8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (8th PRS) "Eight Ballers"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group
Wartime History
The 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (8th PRS) was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force, 6th Photographic Reconnaissance
Group (6th PRG). Also known as the 8th Photographic Squadron, 8th Photo Recon Squadron or 8th Photo Recon. Initially equipped with the F-4 Lightning, the photographic reconnaissance version of the P-38E Lightning, with cameras installed in the nose compartment instead of armament.
The 8th Photo Recon Squadron was sent overseas to the South-West Pacific Area (SWPA) and arrived at Melbourne on April 7, 1942 was assigned to the 5th
Air Force (attached to Allied Air Forces). On February 11, 1942 the squadron's first Commanding Officer (C. O.) was Captain Karl Polifka. The 8th PRS was transfered from Melbourne to Brisbane on April 24, 1942 then to Garbutt Field on May 2, 1942. Meanwhile, back in the United States, two flights remain at March Field until
June 16, 1942.
On April 16, 1942 8th PRS F-4 Lightnings flew their first combat mission over New Guinea.
On August 13, 1942 lost was F-4 Lightning 41-2125 pilot 1st Lt. Paul O. Staller too off from Horn Island Airfield on a flight bound for Port Moresby when he became lost and ended up over Misima Island and was injured in the crash and later died.
On September 2, 1942 the squadron transfered to 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby.
In New Guinea, the squadron flew photographic missions over Japanese occupied areas and airfields. The photographs taken were used to create aerial maps and target documentation for combat missions. Often, these missions were dangerous as pilots usually flew alone and often experienced bad weather and difficult navigation. Over targets, pilots flew steady course often at lower altitude to get quality photographs and experienced anti-aircraft fire or were intercepted by enemy aircraft. During later missions, F-4s were escorted by armed P-38 Lightnings as escorts.
On September 14, 1942 lost was F-4 Lightning 41-2098 pilot 1st Lt. Andrew W. Peterson on a reconnaissance mission over northeast New Guinea including the Buna area and went Missing In Action (MIA).
On November 11, 1942 Captain Frank Savage became the Commanding Officer (C. O.)
of the squadron.
On November 28, 1942 lost is F-4 "Fainting Floozie II" 41-2123 piloted by 2nd Lt. Philip D. Lissner on a reconnaissance mission and crashed after take off killing the pilot.
On February 7, 1943 photographer SSgt Stephen Humenchick was aboard B-24D Liberator 41-23755 and soon after take off, crashed for into a hillside roughly seven miles northwest of Port Moresby.
On June 4, 1943, the squadron Commanding Officer (C.O.) becomes Captain Arthur L. Post.
On June 5, 1943 lost in F-5A Lightning 42-13073 pilot 1st Lt. Frederic G. "Fred" Hargesheimer on a photo reconnaissance mission over the coastline of West New Britain in search of Japanese barge traffic and was shot down and bailed out
and survived and was later rescued by USS Gato (SS-212) and later returned to duty.
On
June 20, 1943 lost is F-5A 42-13070 pilot Captain Arthur L. Post on a photo reconnaissance mission over Rabaul and was shot down by Zeros and bailed out near the southern coast of New Britain and linked up with natives who took him to coastwatcher Malcolm Wright and after 101 days behind enemy lines was rescued on September 28, 1943 by USS Grouper (SS-214).
After Captain Arthur L. Post went missing, he was replaced by Captain John G. Foster as
Commanding Officer (C. O.)
of the squadron.
On June 26, 1943 lost is F-4 "Hellapoppin Hepcat" 41-2137 pilot
1st Lt. Kenneth J. Murphy on a photographic reconnaissance mission over Rabaul. When he failed to return, he was listed as Missing In Action (MIA).
On July 31, 1943 lost is F-4 Lightning 41-2014 piloted by 1st Lt. LeGrand J. Kneeskern on a reconnaissance mission over the Markham Valley and bailed out
and survived and later returned to duty.
On September 10, 1943 lost is F-5A 42-13088 pilot 2nd Lt. Clifford O. Taylor (MIA) on a a flight from Dobodura Airfield bound for 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) and was listed as Missing In Action (MIA).
On October 8, 1943 lost P-38H 42-66904 pilot 1st Lt. Charles E. Bateson, III (MIA) on an escort mission over Madang and went missing.
On December 5, 1943 lost is F-4 Lightning 41-2122 pilot F/O Roy L. Kross on a local orientation flight and while flying low over the sea, this Lightning apparently lost control and attempted to ditch off Hood Point but crashed sliding into Hula and was burned and severely injured. Although rescued, he died the next day in the 171st Station Hospital at Port Moresby.
On December 9, 1943 Captain DeLasso Loos became Commanding Officer (C. O.)
of the squadron.
On December 23, 1943 lost P-38H 42-66909 pilot
Captain Charles K. Taylor, Jr. (POW) on an escort mission for F-4 Lighting over Rabaul and was captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War and was transported to Japan and detained at Omori POW Camp until the end of the Pacific War.
On December 26, 1943 lost is B-17E "R.F.D. Tojo" 41-2627 crashed after take off from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby with two passengers killed on impact.
On December 30, 1943 lost is F-4 "Alice The Goon" 41-2209 pilot
2nd Lt. Charles E. Erb (MIA) mission over the Coral Sea and last seen near Cape Ward Hunt and went Missing In Action (MIA).
Other locations the 8th PRS operated from included Dobodura Airfield, Milne Bay, Lae Airfield and Cape Gloucester Airfield. Next, equipped with the F-5A Lightning, the photographic reconnaissance version of the P-38G Lightning, with cameras installed in the nose compartment instead of armament.
On February 29, 1944 at 11:30am F-5B 42-67384 piloted by Captain Sheldon P. Hallett and F-5B piloted by 1st Lt Hewitt H. Clark took off from from Nadzab Airfield No. 2 (APO 713, Unit 1) on a patrol mission off Aitape. Over the sea off the coast of New Guinea, intercepted by seven Japanese fighters that shot down F-5B 42-67384 (MIA).
On April 30, 1944 lost was F-5B 42-67383 pilot 1st Lt Hewitt H. Clark (survived) crashed at Tadji Airfield in New Guinea. After being flown to Australia, F-4 "Limping Lizzie" 41-2156 was transfer to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) but was rejected as war weary. In late September 1944 condemned at Brisbane and scrapped.
On March 16, 1944 transfers to Nadzab Airfield No. 1 with aircraft later operating from both Hollandia and Wakde Airfield.
On April 21, 1944 Major Richard Shipway became Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the squadron.
On August 11, 1944 transfers from Hollandia to Biak with aircraft also operating from Owi Airfield and Noemfoor.
On October 20, 1944 the ground echelon of the 8th PRS begins a movement from Biak to Leyte while the air echelon continues operating from Biak with F-5s.
On November 5, 1944 the 8th PRS arrived at Dulag Airfield on Leyte. Afterwards, based at Tacloban Airfield then later San Jose Airfield (McGuire Drome) on Mindoro and Clark Field on Luzon.
Finally, operated the F-5E Lightning, the photographic reconnaissance version of the P-38L Lightning.
On June 7, 1945 lost is
F-5E Lightning 44-24559 pilot Captain Lewis M. Gillespie (MIA) made a low fast pass along side the bow of USS Randolph (CV-15) pulled up to 4,000' made a wing over and shallow dive the crashed and burned on the forward flight deck.
On August 12, 1945 transfers to Ie Shima Airfield and finally to Motobu Airfield on Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War and the official surrender of Japan. In late September 1945 operated from Chofu Airfield to photograph and map wartime damage in Japan until January 1946.
Commanding Officers (C. O.)
Captain Karl Polifka (February 11, 1942–November 11, 1942)
Captain Frank Savage (November 11, 1942–June 4, 1943)
Captain Arthur L. Post (June 4, 1943–June 20, 1943)
Captain John G. Foster (June 20, 1943–December 9, 1943)
Captain DeLasso Loss (December 9, 1943–March 25, 1944)
Major Richard Shipway (April 21, 1944–March 25, 1945
Major Richard Bailey (March 25, 1945–?)
References
The Eight Ballers - Eyes of the Fifth Air Force The 8th Photo Reconnaissance Sqn in WWII (1999) by John Stanaway and Robert Rocker pages 160 (Appendix I: Losses in Action, Men and Machines Commanders of the 8th)
Thanks to John Stanaway, Robert Rocker and Edward Rogers for additional information
|
