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8th PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON |
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| This
photograph, from an unknown source, shows an 8th PRS Lockheed F-4
on the aft deck of the S.S. President Coolidge. (Click on the image for a larger view and further details) |
| This
Associated Press photograph shows the four 8th PRS Lockheed F-4s on
the wharf in Melbourne with the S.S. President Coolidge in
the background. (Click on the image for a larger view and further details) |
| Although obviously not an Australian squadron, the 8th PRS features prominently in the history of Australian Lockheed F-4 Lightning operations, as it was this squadron which supplied all of the F-4s operated by the RAAF at various times. For this reason, a brief history of the 8th PRS in Australia has been included on this website. |
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23DEC41
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Formation authorised |
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19JAN42
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Constituted as 8th Photographic Squadron |
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01FEB42
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Activated at March Field, California |
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19MAR42
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"A" Flight sailed for Australia on S.S. President Coolidge |
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07APR42
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Arrived Camp Pell, Melbourne |
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24APR42
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Departed for Camp Doomben, Brisbane |
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APR/MAY42
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Became operational with four (4) aircraft |
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02MAY42
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Departed Camp Doomben, Brisbane for Townsville |
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09JUN42
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Redesignated 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron |
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16JUL42
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"B" and "C" Flights arrived in Melbourne on the S.S. Matsonia and encamped at Camp Murphy |
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27JUL42
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"B" and "C" Flights joined "A" Flight at Townsville |
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12AUG42
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Four (4) F-4 received at CAC, Melbourne |
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19AUG42
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Five (5) F-4 received at CAC, Melbourne |
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05SEP42
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An advance party left for Port Moresby followed by the rest of the squadron a few weeks later. The squadron was based at Schwimmer Drome (14 Mile). |
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05JAN44
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Moved to Durand Drome (17 Mile) |
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16MAR44
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Moved to Nadzab, Lae |
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10SEP44
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Moved to Biak (By this time the squadron was equipped with F-5s) |
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03NOV44
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Moved to Leyte |
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MAY45
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Moved to Luzon |
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AUG45
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Moved to Okinawa |
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The
8th PRS flight line at 14 Mile, Port Moresby in 1943.
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| The
following listing does not pretend to be complete. It has been compiled
from the 8th PRS diary which forms the basis of the book "The
Eight Ballers" (see Sources). Any additions will be gratefully
received. MIA = Missing In Action. KIA = Killed In Action. Note: Some of these unidentified losses may have been F-5As. It is believed that F-5As began arriving in theatre in March 1943. |
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AIRCRAFT |
DATE |
LOCATION |
PILOT |
|
? |
04MAY42 |
Lae (departed from Townsville) |
Capt Louis J. Connelly (MIA). |
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41-2125 |
13AUG42 |
Misiama Island |
Lt Paul Staller (KIA) |
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41-2098 |
14SEP42 |
North East New Guinea |
Lt Peterson (MIA) |
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41-2123 |
28NOV42 |
Near 12 Mile |
Lt Phillip D. Lissner (KIA) |
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41-2177 |
21MAY43 |
Between Wau and Nassau Bay |
Robert M Blackard (KIA) |
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?
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05JUN43 |
Northern New Britain |
1st Lt Fred Hargesheimer (bailed out). Poss F-5A |
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?
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20JUN43 |
Wide Bay (New Britain) |
Major Art Post (bailed out) |
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41-2137
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26JUN43
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Between Port Moresby and Rabaul | 1st Lt. Kenneth J. Murphy (MIA) |
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?
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31JUL43 |
Markham Valley NW of Nadzab |
Lt. LeGrand Kneeskern (bailed out) |
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41-2122 |
05DEC43 |
Near Hood Point |
F/O Fred Cross (KIA) |
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41-2209 |
30DEC43 |
Coral Sea |
Lt. Charles K Erb (MIA) |
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41-2123
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41-2123
Fainting
Floozie II
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41-2123
Fainting
Floozie II
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41-2125
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41-2125
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41-2125
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#34
Eager Beaver II
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41-2137
Hellzapoppin
Hepcat
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41-2139
Poutin Peggy
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41-2177
Dotin' Donna
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41-2209
Alice The Goon
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Unidentified
8th PRS F-4
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Map
Happy Pappy
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Thanks
also to: The 8th PRS patch appears thanks to Bill Hilliard and Peter Dunn's Australia @ War web site www.ozatwar.com
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| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 28MAR24 |
Added
an image of the first four
8PRS F-4s on the wharf in Melbourne.
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| 8 | 17APR21 |
Added
an image of Map
Happy Pappy. Thanks to Bob Rocker.
Minor reformatting with no change to data. |
| 7 | 08FEB18 |
Added
an image of 41-2123 before
her name was applied. Thanks to Bob Rocker.
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| 6 | 15MAY14 |
The listing of 8th PRS F-4s has been transferred to a
standalone page.
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| 5 | 29DEC12 |
Added
three new images thanks to Bob Rocker.
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| 4 | 16JUL10 |
Corrected
the 8th PRS Chronology to show Schwimmer as 14 Mile and
Durand as 17 Mile. Previously they were transposed. Added
several new images thanks to Bob Rocker.
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| 3 | 06MAR09 |
Added
a note that 41-2325 is a P-38F.
Corrected date of crash of 41-2125 from 27JUL42 to 13AUG42 (Source: Eight Ballers p.11) Added a date for 41-2137 entering service as a two seater. (Source: Eight Ballers p.34) Added four images of 8th PRS F-4s. |
| 2 | 10JUN06 |
Table
of 8th PRS aircraft revised thanks to input from Gordon
Birkett. Update includes the addition of two aircraft,
41-2126 & 41-2144.
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| 1 | 08DEC04 |
Original
issue.
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