"Aces of The Eighth" by Jack Fellows

The Loss of Lt William “Bill” Pridham

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…

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TSGT Ben Byland 80th P-38 Armorer

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…

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Sincerely – F/O Willis F. Evers

Published on Sep 13, 2013 “Sincerely” is based on a book written by Terri J. Kallio in 2007 on the life of her Uncle – Willis F. Evers who was a Flight Officer in the Army Air Force during WWII. He was a member of the 8th Fighter Group, 80th Squadron stationed at Port Moresby, New Guinea in 1943. This…

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Virginia Dyer and Rosie The Riveter

Ezra Cason Remembers the 80th on His 98th Birthday

I received an email from Ezra Cason’s daughter Lois.  He wanted to make known the pride he took from being a Headhunter, on the occasion of his 98th birthday.  Right back at you, Ezra.  We are enriched by your membership in the finest fighter squadron in the world.  Dear Headhunters, My Dad turned 98 on June 12, 2016.  He insisted…

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A Note From Ruth Saffro

As most of us know, Ruth is the widow of Yale Saffro, the man you gave us the Headhunter patch.  Some of his art and  other works are in our display case at the National Museum of WWII Aviation.  We hope to acquire more of his chronicles and journals.    If Lude will ever tell me how to do it, I…

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KirbyGrams

Digging around the internet, I found this link from the Eagle Flying Museum right down the road in Mineral Wells, Texas (soon to be moving to Bourland Field, Cresson, Texas) .  Seems the founders took a liking to our own MF Kirby and cataloged some of his  KirbyGrams.  I’ve re-posted them with permission from the EFM founders, Jim Wilson and…

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World War II Memoirs link by Clarence Wolgemuth

Memoirs of Clarence “Wogy” Wolgemuth are published in my book World War Two Memoirs of a Fighter Pilot available from me at this link.  Further information is available on our Books of the Headhunters Page. – Clarence Wolgemuth

World War II Memoir by Glenn Hope

I joined the 80th when they were at 12-mile strip Port Moresby in early August ’42.  Ten of us volunteered to go overseas early so we became 2nd Lts before the rest of the cadets.  We were sent to Tallahassee, Fl.  We got two weeks in a P39 and we were on our way to Hawaii.  We checked into a…

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World War II Memoir by Gordon Willett

In late November 1941 some eighty seven members of the class of 41-I, who had volunteered, were sent from their various training bases over the country to Mitchell Field on Long Island New York.  They had signed a contract with Pan Am to agree to resign their commissions (which would be awarded on 12 December 1941) and become employees of…

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World War II Memoir by Hon Arthur E. Lasker

I was a P-38 fighter pilot in the 36th Fighter Squadron of the 8th Fighter Group. Our Commanding Officer was Emmett “Cyclone” Davis, of “Cyclone’s Flying Circus” Comprised of the 35th, , 36tth and 80th Fighter Squadrons of the 5th Air Force in the Pacific Theater of Operations. We were on the Island of   Mindoro in the Philippines when Cyclone…

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World War II Memoir by Matt Notz

Pearl Harbor was under attack. World War II reached the shores of the United States. The 8th Pursuit Group was on alert and ready. It consisted of the 33rd, 35th and 36th Pursuit Squadrons. The 8th Pursuit Group was activated at Langley Field, VA in 1931. Headquarters issued orders and the Group made its first move in 1940. At this…

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