80th

FIGHTER SQUADRON HEADHUNTERS ASSOCIATION

James W. Ritter

1030 E Hwy 377, Suite 110 PMB 174

Granbury, Texas 76048

E-Mail: Tex@80FSHeadhunters.org

Web Site: www.80FSHeadhunters.org

2012 Edition II "AUDENTES FORTUNA JUVAT" 1 May 2012

70th ANNIVERSARY EDITION

DEATH REIGNS DOWN

(Tune: “My Hometown” by C.Robison) by Spades, Stinger, Fuge (passed out), and Taz

(Well it)..started way back in ’42, at a place called Mitchell Field, We were headin’ off to fight a war didn’t know what it would yield. We were green and we were new to the game but we were ready for a fight, We knew some of us weren’t comin’ back but we said that’s all right. CHORUS: We flew out of Moresby, strafin’ Zeros on the way,

We flew at Hollandia, killing Nippons in the fray. We are the Headhunters, with a history strong and proud

We’ll see you around, when death reigns down.

(There) was a man named “Porky” Cragg, led a squadron to its fame, We had friends who brought us back to the fight and they gave us our name. They were saviors in the jungle, their name denoting fear, The Ni-ppons are gonna get their ass kicked cause the Headhunters are here!

CHORUS: We flew over Wewak, strafin’ Zeros on the way,

We flew in the Lightning, killing Nippons in the fray. We are the Headhunters, with a history strong and proud, We’ll see you around, when death reigns down.

(Well), “Porky” Cragg… flew his last flight in a sad twist of fate, Jay T. Robbins was next in line, he was our saving grace. He taught the Headhunters how to fight, 22 kills of his own, And even now he looks down upon us, we are his second home. CHORUS: We flew out of Nadzab, strafin’ Zeros on the way,

We flew in the Lightning, killing Nippons in the fray. We are the Headhunters, with a history strong and proud, We’ll see you around, when death reigns down.

CHORUS: His name was “Cock” Robbins, 22 Kills on the way,

He flew in the Lightning, killing Nippons in the fray. He is a Headhunter, with a history strong and proud, We’ll see him around, when death reigns down… We’ll see him around, in a lonesome cloud

His name was Norb Ruff, 4 (+) kills on the way… His name was Paul Murphey, 6 (+) kills on the way… His name was just

Kirby, 5 (+) kills on the way… His name was Jim Ince, 6 (+) kills on the way… And so many more…

HISTORY: WWII HEADHUNTERS

2

We were constituted as the 80 Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on January 6, 1942

Redesignated: 80 Fighter Squadron on May 15, 1942

70 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG. CONGRATULATIONS, 80th F.S.!!

This picture was in the Feb 2011 newsletter. Jerry Minton has identified the jocks in the picture as:

1/Lt Loren A. Hauser, 2/Lt Warren Guibor, 2/Lt Gordon (Goose) Edwards “Guibor, Goose and I were Classmates - 52 Baker - Jet Advanced - Bryan AFB, Texas. I remembered Hauser from Korea but had forgotten his name. Associate Member Gerry Asher filled me in on that. I believe that Goose was assigned to the 35th and Hauser to the 36th - or vice versa! Guibor and Goose left active duty in '55 and have since "Gone West" Don't know about Hauser.”

Tex, Here are a few photos including my dad’s flight jacket. Here is a short write-up about dad: Mark R Henninger & Eric J Henninger, the sons of Robert V Henninger frmcbs@bis.midco.net

HISTORY: KOREAN WAR

HEADHUNTERS

3

Lt. Robert (Bob) V. Henninger

Sept. 8, 1926 – Oct. 14, 1955 Lt. Robert (Bob) V. Henninger spent 2 years in the 82nd Airborne during WWII, but did not get overseas. He entered the United States Air Force in Nov. 12th, 1949 and received his pilot’s wings at Williams Field, Arizona Dec. 16, 1950. After attending “The Fighting Fifties USAF Jet Fighter School (Class 50-G),” Lt. RV Henninger was assigned to the 8th Fighter Bomber Wing (the TOP Air Force group in the Korean War) as an F-80 jet pilot. He arrived in Korea in May of 1951 and between May 1951 and Dec. 1951 he flew 113 missions as close support and behind the line interdiction in his speedy Shooting Star. After his assignment in Korea, Lt. RV Henninger was assigned to Wright-Patterson field, Dayton, Ohio. Later, he was then assigned to a base in Texas, where he was test pilot on the (then) new F-100 Super-Saber. On the morning of October 14th, 1955, right after take-off, his F-100 lost power, and as he was to low to bail out had to ride that Saber into the ground, tearing up 600 yards of railroad track in the process. My dad’s own words from an article in the Bismarck Tribune in December of 1951 talking about the F-80 Shooting Star and the war in Korea: “Roughest and toughest plane I’ve ever seen,” remarked Lt. Robert V. Henninger of Bismarck. Henninger, a jet pilot with Fifth Air Force’s pioneer Eighth Fighter-Bomber Wing flew an early morning mission in his plane and while scoring two direct hits on a main Red highway bridge he received battle damage from enemy anti-aircraft fire in his wings and fuselage. He nursed the battered fighter back to his base in Korea where crew chiefs and armorers immediately set to work on it. After briefing for another mission Henninger crawled back into the cockpit and started up the engine while armorers were still hanging rockets on the repaired jet. “Thanks to the mechanics and armorers I got out on time,” said Henninger. He has a high opinion of the Red’s MIG-15 jet but doesn’t think too much of their pilots. “The Mig can turn inside our F-86 Saber, the best plane we have in Korea, at altitudes above 25,000 feet,” Henninger said. “This is because it is lighter and also higher powered. It can also out-climb the Saber for the same reason. However, the Saber can dive faster and also can take care of the Mig below 25,000 feet.” “Gunnery is the big reason for the relatively light losses our planes have suffered,” Henninger said. “I’ve seen Migs get on the tail of F-80 or a propeller driven P-51 but they just couldn’t seem to hit the target. I would estimate the plane against plane losses at 10 Reds for each of our ships shot down.” “Also, the Red pilots lack teamwork. They just don’t seem to work together. Also, on certain days they lack aggressiveness while on others they will come looking for trouble.” He termed the flak the biggest danger to our plains in Korea, which is how he got his wound. He was making his third strafing pass over a Red locomotive when his canopy was hit by flak, showering him with glass. “It isn’t that the Reds are such good shots with their flak, they just have so much of it and are clever at laying “flak ambushes” along valleys where the planes have to fly.” Despite this he said “the Air Force has been successful in cutting off almost all rail traffic between North Korea and the capital at Pyongyang.” During his (too short) time flying with the Air Force, he earned these awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster; Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters: Purple Heart; World War II Victory Medal; American Campaign Medal Good Conduct Medal; United

4

Nations Service Medal; Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars; National Defense Service Medal; ROK Presidential Unit Citation.

Colonel Lawrence N. "Larry" Guarino is a U.S. Air Force officer and veteran of three wars. WWII: At age 19 he signed up for the aviation cadet program. During World War II he flew 156 missions in the North African and Italian campaigns. Later he flew with General Claire Chennault's Flying Tigers in China. He returned to civilian life and was recalled for the Korean conflict. Viet Nam: He was assigned to the 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Itazuke AB, Japan, from December 1962 to June 1964, when he was transferred to the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa. Flying the F-105 “Thunderchief”. Then-Major Guarino began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia in early 1965 and he was forced to eject over North Vietnam on June 14,

1965. Shot down on his 50th combat mission, he spent more than 8 years as a POW and earned the Air Force Cross for his service to his fellow POW’s. He had received his wings and commission 1943, making him the oldest rated pilot to be held in captivity. Released: February 12, 1973, he authored A P.O.W.’s STORY: 2801 Days in Hanoi about his experiences in captivity. He has also written Down In Flames- a semi-historical novel about flying Spitfires in the Mediterranean. Colonel Guarino was the eleventh American to be captured during the Vietnam War. "I had the rotten luck to land in a village not ten feet from a hut. The people had seen me coming down in the chute and had vacated the village. Sentries, armed with automatic rifles, posted on the surrounding hills, kept me under surveillance." It was then that he describes a unique encounter with Jesus Christ. "I had to stop packing up my gear because there He was standing right there. I'm telling you, I saw Him standing there!" Thus was the beginning of nearly eight years of prison during which the Lord sustained him. His tortures and persecutions were trying - such as no food for 46 days with his legs in blocks three weeks of that time. He etched a cross in his small cell and prayed often and fervently.

HISTORY: VIET NAM HEADHUNTERS

5

Upon repatriation, Colonel Guarino said, "I couldn't have made it if it weren't for Jesus Christ and being able to look up and see Him in some of the trying times.” On July 4, 2001, Independence Day he wrote: “Today is the 26th anniversary of my retirement from the USAF. My son Allan flew over Vietnam while I was a prisoner in Hanoi, (he) retired 2 years ago after 30 years of service. I still hear regularly from my flying buddies of 1943 as we flew against the Huns in Italy, we were only 20 years old then. Now, I am 79!! My how time flies, but it is a happy ending with lots of great memories, I can still get a kick out of thinking how we rammed around the skies in our Spitfires, our P-51's, F-100s and F-105's. Great days!” Larry.

Last summer, Larry sent me this plaque for safekeeping. It had hung in the Itazuke O Club since about 1950 and was presented to him by the jocks when he was, briefly, the Squadron Commander of the 80th. The Association returned it to the Juvat Headhunters at Kunsan in April of 2012 with a suitable write up on it explaining its history and an autographed copy of his latest book “Down In Flames”. The above story on Larry was written entirely without his knowledge. A modest man, he is one of the 80th’s finest- Tex

“Here you go Tex...I had this done yesterday but a dump track backed into a transformer and we lost internet and TV. All in the middle of an exercise. Only at Kunsan!” – Rock (No internet and no TV? How can you fight a war under those conditions, Sir?) Howdy to all Headhunters past and present! Rock here, checking in with an update on recent events at Kunsan. As I write we are in the midst of a PACAF “Combined Unit Inspection” during which the 80 FS is being evaluated on both compliance (what many not-so affectionately refer to as ‘queep’) as well as combat employment (aka ‘crushing one’s enemies’). As most of you well know, it just wouldn’t be Kunsan without the giant voice announcing an imminent missile attack, upon which one must suck the rubber from one’s gas mask. As I write, we’ve yet to start the flying phase of the exercise, but so far so good…the Juvat maintainers absolutely crushed the generation phase, to the extent that it was purportedly the best generation they’ve had at the Kun since 1979. Good work GOLD AMU. It’s been a busy year since the trip to Singapore last July…where I soon learned that fighter pilots of the ‘millennial’ generation prefer to listen to techno music rather than Johnny Cash or Dick Jonas. In August we deployed on short notice to Red Flag-Alaska, during which the Juvats achieved a 97% mission success rate against an aggressive and robust threat replication. Great work by the projo Major Nate “Esse” Smith and the Weapons Officer Capt “Chico” Lause in getting us ready for the deployment. Their hard work paid off in the form of increased Headhunter lethality and combat prowess. Of course the Juvats also excelled in the social arena; one particular occasion we

HISTORY: JUVAT HEADHUNTERS

6

commandeered a school bus—they’re all painted gold and black so it seemed appropriate to the occasion—and subsequently invaded practically every bar in Fairbanks. Back in March the Juvat punks and other guys (Panton punks… “tooey”) hosted the Fiends and Dragons from Osan to a peninsula-wide gathering to officially name the “Great Successor” Kim Jong Un, who replaced his recently departed father, the “Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il (“Him, Him…”). We were fortunate to have the 55th Fighter Squadron Shooters from Shaw and the 421st Black Widows from Hill there as well. Needless to say a six fighter squadron gathering at Kunsan engendered a party of epic proportions. FYI, at the end of the day the nickname that prevailed was “Kim Buff-Un.” We were fortunate a couple of months back to have a visit from “Hammer” (Jon Casselo) during his trip to Seoul in his Fed Ex 777. Hammer was good enough to make the trip down to Kunsan over Superbowl weekend and accompany the Juvats on a trip to A-Town. It was great to hear all the stories about the ways of Kunsan circa 1980…all of which Che-Baby, the ubiquitous and enduring Officer Club bar tender, gladly corroborated. At least we now know Hammer isn’t “completely” full of s--t!

A word about Hollandia Days: some of you have expressed interest in paying us a visit during our annual Hollandia air-to-air competition in response to our global invite. It’s indicative of Juvat pride that so many expressed a desire to come. Unfortunately, due to scheduling and airfield constraints, we’re now conducting Hollandia in conjunction with our deployment to Kadena in June. We’ll be “roaming the Pacific skies” as we take on F-15 Eagles, F-22 Raptors, and USMC F-18 Hornets. I regret that we couldn’t pull the Kunsan Hollandia off as originally planned, but if any are still interested in coming to the Kun I’m certain we can find a time that works. (NOTE: The Juvat Headhunters hold their Hollandia Days competition every year, usually, in May. [We had a helluva good time when we went in 2004]. If you’re interested in going next year, please contact the Stateside Project Officer, Chris “Zippo” Fahey zippo16@sbcglobal.net Thanks for “volunteering” Zippo- Tex) Coming up in May, Lt “Cage” Cecil (Headhunters Assn Liaison Officer) is setting up a combined ROKAF/USAF Combat Dining In to be held sometime around the end of May. This event returns a favor, as our gracious ROKAF brethren hosted both the Juvats and Pantons (“tooey”) in recent months. I offer this advice: beware any ROKAF squadron commander who offers up a “drinking

7

challenge” in which one has to take a shot of soju with every member of the opposing squadron. Let’s just say the punks had to drive home Juvat Lead and pour him out of bucket that night. Hopefully by the time this article makes the press the Juvats will have moved Bruni’s to a new and better location, this time to a building that is actually connected to a modern sewage system. We’ve certainly had some great times in the “old” Bruni’s (which was probably the “new” Bruni’s for many of you from the Spam Riza era), and we certainly appreciate those who built that place into what it is. The building is simply falling apart, so Wolf 51, Col Scott “Rols” Pleus, has seen to it that the Juvats will be relocating to a building that sits in close proximity to the original Bruni’s location. For our next update to the association we’ll be sure to send pictures of the Grand Opening. Recently we said goodbye to Lt General Remington, 7 AF Commander and previous Juvat Lead. It was an honor and a privilege to see him fly his last BFM sortie in a GOLD tail. We welcome Lt Gen Jan-Marc Jouas as the new 7 AF/CC and look forward to getting him airborne soon. Of note, the new 7 AF Vice Commander is Brig Gen “Newbs” Neubauer, also a Juvat. Welcome back to Korea Sir. On 26 June I will hand the reins to Juvat Lead #106, Lt Col “Toro” Hauck, who is currently serving as the 310 FS/DO at Luke. We’ll also welcome Lt Col “Bodhi” Bacon as the new Juvat DO, who is currently somewhere on some staff flying some desk (good to see you back in the Viper, Bodhi). I know their leadership will continue to propel the Headhunters to new heights in a manner that honors the legacy and combat prowess of our founders. In the words of Heat, the current Juvat DO, “it’s what we do.” We build fighter pilots, increase their tactical knowledge and skill level, and give them back to the CAF as leaders who make the Air Force better and more lethal. And, of course, we have a lot of fun doing it. Juvat standard. WiG? Lt Col Doug “Rock” Thies Juvat Lead #105 Rock, many thanks for your support of the Association and your leadership of the Juvats. Good luck on your next assignment at Aviano. Give some snakes to Juvat Lead#104, Lt Col Roscoe Wilkerson when you get there. You ‘crushed ‘em’, Rock!- from Tex, Nogas and your fellow Headhunters.

FRED W. SCHAUMBURG, JR., Yorktown, VA Fred W. Schaumburg, Jr., Retired USAF pilot, went to be with his maker on February 11, 2011. Born February 14, 1926 in Montclair, NJ to Frederick William Schaumburg, Sr. and Marietta Copeland Schaumburg, Fred passed in his niece’s home in Palmyra, VA, where he lived for the past year and a half, under her loving care. He leaves behind his sister Betty May Greenwood of Tampa, FL and two nieces and two nephews. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute with a degree in History and later went to the University of Indiana to receive his MBA. While in the USAF, Fred (known as Bill to some) served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He received a Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, as well as many other medals. After his retirement, Fred became the Chairman for the York County Republican Committee and stayed very active in local politics. He was also an avid tennis player and golfer. Fred loved animals and asked prior to his death that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Caring For Creatures, 325 Sanctuary Lane, Palmyra, VA, 22963, where his friend Princess was adopted and stayed by his side to the very end. Cheryl Falkenburry (Fred's niece) cheryl@centerhillschool.com

HEADHUNTERS DOWN

8

Sorry, some of these are a bit dated- Tex

Name: Lt Col Paul "Mad Max" Young ekyoung@casscomm.com 183FW, Springfield, IL ANG, Last F-16 flight in 2008, now doing AOC work. Mil leave from UAL. Name: Rich "Padre" Munsell rfmunsell@aol.com) Message: "Father Wolf" at Kunsan '00-'01. Now retired Colonel living in Monument, CO. Great memories working for Bwana Name: Diana Sims Segrest dssegrest@bellsouth.net Question or Request: Looking for anyone who remembers serving in Det. No. 1 8th T.F.W. with my father, James Edwin Sims, from 1959 to 1968. Name: Rick Leslie carleslie@embarqmail.com Message: Kunsan by the sea 74-75. Retired from American Airlines in June '10 after 31+ years. Playing golf and enjoying my wine cellar in Southern Pines,NC. Name: John "Fubar" Krawiec johnkra@aol.com Message: Harvest, Alabama. Rocket Scientist...really! Juvat 1974-1975. Married, 1 daughter. Started writing book on my year as a Juvat. Will finish when retired. Don't worry, names changed to protect the guilty. Name: Terry P. terrylin105@yahoo.com Question or Request: Am studying the F-105 at Yokota AB in the 1960s, and am looking for any info to describe 80TFS F-105 ops related to Pueblo Crisis of 1968. Did the squadron already start transition to the F-4C? Was it still equipped with the F-105? What was the squadron response to the Pueblo seizure? Appreciate any info to describe the culminating period of F-105 ops in the 80th TFS at Yokota AB. Hello! My dad was one of the Head Hunters who served in Korea. His 80th birthday is coming up and I'd like to see if I can get some contacts for him, pictures for him, etc. His name is Stanley York, he had shortened it from Stanley Yurkiewicz. I'm not sure which one he used in Korea. I have some pictures, including some taken at McChord AFB on Jan 26, 1951 when he was in the honor guard to meet a General. Any help/information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Kathy Witten kitten_513@yahoo.com Tex, Back on my home turf! I'm actually on a scholarship program called IASP (Info Assurance Scholarship Program). Long story short, it's run and funded by the NSA to help meet the demand for cyber security personnel in the DoD. Open to 0-1 thru O-5 and civilians. I knew about it for years but never applied. Finally did last year, and (for some strange reason) the NSA board selected me. You keep your original AFSC but are supposed to give a "pay-back" tour afterwards in a cyber-related position. Structured kind of like Olmsted and Mansfield programs, but with a cyber focus instead of language/culture focus. For more seasoned (read: older) officers O-4 to O-5, one path is the one I'm taking: National Defense University in DC for 9 grad-level courses packed into 3 months. Then you take those NDU credits to selected civ schools around country to finish your Masters or PhD. Pace

NEWS AND REQUESTS FROM AROUND

THE WORLD

9

University here in NYC was an option for the civ school portion, so that's how I ended up here. Nice job putting up the Facebook page [Zippo]! Chris “Lude” Kibble Tex, thanks [for passing on this info to me about Fred]! We crossed paths. The guys from Korea are dropping rapidly! A scheduled reunion of 52B in SAT in April only had 12 signed up at last count!!! Class may have had couple of hundred!! We don't buy green bananas!!! By the way, another Classmate from Bryan and a close friend was Jack A. Hayes. Found out that he became at Lt/Col and was killed in SEA on 7 Dec '67. Have never found details. Does anyone know anything about what happened? He was a Headhunter and because of turnover succeeded me a "A" Flt Lead when I finished my tour and then served for a while as Sq Exec before he finished his tour. He may have extended to do that job Jerry Minton minton80ftr@charter.net My Uncle 1st. Lt. Kenneth Tallant was stationed in Suwon, K-13, during the same time. Ken was killed on May18, 1953. He was a fighter bomber pilot. He was one of the pilots that flew with Major Charles Loring when he gave up his life on Sniper Ridge. Was wondering if Gene Gould knew my Uncle or had any information on him. Thank you to Gene Zehr for posting that squadron picture. Ken and Frank Ray are both in it. They were friends for those few short months Ken was stationed in Suwon, K-13. Linda Horton I'm wondering if there is an e-mail address for Gene Gould. Linda Horton lhorton@inlandpowergroup.com I don’t think Gene Gould ever joined the Association. Anybody have any contact info for him? Jaybird?? - Tex

Jerry D. Minton minton80ftr@charter.net replied: Linda- Got your note from Tex. Knew Ken - good man - good pilot! I was Flight CO - A Flight of 80th when Ken arrived to serve with the Headhunters. I am copying this to Gerry Asher gmasher@netzero.net - believe he has in his files some photos of Ken and some data about the accident in which Ken was killed. I am sure he will be in touch with you. Maj. Loring, Squadron Operations Officer was leading "A" Flight the day he was lost and subsequently awarded the MOH. Others in the flight - in addition to Ken - were Frank Ray and Hobart Palmer - both now deceased as is Gene Zehr. Unfortunately "A" Flight lost a pilot the afternoon of the day "Chuck" Loring was lost. Same target area and same type of dive bomb run - Lt. James Roberts was assigned to "A" Flight temporarily from Clark Field in the Philippines to get a few weeks of combat experience. Kind regards, Jerry

1. The Association now has a Wall on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Official-80th-Fighter-Squadron-HeadhuntersJuvats-Association/150558321715479 Many kudos to Zippo Fahey for setting this up and posting the initial pictures and commentary. It’s a great site and hope to see many more friends visiting it. Go take a look, folks. 2. Many thanks to: our Historians, Gerry Asher (Korean War), Bob "Driver Mac" McNeese (Head [so to speak] Historian), our Store and Website Manager Tom "Nogas" Reichert, and of course the man who’s done so much for the Association, Jaybird Reidel, HH01(Retired). 3. We've been blessed by having Juvat Lead #105, Lt Col "Rock" Theis and his Pups- notably Lt "Cage" Cecil- to stir up interest in the Association amongst the Active Duty guys and gals at The

FROM THE ORDERLY ROOM

10

Kun and are looking forward to working with his successor, Juvat Lead #106, Lt Col "Toro" Hauck.

All these folks are prime examples of the support (I talked about in the last Newsletter) that the

Association needs to stay healthy. Good on ya, guys!

4. The new website is now up and running and has two sides- Public and Member’s

-Most of the information of interest is on the Public Side under the menu button titled: “80th FIGHTER SQUADRON INFO”. A drop down menu will point you to: History, Songs (soon to be moved to the Member’s side), Reunions, Photos, and Events. -The information of an Administrative/private nature is on the Member’s side. You’ll need a user name and password (see below for info on how to get that) to access the Member’s side. It contains the Master Roster that you can use to contact fellow Headhunters. You can also update your contact info. Likewise, you can also update your email address. There is also the “Orderly Room” where I’ll post hot info and a “Member’s Only Bulletin” section for you to use to discuss more private issues with your fellow Headhunters.

-Nogas is the web administrator and point of contact should you have a problem, email him directly: nogas@80fsheadhunters.org. If you email me, I’ll only end up having to forward it to him as I am clueless about website admin procedures; -LTM’s when you initially try to log on, you’ll have to register through PayPal which will charge you $.01 (that’s one cent). You can pay using Paypal or a credit card. Sorry, but we had to do that because it’s too difficult to have two types of registration accounts. In May, I will send you snail mail giving you your free (repeat “free”) login password. Use it to log in to the Member’s Side. Remember, your password is free and you owe no more dues. -Annual Dues Payers: Due to a programming glitch, Paypal won’t charge you anything for the first year. So, for this dues period (and only this dues period), I’ll be sending out “Dues Are Due” letters in May asking you to: 1. Send me your $10 dues; 2. Register on the website using Paypal. Paypal will then automatically charge you $10 each year on the anniversary of your initial registration. NOTE: Please wait until you get the letter from me before registering for the first time. I can better track membership renewals using one month when most folks renew their memberships rather than tracking down renewals throughout the year. This procedure will save a lot of money spent in mailing out 1st, 2nd and 3rd notice letters. I will be notified when you pay and plan on sending out membership cards just like normal, if the system works as advertised. If you want to change your membership to Lifetime, send me an email and I’ll forward the info to you. -CRITICAL INFO for both LTM’s and Annual Payers: When you first log on to the Member’s side that will take you to your personal info page where you can update your contact info and email address. Then, on the right side of the page click on “Master Roster”. Take a minute and check your information. If your info is not current, please correct it. I’ll be notified and will update the roster in a few days. Don’t expect to see it instantaneously. NOW THAT WE’RE NOT MAILING OUT ANNUAL DUES NOTICES, IF YOUR INFO GOES NON-CURRENT, AFTER THE USPS FORWARDING TIME EXPIRES, I WILL LOSE YOU. I anticipate sending out postcard reminders once a year to try to keep addresses current, but we paid big bucks to set this system up to try to automate the process. Please do your part. With a current email address, I’ll be able to email you

11

directly from the website which will make that process so much easier and more real-time. Right now, to send out just one eblast, due to server limitations I end up having to send out 28 separate batch emails, and get lots of returned mails-either from server limits or bad addresses. -Please be patient as we work out the bugs in the system. If you see a problem, please contact Nogas nogas@80fsheadhunters.org so he can fix it.

5. Say Hello to our newest LTM’s: JOHN “FUBAR” KRAWIEC and 5 active duty Juvat Headhunters from the Kun : STEVE “CAGE” CECIL

WHIT COLLINS KEEGAN DALE JARED JOHNSON

Lt Col DAVE “HEAT” LYONS 80TH DO (joins his boss, Lt Col Rock Theis, as a fellow LTM. Excellent command support, gentlemen!)

6. STORE INFO: Nogas is updating the store and asked me to mention this to you all: -You can now order from the store on line using PayPal. He’s had to bump the prices up just a little bit to cover increased shipping costs and to cover the PayPal premium; -He’s exploring the idea of changing the design of the Official Headhunter Necktie. Seems the old ones are not selling very well. To that end, we’d like to elicit inputs from the membership. If you have a good design, send it to Nogas@80fsheadhunters.org and enter it into the Tie Design Contest. Winner gets a free tie from the Association and free Landing Fee at the reunion in Chino in 2013; -Likewise the ladies’ bow tie is not selling at all and he’s heavily discounting them. Limited to stock on hand. I actually like them. They give a nice “retro” WWII look to your lady; -From Nogas: “I have a vendor who wants to make custom HH golf bags. This would be something guys would have to order and pay for upfront (sort of like the mugs and steins). The company can also make HH key fobs. This is the same company that makes these items for the thunder chickens (Thunderbirds), so they're quality goods.” If you’re interested, contact Nogas so he can get an idea of how many to order. 7. 2013 Reunion dates are official: 17-19 May 2013. Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, CA. http://planesoffame.org/ Host for the affair is our own Zippo Fahey. I know I say this with each reunion announcement, but this one will be THE one you do not want to miss. Unless major events (like a 9.0 earthquake) interfere, we will be guests at our own air show. Private tent. Our own bus transportation from hotel to air show AND we’re working on a free ride in a P-51 (possibly a P-38) for one or two lucky attendees. More details to follow. Be there, ladies and gentlemen. This will be a great one!

What Is Good? Tex n Rita2

12

80th Fighter Squadron

THE HEADHUNTERS

1030 E Hwy 377

Suite 110 PMB 174

Granbury, Texas 76048

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

“TWIN TAILED LIGHTNING WAS OUR WARPLANE,

AS WE ROAM’D PACIFIC SKIES…

SEARCHING OUT, THE SONS OF NIPPON,

SENDING THEM TO THEIR DEMISE.”