80th Fighter Squadron

The 80th Fighter Squadron (nicknamed the "Headhunters" or "Juvats") is an F-16 fighter squadron of the United States Air Force, currently part of the 8th Operations Group of the 8th Fighter Wing, and stationed at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

History

The Headhunters' history began only one month after Pearl Harbor, as the squadron shipped out to fight in the Pacific Theater. The Squadron was first activated on January 10, 1942 at Mitchel Field in New York.Originally designated as a pursuit squadron, they were redesignated in May, 1942 as a fighter squadron. Attached to the 8th Fighter Group. One of the early squadron commanders, Edward "Porky" Cragg named the Squadron "The Headhunters" after the local New Guinean Headhunter tribes who hated the Japanese and helped to rescue downed pilots. He also commissioned crewchief Yale Saffro, a former Walt Disney Studios artist, to design the 80th's patch. The squadron saw action against the Japanese in the Pacific including deployments in Australia, New Guinea, the Schouten Islands, Morotai, Leyte, Mindoro, and Japan [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/80fs.htm 80th Fighter Squadron [80th FS ] ] .

It was later redesignated as the 80th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 14 January 1947, the squadron reactivated on 20 February 1947 at Itazuke AB, Japan, and was assigned to the 8th Fighter (later, 8th Fighter-Bomber) Group. It would undergo a number of different attachments over the next few years. It was attached to 49th Fighter-Bomber Group from August 11 to September 25, 1950; the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group from September 25 to October 27, 1950; the Twentieth Air Force from October 21, 1954 to February 10, 1955; the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group from February 10, 1955 to October 18, 1956; and the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing from February 1 to September 30, 1957). From 1947 to 1950, the squadron would operate the P-51, before switching to the F-80 Shooting Star in 1950.

With their conversion to jet engines, the headhunters were redesignated as the 80th Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 1 January 1950. Later that month, they would become the 80th fighter-bomber squadron. The outfit served in the Korean war in June and July of 1953 while mostly flying the F-86. In 1956, the Headhunters would begin flying the F-100.

Following the squadron's engagement in the Korean War, the 80th was tasked with providing air defense in Japan and Korea (1953-1954), in Okinawa (1954-1956), and in Japan and Korea(1956-1971) [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/80fs.htm 80th Fighter Squadron [80th FS ] ] .

In 1963, the Headhunters began flying the F-105. In June 1964, they were attached to the 41st air division. They remained with the 41st for less than a year, moving to the 6441st Tactical Fighter Wing of the 2nd Air Division in April of 1965. The squadron ran combat operations in Southeast Asia from December, 1964, to June, 1965. During the conflict, headhunters were charged with attacking targets such as the Hai Nguyen Steel Plant, Haipong storage facilities, rail lines, and the Doumer Bridge.

During their time serving in the Vietnam War, the 80th conducted 7,384 combat missions in Southeast Asia, including 2,657 combat missions directly over North Vietnam, for a total of 17,104 total hours of active operations. For their role in the conflict, 80th pilots received 7 Silver Stars, 64 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 426 Air Medals. "As a squad, the 80th earned one Battle Honor, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross (with Palm), and four Air Force Outstanding Unit Citations." Captain Jeff Feinstein, would be the squadrons only ace of Vietnam, recording 5 enemy kills. [ [http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7002/80tfs.html 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron ] ] . The 80th was moved back to the 41st Air Division on November 15, 1966. In 1968, they would transition to the F-4.In total, the 80th has recorded 251 air to air victories.

Today, the 80th flies the F-16 and is stationed at the Kunsan Air Base in South Korea.

Combat Record

Over the years, the Headhunter Squadron scored more than 251 aerial victories in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam and has flown various pursuit and fighter aircraft, including:

*P-39/P-400 Airacobra
*P-38 Lightning
*P-51 Mustang
*F-80 Shooting Star
*F-86 Sabre
*F-84 Thunderjet
*F-100 Super Sabre
*F-105 Thunderchief
*F-4 Phantom
*F-16 Fighting Falcon

References

* [http://80fsheadhunters.org HeadHunters Alumni Association ]