 44-????? pilot 2nd Lt. Donald Henderson (KIA).

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 171-173 (36th Fighter) [PDF pages 183-185]
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 25 (8th PG / 8th 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)"