17th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF)

Background
On January 14, 1942 established as the 17th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) in Australia. Abbreviated 17th PS(P) or 17th PRV SQ.

Wartime History
On January 16, 1942 departs Brisbane and ferried their P-40 Warhawks across Australia via Darwin to Java arriving January 24, 1942 and January 25, 1942. The 17th Pursuit Squadron (Provisional) served on Java until the surrender then returned to Australia.

On February 20, 1942 sixteen P-40E Warhawks took off from Ngoro Airfield on eastern Java on a mission to escort A-24s and LB-30s bombing Japanese ships off Bali. Over the target, intercepted by A6M2 Zeros from 3rd Ku. Shot down is P-40E Warhawk pilot Lt. Col. Charles "Bud" A. Sprague (KIA). Crash landed is P-40E "Colleen" pilot Lt. Thomas L. "Tommy" Hayes, Jr. (survived). After the conclusion of the Java campaign, the 17th PS(P) returned to Australia.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Major Charles A. Sprague (January 14, 1942–February 20, 1942) †
Captain Grattan "Grant" Mahony (February 22, 1942–February 24, 1942)
Lt. J. L. McCallum (February 24, 1942) †

References
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 30-31 (24th PG / 3rd PS, 17th PS, 17th PS (Provisional) 31 (17th PS(P) continued)
Every Day A Nightmare American Pursuit Pilots in the Defense of Java, 1941-1942 (2010) pages 63, 93, 94, 96, 101, 133, 141, 180-181, 200, 244, 256, 274, 311, 496 (index 17th Pursuit Squadron Provisional)