24th Pursuit Group

The 24th Pursuit Group was a United States Army Air Forces fighter formation activated in the Philippine Islands on 1 October 1941. It assumed responsibility for three pursuit squadrons formerly associated with the inactivated 4th Composite Group and, after reinforcement, formed the principal American pursuit force available in the Philippines when Japan attacked in December 1941. Its aircraft included Seversky P-35As and Curtiss P-40 variants, while its squadrons operated from dispersed airfields including Iba, Nichols, Clark, and Del Carmen. In the weeks before the attack, the group maintained continuous aircraft alerts and conducted interception, night-flying, air-to-air gunnery, and bomber-escort training. Its operational position deteriorated rapidly after the Japanese attacks of 8 December 1941. Clark Field and Iba Field were heavily damaged, many aircraft were destroyed on the ground, communications failed, and the group struggled to intercept Japanese formations under conditions of inadequate warning and major enemy numerical and technical advantages. The P-35s were particularly outmatched by Japanese fighters, while the surviving P-40s were repeatedly committed to air defense, reconnaissance, strafing, convoy attacks, and support of ground operations. As aircraft, fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and trained personnel became scarce, the group increasingly operated from improvised and dispersed landing fields. Maintenance crews kept aircraft flying by cannibalizing wrecks, reusing materials, and improvising repairs. Some pilots conducted aggressive reconnaissance and ground-attack missions against Japanese airfields and installations. By late December, the group’s remaining aircraft represented only a fraction of its original strength. Following the withdrawal of American and Philippine forces toward the Bataan Peninsula, the group’s ground personnel were converted into provisional infantry. Under a January 1942 field order, the ground echelons were organized as the 2d Infantry Regiment (Provisional) of the 71st Division and assigned defensive duties on Bataan. The unit was effectively destroyed as an organized pursuit formation during the Philippines campaign. Many survivors fought as infantry, and after the surrender were subjected to the Bataan Death March; some escaped and eventually reached Australia. The group was never re-equipped or re-manned, although it remained carried as an active organization until 2 April 1946. It is therefore best understood not as a commercial brand but as a historical military unit whose identity is associated with the defense and fall of the Philippines in 1941–42.

The 24th Pursuit Group was established in the Philippine Islands on 1 October 1941, shortly before the United States entered the Pacific War. It inherited the 3d, 17th, and 20th Pursuit Squadrons from the inactivated 4th Composite Group. During October, 35 pilots arrived from Randolph Field, Texas, bringing the group to its planned strength after transition training at Clark Field. In November, the 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons arrived as attached units from the 35th Pursuit Group at Hamilton Field, California. The group was equipped with a mixed fleet of P-40s and P-35As and constituted the only American pursuit force in the Philippines at the outbreak of hostilities. The international situation led to increasingly intensive preparation. Beginning in mid-November, aircraft on the flight lines were kept armed and fueled, with pilots available on short notice. The squadrons practiced day and night interception, aerial gunnery, and escort operations for B-17 bombers. Unidentified aircraft were reported over Clark Field during the first week of December, but repeated attempts to intercept them were unsuccessful. On the eve of the Japanese attack, the group’s squadrons were distributed among Iba, Nichols, Clark, and Del Carmen Fields. On 8 December, after news of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached the Philippines, the group went on alert. Radar reports and uncertain communications produced several unsuccessful interception attempts. Japanese bombers later attacked Clark Field while the 20th Pursuit Squadron was preparing to launch. Aircraft were destroyed on the ground and during takeoff, and the destruction of the communications center prevented effective coordination with aircraft already airborne. The 3d Pursuit Squadron engaged Japanese aircraft near Iba Field but suffered losses, while the P-35s from the 34th Squadron were unable to match the performance of Japanese fighters. Iba Field and other facilities were also badly damaged. During the following days, surviving aircraft were redistributed among the squadrons. The 24th conducted patrols, reconnaissance, attacks on Japanese airfields, and limited support for operations against invasion forces. A shortage of replacements, fuel, ammunition, and spare parts forced maintenance personnel to salvage components from wrecked aircraft and improvise repairs. By 10 December, the group had only about 30 aircraft, including eight P-35s, and higher headquarters restricted the use of pursuit aircraft primarily to reconnaissance and specially ordered missions. The Japanese advance from both north and south forced American and Philippine forces to abandon their principal airfields and withdraw to Bataan. On 10 January 1942, the ground elements of the group were organized as the 2d Infantry Regiment (Provisional) of the 71st Division. Personnel from the pursuit squadrons were assigned beach-defense, reserve, and other ground-combat duties. The group consequently ceased to function as an effective air formation. Its surviving personnel participated in the defense of Bataan, and after surrender many endured the Bataan Death March. Some members escaped and made their way to Australia. The organization was not re-manned or re-equipped, but remained on the active rolls until its formal inactivation on 2 April 1946.

• 1946

  Formal inactivation

  [1]24th Pursuit Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was removed from the active rolls on 2 April after remaining un-re-equipped following the Philippines campaign.

• 1942

  Conversion of ground personnel to infantry

  [1]24th Pursuit Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group’s ground echelons were organized as the 2d Infantry Regiment (Provisional) of the 71st Division for the defense of Bataan.

• 1941

  Activation in the Philippines

  [1]24th Pursuit Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 24th Pursuit Group was activated on 1 October in the Philippine Islands and assumed three squadrons from the inactivated 4th Composite Group.

• 1941

  Prewar reinforcement and readiness

  [1]24th Pursuit Groupen.wikipedia.org

  New pilots arrived from the United States, and the attached 21st and 34th Pursuit Squadrons joined the group during November.

• 1941

  Japanese attacks on Philippine airfields

  [1]24th Pursuit Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group engaged in the first air operations of the Philippines campaign while suffering severe losses at Clark and Iba Fields on 8 December.

A wartime United States Army Air Forces pursuit formation assigned to the defense of the Philippines.

• Fighter aircraft

  Seversky P-35A

  The P-35A was one of the fighter types operated by the group, particularly by the 34th Pursuit Squadron. By the time of the Japanese attack, it was technologically disadvantaged against faster and more maneuverable Japanese fighters, limiting its effectiveness in interception and air combat.

• Fighter aircraft

  Curtiss P-40

  Several P-40 variants formed the more capable part of the group’s fighter inventory. P-40s were used for interception, reconnaissance, strafing, convoy attacks, and support of ground forces, but losses, maintenance shortages, and the absence of replacements rapidly reduced their availability.

• 1942Battle of Bataan

  Bataan Peninsula

  Former ground personnel of the group were incorporated into a provisional infantry regiment and helped defend the Bataan Peninsula after the collapse of the main American airfields.

  Outcome. Following surrender, many survivors endured the Bataan Death March; some escaped to Australia.

  Source
• 1941Defense of the Philippines

  Philippine Islands

  The group conducted air defense, reconnaissance, ground attack, and limited bomber-escort missions during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. Its bases and aircraft were progressively destroyed or abandoned as Japanese forces advanced.

  Outcome. The group lost its ability to operate as an organized pursuit formation and its ground personnel continued the campaign as infantry on Bataan.

  Source

• 1942

  Convert ground echelons to provisional infantryStrategy

  Background

  The group’s aircraft strength and operating infrastructure had been severely reduced by Japanese attacks, while American and Philippine forces withdrew toward Bataan.

  Action taken

  The ground echelons were organized as the 2d Infantry Regiment (Provisional) of the 71st Division and assigned defensive duties.

  Aftermath

  The group no longer functioned as an effective air unit and was never re-manned or re-equipped.

  Source

1. 124th Pursuit Groupen.wikipedia.org