U.S. Army Air Forces 80th Fighter Squadron (two engines) operating in the Pacific Theater during World War 2. Views from inside cockpit of P-38 as it dives low to strafe Japanese positions. P-38s taxiing out for takeoff. Dramatic cloud formations in background. Dimly seen formations of P-38s flying overhead. large V formation of P-38s in flight. P-38s in aerial maneuvers. One executes a series of rolls. Another performs a loop.
Crews of U.S. Air Force 80th Fighter Squadron "Headhunters", and their P-38 airplanes in Pacific theater during World War 2. A ground crewman playing with a model of a P-38 plane. Sign reading "Captain Jay T. Robbins, Commanding Officer" is updated by Robbins to say "Major..." Aircrews gather to study a map and discuss a mission. Large "W" on nose of one plane. Plane with 15 Japanese kill flags on it, labeled "Captain C. Homer," (who later succeeded Major Robbins as the Commanding Officer). U.S. pilots stand in front of their planes. Name "Adams" visible on one of them. Pilot inside the plane, gets ready for take off. (Among pilots seen are three 80th Squadron aces: Robbins, Homer, and Ken Ladd.)
U.S. Army Air Forces P-38 pilots of the 80th (Headhunters) Fighter Squadron in New Guinea, during World War 2. Three native tribesmen in regalia gather near a P-38. One U.S. pilot on a wing, waves his arms to indicate flying. Other pilot holds an illustration of a New Guinea warrior near the plane, indicating to a tribesman the intent to paint it on the fuselage. One of the three tribesmen poses for a picture inside the plane cockpit. (Note:The 80th Fighter Squadron was nicknamed the "Headhunters" by Squadron Commander Major Ed "Porky" Cragg in honor of these local New Guinea natives who hated the Japanese and helped American pilots return to their bases if they were shot down.)
P-38 Lightning aircraft of the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, at Schwimmer Field near Port Moresby, New Guinea, during World War 2. Crew chiefs attend to P-38 aircraft, some with engines running. Ground crewmen manually maneuver nose wheel using towbar. Crew chief cleans the aircraft of American Ace, Captain Richard I. Bong. His P-38, named "Marge," displays large picture of woman and 27 Japanese victory flags ( Bong having just broken Eddie Rickenbacker's World War I record of 26 victories). Staff in control tower use light signals. Aerial view from airplane flying among cumulus clouds.
Bombing of Rekata bay (near Munda and Guadalcanal in the South Pacific) during August 24th 1943. U.S. B-24 Liberator bombers of the 13th Army Air Forces in flight at a high altitude over the bay. Bombers drop bombs on Japanese targets at Rekata bay. (World War II period).
Events relating to the bombing of Buka Airdrome on Bougainville Island on September 14th 1943. U.S. B-24 Liberator bombers and fighters in flight at a high altitude over the airdrome. B-24s dropping bombs. Impacts visible. Japanese fighter aircraft receiving fire from American aircraft. (World War II period).
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