The 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (USAAF) in Australia |
| 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 8PRS in Australia has been included on this website. |
| 23DEC41 | Formation authorised |
| 19JAN42 | Constituted as 8th Photographic Squadron |
| 01FEB42 | Activated at March Field, California |
| 19MAR42 | "A" Flight sailed for Australia on S.S. "President Coolidge" |
| 07APR42 | Arrived Camp Pell, Melbourne |
| 24APR42 | Departed for Camp Doomben, Brisbane |
| APR/MAY42 | Became operational with four (4) aircraft |
| 02MAY42 | Departed Camp Doomben, Brisbane for Townsville |
| 09JUN42 | Redesignated 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron |
| 16JUL42 | "B" and "C" Flights arrived in Melbourne on the S.S. "Matsonia" and encamped at Camp Murphy |
| 27JUL42 | "B" and "C" Flights joined "A" Flight at Townsville |
| 12AUG42 | Four (4) F-4 received at CAC, Melbourne |
| 19AUG42 | Five (5) F-4 received at CAC, Melbourne |
| 05SEP42 | 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). |
| 05JAN44 | Moved to Durand Drome (17 Mile) |
| 16MAR44 | Moved to Nadzab, Lae |
| The following listing does not pretend to be complete. It has been compiled from the 8PRS diary which forms the basis of the book "The Eight Ballers" (see Sources). Any additions will be gratefully received. |
SERIAL |
SQN # |
NAME |
REMARKS |
|
41-2098 |
-
|
- |
Crashed 14SEP42, Condemned 31OCT44, SOC 09JAN45 |
|
41-2122 |
22 |
- |
Crashed 05DEC43 |
|
41-2123 |
23 |
Fainting Floozie II |
Crashed 28NOV42 |
|
41-2125 |
25 |
- |
Crashed 13AUG42. Condemned 31OCT44 |
|
41-2126 |
- |
- |
Condemned 31OCT44 |
|
41-2127 |
-
|
- |
- |
|
41-2130 |
30 |
Malaria Mabel |
Condemned in Australia 09MAY44 |
|
41-2134 |
34 |
Eager Beaver II |
- |
|
41-2137 |
37 |
Hellapoppin Hepcat |
In service as two seater 06DEC42. MIA 28JUN43 |
|
41-2139 |
-
|
Pouting Peggy |
aka “Doris”. Salvaged 26SEP44 |
|
41-2140 |
-
|
- | MIA 16MAR43 |
|
41-2144 |
-
|
- | Condemned 08FEB44 |
|
41-2156 |
56 |
Limping Lizzie |
aka “Leaping Lizzie”. Condemned 26APR44 |
|
41-2177 |
77 |
Dotin’ Donna |
Crashed 21MAY43. Condemned 31OCT44 |
|
41-2193 |
93 |
- | - |
|
41-2209 |
-
|
Alice the Goon |
Crashed 30DEC43 |
|
41-2214 |
-
|
- | - |
|
41-2217 |
17 |
- | Salvaged in Australia 26SEP44 |
|
41-2220 |
220 |
- |
Delivered to 8PRS 21DEC42 |
|
41-2325 |
-
|
- | "Eight Ballers" (p.8) refers to a "photo mission flown in P-38 2325". 41-2325 should be a P-38F-LO. |
|
41-2381 |
81 |
- | - |
|
? |
-
|
Baker’s Bastard |
- |
|
? |
-
|
Lackagas 37 |
41-2137 has another name |
|
? |
-
|
Map! Happy Pappy |
- |
|
? |
-
|
Photo Joe |
- |
| The following listing does not pretend to be complete. It has been compiled from the 8PRS diary which forms the basis of the book "The Eight Ballers" (see Sources). Any additions will be gratefully received. |
|
AIRCRAFT |
DATE |
LOCATION |
PILOT |
|
? |
02MAY42 |
Lae |
Capt Louis J. Connelly (MIA) |
|
41-2125 |
13AUG42 |
Misiama Island |
Lt Paul Staller (killed) |
|
41-2098 |
14SEP42 |
North East New Guinea |
Lt Peterson (MIA) |
|
41-2123 |
28NOV42 |
Near 12 Mile |
Lt Phillip D. Lissner (killed) |
|
41-2177 |
21MAY43 |
Between Wau and Nassau Bay |
Robert M Blackard (MIA) |
|
?
|
05JUN43 |
Northern New Britain |
1st Lt Fred Hargesheimer (survived) |
|
?
|
20JUN43 |
Wide Bay (New Britain) |
Major Art Post |
|
?
|
31JUL43 |
Markham Valley NW of Nadzab |
Lt LeGrand Kneeskern |
|
41-2122 |
05DEC43 |
Near Hood Point |
F/O Fred Cross (killed) |
|
41-2209 |
30DEC43 |
Coral Sea |
Charles K Erb (MIA) |
 |
|
41-2123
Fainting
Floozie II
|
 |
|
41-2123
Fainting
Floozie II
|
 |
|
41-2125
|
 |
|
41-2125
|
 |
|
41-2125
|
 |
|
41-2134
Eager Beaver II
|
 |
|
41-2137Hellapoppin
Hepcat
|
 |
|
41-2139
Poutin Peggy
|
 |
|
41-2177
Dotin' Donna
|
 |
|
41-2209
Alice The Goon
|
 |
|
Unidentified
8PRS F-4
|
|
Thanks
also to: The 8PRS patch appears thanks to Bill Hilliard and Peter Dunn's "Australia @ War" web site www.ozatwar.com
|
| Issue | Date | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 29DEC12 |
Added
three new images thanks to Bob Rocker.
|
| 4 | 16JUL10 |
Corrected
the 8PRS Chronology to show Schwimmer as 14 Mile and Durand
as 17 Mile. Previously they were transposed. Added several
new images thanks to Bob Rocker.
|
| 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 8PRS F-4s. |
| 2 | 10JUN06 |
Table
of 8PRS aircraft revised thanks to input from Gordon Birkett.
Update includes the addition of two aircraft, 41-2126
& 41-2144.
|
| 1 | 08DEC04 |
Original
issue.
|
