80th Fighter Squadron

Between the Wars (BTW) Photos

To view each photo in more detail, just click on each of these small "Thumbnails"

BTW -- 1945 - 1950

This photo was sent in by Neil O'Keefe on 19 Jan 2004. It was taken just prior to the beginning of the Korean War. Both Fred Bedle & Roy Marsh went on to fly full tours during the war, and are now Members of our Association.

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The following photos, sent in by LTM Neil O'Keefe in late March and early April 2003, have their own captions and are an outstanding addition to our Squadron History during the period of flying the F-51 Mustang in 1948-49, and the introduction of the first jet, the F-80 Shooting Star, into our inventory in 1950. Our thanks to "O'Kie" for sharing these great pictures with us!

Thanks again to Neil O'Keefe for the above photos of this great era in our Squadron's history.

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All of us as fighter pilots have sung many fighter pilot songs when ever we get together as a group to socialize. One of the most famous of these songs is Air Force 801, better known as Itazuke Tower. This classic song, sung to the tune of "The Wabash Cannon Ball," was written in late 1948 by Lt William F. McCrystal, one of our own Headhunters, when he was flying P-51D Mustangs in the 80th Fighter Squadron at Itazuke Air Base, Japan. Unfortunately, we didn't know this until another of our Headhunter song writers and balladeers, Dick Jonas, happened to see the full wall display, shown below, at the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in July 2002.

The display at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB showing the original words of the famous song by Bill "Romeo" McCrystal.
(Photos by Mary Jonas)

Lt W F McCrystal in the cockpit of his 80th Fighter Squadron P-51 Mustang in late1948.
Its serial number? 44-73801--the famous "Air Force 801"
(Photo by McCrystal's crew chief, Pat Cardwell, and sent in by Pat's good friend, Harrel Lamkin on 26 February 2003)

Anyone who may want to share stories with Pat about those days can e-mail him at cardwell@cox-internet.com He is very involved in drag racing, and has set several records with his cars also. You can see his cars in action on Harrel Lamkin's web site at http://www.racebay.com/FeaturedRacer1.htm

"Romeo" McCrystal having a sing-a-long with Squadron buddies at Nagoya, Japan in late 1949.
(Photo by Neil O'Keefe sent in 6 April 2003)

Maj (Ret) William F. McCrystal passed away on 15 October 2002 in San Antonio. His obituary from the San Antonio Times follows. Thanks for your dedication to our Squadron and Country, Bill--and thanks for your song. May you rest in peace and forever soar with the Eagles.

The San Antonio Times

Obituaries

McCrystal

10/17/2002

Major William F. McCrystal, Jr., USAF (Ret.) was born in Medford, Massachusetts, on February 18, 1924, and died in San Antonio, on October 15, 2002, after a long illness. He bore his affliction with great courage, patience and grace. He was a highly decorated fighter pilot, the captain of the high-school track team, competing in short and long races, pole vaulting, and high jumping. Well into his old age, he still ran in the Boston Marathon. He was a gifted musician, highly extroverted, sang, and played numerous instruments, and as a teenager, had his own band. He was an English major and Russian minor in college. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife, Captain Mary Z. McCrystal (1960) and his long time love, Irene (Cha Cha) Banas (1998); his parents, Colonel and Mrs. William F. McCrystal, Sr.; and his sister, Shirley McCrystal Walsh. Survivors include his sister, Dr. Irene McCrystal of Mico, TX, who relished his company; his best friend, Gerry Szczebak of Chicopee, Massachusetts; several cousins, one nephew and one grandnephew. Au revoir, charming Billy, till we meet again. GRAVESIDE SERVICE FRIDAY 11:00 A.M. FT. SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY With Full Military Honors. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in the guest book at www.porterloring.com by selecting the Sign and View Family Guestbook icon. Arrangements with Porter Loring North Mortuary.

If you would like to view his Memorial Guestbook and sign it yourself, please click on this Memorial Guestbook link. Thank you.

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BTW -- 1953 - 1963

The four photos below were sent in 12 August 2008 by Dick Mudd--one of our LTM's from this BTW era. As always, click on each small "thumbnail" for the full size photo!
Here is his e-mail:

"Attached are some photos of the 80thFBS Headhunters on Okinawa. The one with the F-84G was taken on Yontan, Okinawa. The back of the photo reads: 1st Lt. Richard Mudd preparing for mission to Tori-Shima. Note JATO unit on back for extra thrust, to aid take-off on short runway overlooking the ocean. A B-32 bomber didn't make it off in 1945 and and all 10 crew were killed. Yontan was also noted for a Japanese suicide mission flown there by a Betty Bomber in 1945. The bomber was bellied in at night and the suiciders rushed out destroying about 15 AC and killing a number of Marines and AF personnel before being wiped out. One photo shows 80th HQs sign with Lt Mudd standing by. Another shows Lt Mudd and Lt Dave Curtis, and one more of 4 pilots: Lt Robert Westveer, U/K pilot, Lt Gerry Glade (two bail-outs), and Lt. Mudd. Another pilot that we recommended for membership, from Okinawa, has now joined---Maj Dick Abbott. The photo of the plane and me and Curtis, was from Jan, 1955. The others were from Nov, 1954. Best Regards, Capt. R.D. Mudd"

Richard Mudd (L) and Dave Curtis (R) 1954-55

Many thanks to Dick Mudd for sending in these great photos of this important era of our Squadron History!

F-84G Thunderjet "Hog"
of the 80th Fighter Squadron
While flying out of Kadena in 1955.
Our Squadron flew this straight-wing version (F-84F had 30 degree swept wings) from 1954 - 1956. Note the WWII Squadron colors of Green and white
(Photo sent in by Joe Maw)

F-100D Super Sabre
of the 80th Fighter Squadron
1956 - 1963
Note the change in Squadron colors to Yellow and black still used today.

F-100D Super Sabre
of the 80th Fighter Squadron with Mt. Fuji, Japan in background
1956 - 1963
Note our Squadron patch on tail. Three rays on tail are yellow for our Squadron markings.

Photo complements of Vincent L. Daubenspeck)

(Photo compliments of Al Marcello)

Al Marcello in front of the 80th FBS Barracks at Kadena AFB in 1955.
Notice the picture depicted in the shield of the sign.

Lt Col Gregory was our Squadron commander from 31 March 1955 to 1 March 1956. This is a very interesting part of our History. Our WWII Squadron colors were green and white (as seen on our WWII P-38 paint schemes). Sometime after the end of WWII in 1945 and before 1949 and the start of the Korean War in 1950, the Squadron's colors changed to yellow, because our P-51 Mustang photos sent in by Neil O'Keefe in 1948 and 1949 show yellow tail flashes. All through the Korean War, our F-80's and later the F-86's were also identified with the yellow tails and noses. However, our F-84G Thunderjet "Hog" photo (see above) of the 80th Fighter Squadron while flying out of Kadena in 1955 show our WWII colors of green and white again! And now we see from the two photos below a marriage of the two colors into green and yellow! Our colors changed once more around 1970 to yellow and black, which remain the colors to the present day.

(Photo by Dave Kulaas in late February 1956)

(L-R) Roy Moore, Bob Westveer, I think his name is Duran, Dave Kulaas, Leonard Brown, Don Myers, Clarence Maw, Norm Hurst, unknown, Dick Picard, Wallace Simpson, Richard Snyder.

Dave states, "This picture was taken outside our BOQ as we were all heading to Col John L. Gregory's Going Away party. The jackets were Forest Green, and the slacks a BRIGHT yellow. A white shirt with a bolo tie and pocket patch rounds out the 'official' party suit. Col Gregory had the idea for the suits."

(Photo by Dave Kulaas in late February 1956)

"I took the picture of Lt Col Gregory on his way to the party. He loved to party (note the shoes). He was a great Squadron commander, and everyone I knew liked him."

"Now you know what those famous party suits looked like. I wonder if anyone ever did anything like that later."

The following photos are shown here complements of our Life Time Member, Dick Seely, from his tour in the 80th from 1957 - 1961. More of his photos can be seen on his web site with this link.

Itazuke AB from 40k feet 1958
(Photo by Dick Seely)

Early Morning on Kunsan Flight Line - 1958
(Photo by Dick Seely)

80th Kunsan Flight Line At Dusk - 1958

The above 2 photos, sent in by LTM Clinton Taylor on 4 June 2003, shows our 80th FS F-100Ds over Itazuke, Japan in 1960.

E-mail and photo received Memorial Day, 31 May 2004: "Plaque made at Itazuke soon after the 80th moved down from K-13. It hung in the O'club bar 'til the squadron left in '64. The pilots gave it to me and I've had it ever since." [Signed] Larry Guarino

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