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
On January 6, 1942 constituted as the Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On January 10, 1942 activated in the 8th Pursuit Squadron (8th PG) at Mitchel Field in New York. On January 26, 1942 departs embarked aboard the Maui bound for Australia.

Wartime History
On March 6, 1942 arrives Brisbane with the P-39 Airacobras and P-400 Airacobras assigned to the squadron reassembled at Eagle Farm Field. On March 13, 1942 moves to Lowood Airfield.

On May 1, 1942 six Airacobras from 36th PS and 80th PS led by Lt. Falletta took off from Antil 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 near Horn Island, three force landed inland from Cape Orford Ness, near the Escape River near Weipa. Lost is P-39F 41-7215  pilot Lt. Walter Harvey (survived), P-39F Airacobra pilot 2nd Lt. Robert R. Love (KIA) both from 36th Fighter Squadron (36th FS) and P-39F 41-7216 pilot Lt. Yundt from 80th PS.

On May 10, 1942 the squadron moves to Petrie Airfield and begins two months of training prior to combat deployment. On May 15, 1942 redesignated 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG). Nicknamed "Headhunters".

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 moves to Turnbull Field (No. 3 Strip) near Milne Bay.

On February 6, 1943 ends their first combat tour in New Guinea and moves 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.

On April 29, 1943 lost is P-38G Lightning pilot 2nd Lt John Franklin McIntyre II (KIA) attempted a loop at low altitude and crashed.

On July 11, 1943 lost is P-38G Lightning pilot 1st Lt. George L. Neater (KIA) while buzzing the runway, this P-38 accidentally hit a palm tree and truck then crashed.

On July 21, 1943 lost is P-38 Lightning pilot 2nd Lt. Murtha J. McCarthy (KIA).

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).

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 moves to Cape Gloucester Airfield on New Britain.

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

On April 12, 1942 the squadron flew an escort mission for B-24s over Hollandia and are joined by P-38J piloted by Captain Richard I. Bong who claimed three aerial victories and breaks the record of World War I ace Captain Edward "Eddie" Rickenbacker 26 aerial victory claims in World War I and Bong becomes America's highest scoring ace.

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

On June 18, 1944 moves to Owi Airfield.

On July 10, 1944 damaged P-38J 42-103989 suffered a tire blow out and was written off.

On August 12, 1944 a Japanese air raid against Owi Airfield destroys P-38J 42-103992.

On August 17, 1944 P-38 piloted by 1st Lt. Kenneth B. Lloyd claims an aerial victory.

On September 20, 1944 moves to Morotai.

On November 15, 1944 the ground echelon moves to Dulag Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines. Meanwhile, while the flight echelon continues to operate from Morotai until the end of the month then moves o Dulag Airfield.

On December 20, 1944 moves to San Jose Airfield on Mindoro and also operates from other area airfields including Hill Field. By the end of the month, the entire squadron returns to Dulag Airfield.

On December 26, 1944 eleven P-38s led by Captain Paul C. Murphey took off from Hill Field on Mindoro on a strike against the Japanese task force in the Mindoro Strait west of Mindoro. Only four of the P-38s were armed with 500 pound or 1,000 pound bombs due to shortages of bombs. To avoid aerial collisions in the darkness, Murphey ordered the formation to turn on their formation lights. During the attack, P-38L Lightning pilot by Lt. Orland J. Harris (survived) hit the superstructure of one warship and was later rescued. Lost is P-38L "Dark Eyes" pilot 1st Lt. Kenneth B. Lloyd (survived). The squadron earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for this mission.

On August 5, 1945 moves to Ie Shima Airfield off Okinawa in southern Japan.

On August 12, 1945 the squadron flew a mission to bomb and strafe target at Kadogawa and Mimitsu on eastern Kyushu. Lost is P-38L 44-27142 pilot Major Robert G. 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.

Postwar
On November 25, 1945 moves to Mushiroda Airfield at Fukuoka in Japan. On December 26, 1945 inactivated and disbanded.

On February 20, 1947 reactivated and attached to the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group (49th FBG) equipped with P-51 Mustangs at Itazuke Airfield near Osaka. On April 14, 1947 moves to Ashiya Airfield. On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On March 25, 1949 returns to Itazuke Airfield euipped with the F-80 Shooting Star. On January 20, 1950 redesignated 80th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (80th FBS).

Korean War
On September 25, 1950 assigned to the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group (51st FIG). On October 27, 1950 moves to Gimpo Airfield (Kimpo, K-14) near Seoul in South Korea. On December 20, 1950 returns to Itazuke Airfield. On June 25, 1951 returns to to Gimpo Airfield (Kimpo, K-14). On August 24, 1951 moves Suwon Airfield (K-13).

In 1953 equipped with the F-86 Sabre. In 1954 equipped with F-84 Thunderjet. On October 21, 1954 moves to Kadena AFB on Okinawa. On October 29, 1954 assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF). On February 10, 1955 returned to the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group (49th FBG). In 1956 equipped with the F-100 Super Sabre. On August 7, 1956 returns to Itazuke Airfield.

On October 1, 1957 assigned to the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing (8th FBW) later redesignated 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. On July 1, 1958 redesigned 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron (80th TFS). In 1962 equipped with F-105 Thunderchief.

Awards
World War II Distinguished Unit Citations: Papua (July 23, 1942–January 23, 1943), New Guinea (August 20, 1943–September 15, 1943), New Britain (October 24, 1943–November 7, 1943), Mindoro (December 26, 1944)
Philippines Presidental Unit Citation

Korean War Distinguished Unit Citations: Korea (October 27, 1950–November 2, 1950)
Republic of Korea Presidental Unit Citation (June 27, 1950–January 31, 1951)

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
1st Lt. Philip H. Greasley (January 10, 1942–December 19, 1942)
Captain I. C. Conner (December 20, 1942–March 20, 1943)
Captain Charlie Falletta (March 21, 1943–April 7, 1943)
Captain Edward Cragg (April 8, 1943–December 26, 1943)
Captain Jay T. Robbins (December 27, 1943–October 3, 1944)
Capt Cyril F. Homer (October 4, 1944–May 8, 1945)
Major Joseph P. Johnson (May 9, 1945–May 30, 1945)
Captain Robert G. Hochuli (May 31, 1945–August 12, 1945) †
Major John R. Breaden (August 22, 1945–October 24, 1945)
1st Lt. Arthur B. Sullivan (October 2, 1945–December 1945)

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), 259 (80th FS commanders)
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)"
American Headhunter (2018) by by Kenneth Bancroft Lloyd Jr.
Oz@War - 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group in Australia during WWII