Hollandia . 59-year legacy of air-to-air training
PACAF News
May 13, 2003
By Master Sgt. Mark Haviland 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Korea -- Mention the Hollandia campaign to any member of the 80th Fighter Squadron - past or present, young or old - and they'll know what you're talking about.
For the old-timers, the word "Hollandia" conjures up images of four days of intense aerial combat over the northern coast of New Guinea in 1944.
Today, that 59-year-old legacy is still alive and well with members of the 80th FS here and around the world, according to Capt. Jason Hokaj, Hollandia project officer for the 80th FS.
To commemorate the accomplishments of their predecessors, the squadron invites one or more units to Kunsan for some air-to-air training each spring. This year, the unit invited Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 from Iwakuni, Japan.
"This is the time of the year when we get to focus on our history and train solely in the air-to-air arena," Hokaj explained. "It is invaluable."
And the history lesson also is important.
As ground forces struggled for control of a strategic Japanese base at Hollandia, the men of the 80th FS provided air cover and fought their way into the history books.
"Of course, we did have better single days in air-to-air combat, like the 13 aerial victories on June 21, 1943, but the 'Four Days of Hollandia'- March 30 and 31, April 3 and 12 - stand out for several reasons," wrote retired Col. Jay Riedel, a former member of the unit, in his history of the 80th.
The legacy established by the Headhunters in that campaign includes 33 air-to-air victories without a single friendly loss, and becoming the first U.S. fighter squadron to ever score more than 200 victories.
Not to be outdone by their flying counterparts, the maintenance crews of the 80th FS played their part by ensuring all 26 squadron aircraft were mission ready to fly a minimum of three sorties a day.
Though the only thing at stake during the modern Hollandia campaign is bragging rights, both the maintenance crews and pilots from the 80th FS and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212, based at Iwakuni, Japan, had plenty to keep them busy as they went head-to-head against platforms they don't train against "nearly enough," according to Hokaj.
"Other than certain different terms that are different between the services, we are remarkably similar in the way the we train and are expected to fight," he said. "There are little nuances that we all benefit from learning about one another."
While the training requirements of the two units and the aircraft they fly are very similar, there are some important differences between the F-16 and the F/A-18, Hokaj said.
"The F-18 is better at slower speeds than the F-16, but the F-16 can accelerate faster," he explained. "The slow speed capabilities of the F-18 are eye opening to F-16 pilots who have never seen it before. It's amazing that we have the capability to make something like this happen for the sake of history, tradition and training." (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces)
History of 80th Fighter Squadron "Headhunters"
The 80th Pursuit Squadron was formed Jan. 6, 1942, at Mitchell Field, N.Y. The 80th, along with the 35th and 36th Pursuit Squadrons, formed the 8th Pursuit Group and was deployed to the Pacific theater in March 1942.
The unit was deactivated Dec. 26, 1945, as part of the post-war drawdown, but was activated in February 1947 and assigned to the newly formed 8th Fighter Group, which again included the 35th, 36th, and 80th Fighter Squadrons, and was based at Itazuke, Japan.
During the course of World War II, the "Headhunters" traveled over 60,000 air-miles, deployed to 21 different locations in 3.5 years, accounted for over 225 enemy aircraft destroyed in the air (second highest squadron in the theater, and overall second highest twin-engine allied fighter squadron in the war), received the Presidential Unit Citation, 10 campaign credits, four Distinguished Unit Citations, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Among the 24 "Headhunter" pilots who became aces were Maj. Jay Robbins, the 8th Fighter Group's leading ace with 22 confirmed kills, and Maj. Richard Bong who, with 40 confirmed kills, was the American "Ace-of-Aces."
North Korea invaded South Korea June 25, 1950. The next day, the "Headhunters" once again joined and the rest of the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing entered combat as it provided air cover for the evacuation of American forces from Seoul. Other than these initial missions, the 80th spent the rest of the war flying bombing and close air support missions. The squadron was the first American unit to employ jet fighters in combat and also the first American unit to lose a pilot in the war, Maj. Amos Sluder, the squadron commander. During the war, the unit produced three aces, and earned the Presidential Unit Citation, two Distinguished Unit Citations, 10 campaign credits, the Korean Service Medal, and two Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations. The unit's Maj. Charles Loring received the Medal of Honor posthumously
After the Korean War, the 80th moved from Suwon, South Korea, to Kadena, Okinawa, where it remained until 1956 when it moved back to Itazuke, Japan. In 1958, the unit was redesignated as the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
In May 1964, the unit moved to Yokota Air Base, Japan, where it was attached to the 41st Air Division. A few months afterwards, the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing moved to the United States, so the "Headhunters" were reassigned to the 41st Air Division. Stationed at Yokota until 1971, the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron served under several different parent units. During the Vietnam War, the 80th TFS flew 2,657 combat missions over North Vietnam and members of the unit received seven Silver Stars, 64 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 426 Air Medals. The unit also produced one ace, Jeff Feinstein, an F-4 weapons systems officer.
On Feb. 15, 1971, the squadron moved from Yokota to Kunsan and was temporarily assigned to Det. 1, 475th TFW and was reunited with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1974. In Sept. 1981, the 8th TFW became the first unit stationed overseas to convert to the F-16 Fighting Falcon. On Feb. 3, 1992, the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron was redesignated the 80th Fighter Squadron and reassigned to the new 8th Operations Group.
History of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 "Lancers"
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 212 was originally activated as VMF-212 the "Hell Hounds" at Ewa Territory of Hawaii March 1, 1942. Deploying immediately to the South Pacific in their F4F Wildcats, the Hell Hounds engaged the Japanese at New Hebrides, New Caledonia and later Guadalcanal as part of the "Cactus Air Force" at Henderson Field. The Hell Hounds acquired an enviable record by destroying 64.5 enemy planes. Of this number, Lt. Col. Harlold "Indian Joe" Bauer, the squadron's first commanding officer, was credited with 11 kills and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor. The squadron went on to participate in operations off of Midway, Esprit Santo, Treasure Island, Russell Islands, Bougainville and Raboul. During operations in the Philippines in May 1945, the Hell Hounds converted to the F4U-4 Corsair, renamed themselves the "Musketeers", and later supported the American invasion of Okinawa. During World War II, VMF-212 was credited with 132.5 enemy aircraft destroyed, countless tons of shipping sunk, and earned two Presidential Unit Citations for the Guadalcanal-Tulagi and Okinawa-Ryukyus campaigns.
With the outbreak of the Korean War four years later, 212, now with the designation of a Marine Attack Squadron and known as the "Devil Cats," was flying combat missions. In September 1951, the unit became one of the first land-based squadrons to conduct operations from Kimpo Airfield near Seoul. For the next 2.5 years VMA-212 was continually employed in Korea including flying close air support for the 1st Marine Division's breakout at Chosin Resevoir. With the signing of the Cease Fire Agreement in July 1953, the total number of combat missions flown by 212 was 18,257 with a total flying time of 39,893 hours. The unit remained in Korea until February 1955 when its personnel and AD-1 "Skyraiders" departed aboard the USS Wasp for Hawaii to join the 1st Provisional Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
In April 1965, the squadron, now known as the "Lancers" sailed aboard the USS Oriskany to the coast of Vietnam to augment the power of the Naval Air arm at Yankee Station. The Lancers flew missions in North and South Vietnam. Later, in April 1972, the squadron deployed from Hawaii to Da Nang, South Vietnam, in an effort to blunt the massive North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam. VMFA-212 earned a Meritorious Unit Citation for its effort in Vietnam.
From 1974 until 1987, VMFA-212 deployed numerous times to Japan and the West Coast earning the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award, the Robert M. Hanson Award, and the Meritorious Unit Citation. During October 1988, VMFA-212 completed its seventh and final rotation in the UDP as an F-4 "Phantom" squadron. With the last F-4 sorties flown in August of 1988, over 23,000 accident-free hours had been accumulated. The F/A-18C "Hornet" was received at this time and continues its outstanding performance today.
On Dec. 10, 1990, the squadron deployed to Bahrain and joined MAG-11 in support of Operations Desert Shield and Storm. From Jan. 1 to 16, 1991, the Lancers maintained combat air patrol off the coast of Kuwait and focused on contingency mission planning. In the early hours of Jan. 17 the Lancers flew their first combat missions since Vietnam.
On Aug. 13, 1996, the Lancers took off for the final time from NAS Miramar, Calif. enroute to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. After a successful six month UDP cycle the Lancers became a permanent resident of MCAS Iwakuni. (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
