Thanks to Headhunters Association Member Buster McGee for sending this rare National Archives color video of the 8th Fighter Group in PNG. Two parts recorded and narrated by Engineering Officer Lt Col Ken Gerrish. An article from the National Archives is also attached as background to the film. Home Movies from the War Front: The First Fighters in New Guinea Posted…
is Chet “Wink” Martindale. I thought it would be fun to track the career of the 800th Lifetime Member of the 80th Association and bugged him for a recap. Here it is: Quick & Dirty Biography of Chet Martindale, Lt Col (ret.), USAF *ROTC at Auburn University, graduating in 1970 *George RTU *Two Vietnam Tours and 300 combat missions, Korat…
Joe, forgive the admin delay in publishing this. I’ve put it in the Korean History Photo Section as well as the “News” section and the November 2017 newsletter for better visibility. On 3/11/2017 3:39 PM, Joe Saiia wrote: I ran across your website doing research on my wife’s uncle’s military service. He was Lewis A Wieneke, an “Aircraft Instrument Mechanic”…
The Loss of Lt William “Bill” Pridham By Bob “Driver Mac’ McNeese 80FS Association Historian and Gerry Asher Korean War Historian At 1415 on 8 November 1944, 1st Lieutenant William Pridham and his wingman, 2nd Lieutenant Lloyd Johnson, departed the island of Biak in two P-38’s headed to Morotai, a distance of approximately 450 miles. It was the last time…
Way back in the 2013-2014 time frame, MSGT Butch Gestring contacted me and passed along some of his memories from his service in Korea. Unfortunately, they got filed in my computer and have just now surfaced. Butch, please accept my apologies for taking so long. No excuse, Sir. Butch’s memoir: MSGT Keith Gestring Memoir Butch’s letter about 8oth losses: Very…
Capt. S. Curtis “Bullet” Robinson of the 80th TFS was killed in an F-16 crash on July 6, 1982. According to F-16.net, the aircraft was 80-0490 of 80 TFS, F-16A Block 10C, that went down near Chongju. Paul Huff, MSgt, USAF, wrote in 2003, “Capt Curtis “Bullet” Robinson was flying F-16A S/N 80-0490 where he crashed into a mountain side…
Cliff Birchmann sent me this from the Air Force Times 22 Oct 2012 edition: “Tex, perhaps you saw this article in the AFT. But, perhaps you did not know that Lt Gen Talbott was the DO for the 8th Tac Fighter Wing at Itazuke during 1960-1961. He flew with the 80th while there. It might be worth an article in…
Ben L. Byland – Aircraft Armorer during WWII for the 80th fighter squadron – The Headhunters Where do we start in describing someone’s life and service for their country? Well, I guess at the beginning. Ben L. Byland was born in 1920 and grew up with his dad & mom – Rollie and Maybelle Byland in Huntington Beach and then…
RE: 80th Squadron picture taken in January or February 1971 (most likely it was February). This was PACAF’s F4C Wild Weasel squadron after the consolidation of Weasel aircrews and aircraft from Yokota and Misawa in late 1969 or early 1970. Most of the crews in the pic and aircraft flew to Kadena in one “mass gaggle” on March 11, 1971…
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