ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS LISTING:

At the initial outbreak of hostilities, Morehead was recovering from injuries sustained by a mid air collision. In late December after recovery, he joined pilots and support personnel in San Francisco, to be sent to the Philippines, but instead diverted to port in Brisbane, Australia as the Japanese threaten the Dutch East Indies and Australia.    This was the 5th Air force, 49th fighter Group, 8th Fighter Squadron.  

He destroyed three enemy aircraft on February 25, 1942 and was awarded his firs DFC for that mission. On April 25, 1942, he destroyed two more enemy aircraft, earning him the flying ace status.

During this time he was credited with the destruction of 7 Japanese aircraft in aerial combat. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and DFC for his services in the Pacific. 

Soon after the unit began operations in New Guinea the pilot in this story was rotated home.  After a year of various assignment in February 1944 he was sent to the  15th Air Force, 1st Fighter Group  71st fighter Squadron flying the P-38.  I skimmed the book and he did a lot of bomber escorts missions to Europe and Ploesti.   Flying the P-38 in Europe he earned one more kill  on a June 6th 1944 mission to Ploesti.  The end of his toru earned him another DFC.   Total areal victories were 8. 

I pulled the following from a history of the 8th Fighter Squadron early in the war.  I'm not sure when our pilot left the combat zone for home. 

With the advent of WW II  the squadron moved to Australia and became part of 5th Air Force in January 1942. It was re-\designated as the 8th Fighter Squadron in May 1942. The unit received Curtiss P-40 Warhawks in Australia and, after training for a short time, provided air defense for the Northern Territory.

The squadron moved to New Guinea in October 1942 to help stall the Japanese drive southward from Buna to Port Moresby  It engaged primarily in air defense of Port Moresby; also escorted bombers and transports, and attacked enemy installations, supply lines, and troop concentrations in support of Allied ground forces.

The 8th participated in the Allied offensive that pushed the Japanese back along the Kokoda Trail Track, took part in the Battle of Bismarck Sea in March 1943, fought for control of the approaches to Huon Gulf, and supported ground forces during the campaign in which the Allies eventually recovered New Guinea. It covered the landings on Noemfoor and had a part in. the conquest of Biak .