Constituted as 24th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 16 Aug 1941.
Activated in the Philippine Islands on 1 Oct 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 Dec 1941. When enemy aircraft were reported to be approaching Luzon on
the morning of 8 Dec (7 Dec in the US), the 24th group attempted to
intercept but failed because radar and visual sighting facilities 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 in Dec 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 remanned, the
group was carried on the list of active organizations until after the war.
Inactivated on 2 Apr 1946.
Squadrons. 3d: 1941-1946. 17th: 1941-1946. 20th: 1941-1946.
Stations. Clark Field, Luzon, 1 Oct 1941; Mariveles, Luzon, c. 1
Jan-May 1942.
Commanders. Col Orrin L Grover, 1 Oct 1941-Apr 1942.
Campaigns. Philippine Islands.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Philippines, 7 Dec 1941-10
May 1942; Philippines, 8-22 Dec 1941; Philippines, 6 Jan-8 Mar 1942.
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 |
