[1] During the month of October, 35 new pilots arrived from Randolph Field, Texas which brought the 24th up to full strength.

[2] In November 1941, the 24th was augmented by two attached squadrons (21st and 34th) which were sent from the 35th Pursuit Group at Hamilton Field, California.

[1] Notice was received by the group on 15 November that due to the tense international situation between the United States and the Japanese Empire, all pursuit aircraft on the flight line would be placed on alert 24 hours each day, be armed, and be fully fueled with pilots available on 30 minutes' notice.

[2] During the period 30 November to 6 December all squadrons underwent intensive training in day and night enemy interception and air-to-air gunnery.

[2] During the first days of December, on four consecutive nights (2d-6th) an unidentified aircraft was sighted over Clark Field at approximately 05:30.

However the group was unable to verify this interception through official channels, no other action was taken other than notifying the Base Commander.

[2] At about 04:00 the radar at Iba Field reported a formation of unidentified aircraft approximately 75 miles off the West Coast of Luzon heading towards Corregidor.

[2] At approximately 09:30, a large formation of Japanese bombers was spotted over Lingayen Gulf reported heading towards Manila.

Again, the interception was not successful, as the bombers turned to the northeast and attacked Baguio and Tuguegarao then headed north off the radar.

At 11:45 an unverified report was received of another bomber formation over Lingayen Gulf, heading south.

Clark Field was so heavily damaged it was essentially eliminated as an effective combat airfield.

Iba, however was plotting an incoming formation and was transmitting the information to the Air Warning Center at Nielson Field.

In the ensuing battle, one enemy bomber was shot down and a number of strafing aircraft were claimed to have been destroyed.

After the Japanese raid, three additional P-40s were forced to crash land on the beaches after running out of fuel.

The remainder of the squadron landed at the O'Donnell airport, but were forced to remain there until ammunition and gasoline were dispatched from Clark Field.

The remaining planes proceeded to Nichols Field but were unable to accomplish any interception of enemy aircraft in the dark.

For the remainder of the day, the only activity was miscellaneous elements of Japanese ships patrolling and aircraft reconnoitering, and the night bombing of Nichols Field at 03:15.

Two P-35s were lost, one when the plane flew into a large explosion on a ship the aircraft attacked as the pilot was passing over it.

The planes would be employed mainly as reconnaissance aircraft to replace the 2d Observation Squadron, which was made inoperable after being mostly destroyed on the ground.

Lt. Wagner, while performing a reconnaissance mission over Aparri, strafed the captured airport there and shot down four enemy aircraft in the area.

Lt Mahoney, on a reconnaissance mission over Legaspi, strafed the airport there and destroyed several enemy aircraft on the ground.

[2] With no supplies or replacements available from the United States, ground crews, with little or no spares for repairing aircraft, used parts which were cannibalized from wrecks.

[3][4][5] On the morning of 23 December the Japanese made a landing in San Miguel Bay along the east coast of Lingayen Gulf.

The attack was made with a loss of two of the P-35s which were shot down by anti-aircraft fire[2] and it proved sufficient to create confusion among enemy personnel in landing barges and around supply dumps ashore.

4, HQ Philippines Department on 10 January 1942 appointed the ground echelons of the 24th Pursuit Group as the 2d Infantry Regiment (Provisional) of the 71st Division.

[5] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency