From 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II':

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Constituted as 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 16 August 1941. Activated in the Philippine
Islands on 1 October 1941. Augmented by two attached squadrons (21st and 34th) and equipped with P-35
and P-40 aircraft, this group comprised the entire pursuit force in the Philippines in December 1941.
When enemy aircraft were reported to be approaching Luzon on the morning of 8 December (7 December
in the US), the 24th group attempted to intercept but failed because radar and visual sighting facil-
ities were inadequate. Later that day, after the group's planes either had landed for refueling or
had run so low on fuel that they could not fight, the Japanese attacked and inflicted heavy losses
on the organization. In the days that followed, the group's strength declined rapidly, but the 24th
flew some patrol and reconnaissance missions, engaged the enemy in the air, and attacked enemy airfields
and shipping. By late December the ground personnel were absorbed by infantry units and some pilots
were evacuated to Australia. One of these pilots was Lt. Boyd D. 'Buzz' Wagner, who already had become
the first AAF ace of World War II. The remaining pilots continued operations in the Philippines with
the few planes that were left. Eventually all of the men, except the few who had gone to Australia,
were either killed or captured by the enemy. Although not re-manned, the group was carried on the
list of active organizations until after the war. Inactivated on 2 April 1946.

Squadrons

3rd: 1941-1946
17th: 1941-1946
20th: 1941-1946

Stations

Clark Field, Luzon, 1 October 1941
Mariveles, Luzon, circa 1 January - May 1942

Commanders

Colonel Orrin L. Grover, 1 October 1941 - April 1942

Campaigns

Philippine Islands

Decorations

DUC - Philippines, 7 December 1941 - 10 May 1942
DUC - Philippine, 8-22 December 1941
DUC - Philippines, 6 January - 8 March 1942
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

Note: All above information pertains to this unit's activities up to 1945.
Any subsequent activity from 1946 onward is not included.