34th Pursuit Squadron

34th Pursuit Squadron
Active	1940-1946 (Not manned or equipped after May 1942
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Pursuit
Part of	Far East Air Force
Engagements	Philippine Islands (1941–1942)
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citations:    Philippines, 7 December 1941 – 10 May 1942    Philippines, 8–12 December 1941    Philippines, 6 January – 8 March 1942 Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

The 34th Pursuit Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was wiped out in the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42). The survivors fought as infantry during Battle of Bataan and after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March, although some did escape to Australia. The unit was never remanned or equipped. It was carried as an active unit until 2 April 1946.

History

Lineage

• Constituted 34th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 Dec 1939

Activated on 1 Feb 1940

Inactivated on 2 Apr 1946.

Assignments

• 28th Composite Group, 1 Feb 1940
• 35th Pursuit Group, 30 Nov 1940-15 Jan 1942

Attached to 24th Pursuit Group, 1 Oct 1941-2 Apr 1946

Stations

• Kelly Field, Texas, 1 Feb 1940
• Hamilton Field, California, 30 Nov 1940–Oct 1941
• Del Carmen Field, Luzon, Philippines, 1 Nov 1941
• Bataan Field, Luzon, c. 25 Dec 1941–Apr 1942

Air echelon operated from: Del Monte Airfield, Mindanao, PhilippinesC. 8 Apr–May 1942

Aircraft

• P-36 Hawk, 1940-1941
• Seversky P-35, 1941-1942.

Operational History

Combat in the Philippine Islands, 8 Dec 1941–c. 1 May 1942; ground echelon fought as an infantry unit in Bataan, 18 Jan–c. 8 Apr 1942. Carried as an active unit but was not operational from the fall of the Philippines to 2 Apr 1946.

References

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

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0892010975
• The Army Air Forces in World War II, Chapter 6, Pearl Harbor and Clark Field