80th TFS, "The Juvats"

 

Okay, Campers, I was wide awake in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago (yes 0100 military time, 1AM for all the rest of you).  It's a Monday Morning.  I had a post up so not real worried about a subject to post (it's too late anyhow for this week).

Then I got a lightning bolt idea.  I haven't done a article on the History of the 80TFS aka THE "Juvats".   So... Hang on to your hats or, if necessary, your Toupee!*

 

Hmmm, maybe I should try one!  Source

 

OK, Humor's over, on with the show. 

What would eventually become the 80th Fighter Squadron was activated as the 80th Pursuit Squadron as part of the 8th Pursuit Group at Mitchel Field NY on 10 January, 1942, a little over a month after Pearl Harbor. 

Assigned at Port Moresby, they began flying combat missions in P-39's on 22 July 1942. Their first aerial kill took place on 26 August, 1942. Many more would follow over the next few years.

Source

In January 1943 they transitioned to the P-38 which they flew until the end of the war.  The extended range of the P-38 was an excellent aspect to fight in the vast distances in the Pacific.

 

Source

 

 During this period, there Squadron became known as the "Headhunters". Which stuck with them until recently.

The squadron was deactivated 26 Dec 1945 after 3 years of combat.  It was reactivated 20 Feb, 1947.  Hmmm! Not quite two months after deactivation, something special must have been in their future. That would be the first jet fighter, the  P-80 .It started out P-80, then the Air Force decided this class of airplanes should be called "Fighters". Hence the F which is still the configuration code.)

While it seems obsolete to us, back in the day, this was the hottest fighter in the world, the P-80 Shooting Star Source

That was followed after a couple of years with the F-86.

 

F-86 Sabre Source 

  

Then again in the F-100.

Not in Juvat Color Scheme, couldn't find one. Source

 Then the F-105. While flying this aircraft, they were sent TDY** to Southeast Asia AKA Vietnam, where they flew 2,657 missions over North Vietnam.

 The Thud. Met a lot of guys in my Dad's Squadron that had flown or would fly this jet.  Not everyone  came back. Source

 

In the early 80's, the Juvats were assigned to Kunsan AB ROK.  They also were flying F-4D's.  About this time, I was assigned to this squadron.   It was a HOT jet and taught me a lot about being a fighter pilot, newer jets did a lot of the job for you.  This one didn't.

I've flown THIS Jet, with THIS tail number! Source

    

The WP stood for Wolf Pack, the Wing's nickname. I think I remember, after my return to the States, that the Juvat's got invited to Red Flag.  This picture must have been taken there.

Then, the Juvat's got a new jet.  No, not an Eagle.  If they had I'd have volunteered to return to the squadron in an instant.  But...They got....Half an airplane.

Source

 

1 Engine instead of 2, 2 heat seekers instead of 4. (Zero radar missiles until the AMRAAM came out.) 

Yep, half an airplane.  Unfortunately, Heads up Display displayed quite a bit of classified info on the video tapes or I'd put one in here. 

But that's the history of the 80th TFS.  The entire 8th TFW, (the Juvats and the Pantons (our nickname for the other squadron , the 35th TFS "Panthers" at Kunsan) was absorbed into the "Super Squadron" in Osan AB ROK. Three squadrons melded into one with ~80 airplanes in it.  In my day that was called a "Fighter Wing", but what do I know.

What I do know is the USAF lost an extremely fine and historic squadron.  More's the pity.

Peace out y'all!
 

*No, I don't have a toupee.  I have a solar panel on the top of my head that gets me through the day. 

**TDY- Temporary Duty. You're going to go out take care of a mission and return to your home base. 

In case you're interested I used these sources for squadron histories and pictures. There's a lot more squadron history in them than I mentioned.  Well worth your time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/80th_Fighter_Squadron

https://80fsheadhunters.org/news/deactivation-of-the-80fs 

https://80fsheadhunters.org/ 

https://www.kunsan.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Article/412725/80th-fighter-squadron/ 

https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/80th_Fighter_Squadron  

https://www.usafunithistory.com/PDF/75-100/80%20FIGHTER%20SQ.pdf 

https://grokipedia.com/page/80th_Fighter_Squadron