▁is ▁an ▁in active ▁United ▁States ▁Air ▁Force ▁unit . ▁It ▁was ▁w ip ed ▁out ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁Philippines ▁( 1 9 4 1 – 4 2 ). ▁The ▁surv iv ors ▁fought ▁as ▁inf antry ▁during ▁Battle ▁of ▁B ata an ▁and ▁after ▁their ▁surrender , ▁were ▁subject ed ▁to ▁the ▁B ata an ▁Death ▁March , ▁although ▁some ▁did ▁escape ▁to ▁Australia . ▁The ▁unit ▁was ▁never ▁rem anned ▁or ▁equ ipped . ▁It ▁was ▁carried ▁as ▁an ▁active ▁unit ▁until ▁ 2 ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 6 . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Organ ization ▁The ▁Group ▁was ▁activ ated ▁in ▁the ▁Philipp ine ▁Islands ▁on ▁ 1 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 1 , ▁taking ▁over ▁the ▁three ▁purs uit ▁squad rons ▁( 3 d , ▁ 1 7 th ▁and ▁ 2 0 th ) ▁of ▁the ▁in activ ated ▁ 4 th ▁Compos ite ▁Group . ▁ ▁The ▁group ▁was ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁Sever sky ▁P - 3 5 As ▁and ▁several ▁models ▁of ▁Curt iss ▁P - 4 0 s , ▁this ▁group ▁compr ised ▁the ▁only ▁purs uit ▁force ▁in ▁the ▁Philippines ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁month ▁of ▁October , ▁ 3 5 ▁new ▁pil ots ▁arrived ▁from ▁Rand olph ▁Field , ▁Texas ▁which ▁brought ▁the ▁ 2 4 th ▁up ▁to ▁full ▁strength . ▁ ▁These ▁pil ots ▁were ▁sent ▁to ▁P urs uit ▁transition ▁unit ▁at ▁Clark ▁which ▁trained ▁them ▁for ▁combat ▁duty .