80th Fighter Group

88th FS  -  89th FS  -  90th FS  -  459th FS

The squadron history originates with the 89th Fighter Squadron, formed 17 March 1942 as part of the 80th Pursuit Group. The Group was composed of the 88th, 89th, and 90th Fighter Squadrons, and was established at Selfridge Field, Michigan on 13 January 1942. The 80th Pursuit Group moved to Mitchell Field, New York, in July 1942 to train in the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. While there, Lieutenant Freeling Clower designed the distinctive squadron patch still used today by the 89th Fighter Training Squadron; the skull and ace of spades symbolized death in the sky for the opponents, while the clouds and the thunderbolts were for the P-47 Thunderbolt, the highest flying fighter of its time. In February of 1943, orders came through for the Far East instead of Europe as previously expected, so the 80th Pursuit Group moved to Richmond, Virginia to train in the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. In May of that year, the 80th Pursuit Group departed the United States for India where they convoyed some 2,200 miles overland to the Assam Valley of the China-Burma-India theater of operations. The 80th Pursuit Group compiled an impressive combat record, providing top cover for cargo aircraft flying 'the Hump,' delivering bombs on targets in Burma, and engaging Japanese aircraft in air-to-air combat. Their nickname, the 'Burma Banshees,' was given to them by the natives because of the high-pitched whistling noise the P-40 made during dive bomb runs. The 80th Pursuit Group was deactivated on 4 October 1945.

Lineage:Established as 80th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 13 Jan 1942. Activated on 9 Feb 1942. Redesignated 80th Fighter Group (Single Engine) on 15 May 1942. Inactivated on 3 Nov 1945.

Assignments: III Interceptor (later, III Fighter) Command, 9 Feb 1942; First Air Force, 20 Jun 1942; I Fighter Command, 4 Jul 1942; New York Air Defense Wing, 11 Aug 1942-10 May 1943; Tenth Air Force, 28 Jun 1943; American Air Command #1 (later, 5320th Air Defense Wing [Provisional]), Sep 1943; Tenth Air Force, 20 Jun 1944; Army Air Forces, India-Burma Theater, c. 1 Aug-9 Oct 1945; New York Port of Embarkation, 1-3 Nov 1945.

Squadrons:
88th Fighter Squadron: 9 Feb 1942 -3 Nov 1945;
89th Fighter Squadron: 9 Feb 1942 - 3 Nov 1945;
90th Fighter Squadron: 9 Feb 1942 - 3 Nov 1945;
459th Fighter Squadron: 1 Sep 1943 - 13 Mar 1944.

Stations:
Selfridge Field, MI, 9 Feb 1942;
Bridgeport, CT, 25 Jun 1942;
Farmingdale, NY, 5 Jul 1942;
Mitchell Field, NY, 9 Mar-30 Apr 1943;
Karachi, India, 28 Jun 1943;
Kanjikoah, India, Sep 1943;
Nagaghuli, India, 11 Oct 1943;
Tingkawk Sakan, Burma, 29 Aug 1944;
Myitkyina, Burma, 20 Jan 1945; Moran, India, 4 May 1945;
Dudhkundi, India, 24 May-6 Oct 1945;
Camp Kilmer, NJ, 1-3 Nov 1945.

Commanders:
Unkn, Feb - May 1942;
Col John C. Crothwaite, c. 20 May 1942;
Maj Albert L. Evans, Jr., 1 Jul 1942;
Col Ivan W. McElroy, 14 Jul 1943;
Col Albert L. Evans, Jr., 13 Apr 1944;
Col Sidney D. Grubbs, Jr., 1 Feb 1945;
Col Hiette S. Williams, Jr., 29 Apr 1945–unkn.

Aircraft: P-47, 1942-1943, 1944-1945; P-40, 1943-1944; P-38, 1943-1944.

Operations: Used P-47s to train for combat and to serve as part of the defense force for the northeastern United States. Sailed for India, via Brazil, Cape of Good Hope, and Ceylon, in May 1943. Began operations in Sep 1943 with P-38 and P-40 aircraft; later used P-47s. Supported Allied ground forces during the battle for northern Burma and the push southward to Rangoon, bombing and strafing troop concentrations, supply dumps, lines of communication, artillery positions, and other objectives. Defended the India terminus of the Hump route by striking Japanese airfields and patrolling Allied airfields to safeguard them from attack. Received a DUC for intercepting a formation of enemy aircraft and preventing its attack on a large oil refinery in Assam, India, on 27 Mar 1944. Withdrawn from combat in May 1945. Returned to the United States in Oct 1945 and inactivated.

Service Streamers: World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers: World War II: India-Burma; Central Burma.

Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation: Assam, India, 27 Mar 1944.

Emblem: Per bend Azure and Sable a bend raguly Or, all within a diminished bordure of the like. Motto: ANGELS ON OUR WINGS. Approved on 14 Oct 1942 (KE51227).

90th Fighter Squadron

Lineage: Constituted 90th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 Jan 1942. Activated on 9 Feb 1942. Redesignated: 90th Fighter Squadron on 15 May l942; 90th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 1 Jul 1942; 90th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 28 Feb 1944. Inactivated on 3 Nov 1945.

Assignments: 80th Pursuit (later, 80th Fighter) Group, 9 Feb 1942-3 Nov 1945.

Stations:
Selfridge Field, MI, 9 Feb 1942;
Newark, NJ, 24 Jun 1942;
La Guardia Aprt, NY, 27 Aug 1942;
Mitchell Field, NY, 27 Feb-30 Apr 1943;
Karachi, India, 28 Jun 1943;
Jorhat, India, c. 12 Sep 1943;
Moran, India, Mar 1944;
Tingkawk Sakan, Burma, 27 Aug 1944;
Myitkyina, Burma, 21 Jan 1945;
Moran, India, 5 May 1945;
Dudhkundi, India, 30 May-6 Oct 1945;
Camp Kilmer, NJ, 1-3 Nov 1945.

Aircraft: P-47, 1942-1943; P-40, 1943-1944; P-47, 1944-1945.

Operations: Combat in CBI, 16 Sep 1943-29 Apr 1945.

Service Streamers: World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers: World War II: India-Burma; Central Burma.

Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation: Assam, India, 27 Mar 1944.

Emblem: On a Yellow disc edged Black, a caricatured, Black and White bear, standing on hind legs, facing toward dexter, wearing Red Brown boxing gloves on the forepaws, and swinging a left uppercut punch, leaving a comet trail of Red, White, and Blue flecked with four, White, five-point stars. Approved on 19 Jan 1945 (11461 A.C.).