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3rd Pursuit Squadron
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17th Pursuit Squadron
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20th Pursuit Squadron
From 'Air Force Combat Units of World War II': 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.
3rd: 1941-1946
Clark Field, Luzon, 1 October 1941
Colonel Orrin L. Grover, 1 October 1941 - April 1942
Philippine Islands
DUC - Philippines, 7 December 1941 - 10 May 1942
20th Pursuit Squadron pilots next to a P-40B at Clark Field, August 1941.
Left to right:
Though constituted that same month, the 24th Pursuit Group would not be activated
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