342nd Fighter Squadron (342nd FS) "Scourgers"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 348th Fighter Group (348th FG)

Background
On September 24, 1942 constituted as the 342nd Fighter Squadron (342nd BS) in the 348th Fighter Group (348th FG). On September 30, 1942 activated at Mitchell Field in New York and Bradley Field in Windsor Locks, Connecticut equipped with the P-47D Thunderbolt. Nicknamed "Scourgers". On October 28, 1942 moves to Westover Field in Mass. On January 13, 1943 moves to Bedford Municipal Airport in Mass. On April 28, 1943 returns to Westover Field.

Wartime History
On May 9, 1943 departs overseas bound for the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) as part of the 5th Air Force (5th AF). On June 23, 1943 arrives at 5 Mile Drome (Ward) near Port Moresby in New Guinea.

On August 18, 1943 escorts C-47s bound for Wau Airfield. During the flight due to bad weather, lost are P-47D Thunderbolt 42-8144 pilot 2nd Lt. Cyril O. Andrews (survived) and P-47D Thunderbolt 42-8059  pilot F/O Wilfrid J. Desilets, Jr. (MIA). These two aircraft became the first weather related P-47 Thunderbolt losses in New Guinea.

On October 22, 1943 the squadron escort B-25 Mitchells over Wewak. Over the target, the P-47s engage in air combat with Japanese fighters. Over the target, lost is P-47D "Fiery Ginger" 42-8145 pilot 2nd Lt. Ernest R. Ness (MIA). Returning, lost and low on fuel, P-47D "Sunshine" 42-8121 pilot 1st Lt George O. Burgess and P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22497 pilot 1st Lt. Wynans "Flip" E. Frankfort. Both pilots bailed out and were later rescued.

On December 17, 1943 moves to Finschafen Airfield on the north coast of New Guinea.

On December 26, 1943 lost is P-47D 42-8095  pilot 1st Lt James H. Pratt (MIA) lost near Sakar Island to the west of Cape Gloucester.

On March 5, 1944 three P-47s from the squadron led by Col. Neel E. Kearby flew a fighter sweep over Wewak. Over Dagua intercepted Ki-48 Lilys 208th Hiko Sentai then were jumped by Ki-43 Oscars from 77th Sentai. Shot down was P-47D "Fiery Ginger IV" 42-22668  pilot Col. Neel E. Kearby (MIA).

On March 30, 1944 moves to Saidor Airfield on New Guinea.

On April 16, 1944 during the chaos of planes returning from "Black Sunday" parked P-47D "Dirty Old Man" was damaged by A-20G Havoc 42-86768 sliding across the runway.

On May 21, 1944 lost is P-47D Thunderbolt pilot Lt. William E. Luton (KIA) crashed.

On May 22, 1944 the squadron moves to Wakde Airfield on Wakde Island off the north coast of New Guinea.

On May 27, 1944 the squadron flew a patrol mission over the U.S. landing on southern Biak. Lost is P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75940  pilot 1st Lt. Wynans "Flip" E. Frankfort (MIA).

On September 22, 1944 moves to Noemfoor Island.

On December 1, 1944 moves to Tacloban Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines.

On December 16, 1944 moves to Tanauan Airfield on Leyte.

On February 6, 1945 moves to San Marcelino Airfield on Luzon.

On May 15, 1945 moves to Floridablanca Airfield on Luzon and converts to fly the P-51D Mustang.

On July 12, 1945 moves to Ie Shima Airfield off Okinawa in Japan.

On October 20, 1945 moves to Itami Airfield near Osaka on Honshū in Japan.

On May 10, 1946 inactivated.

On May 24, 1964 redesignated as the 142nd Fighter Squadron (142nd FS) and allocated to the Air National Guard (ANG) of the U.S. Air Force (USAF).

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation New Britain December 16-31, 1943
Distinguished Unit Citation Philippines December 24, 1944
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

References
342nd Fighter Squadron "Scourgers" (1944)
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 424-425 [PDF pages 436-437]
Kearby's Thunderbolts The 348th Fighter Group in World War II (1992) details the 348th FG
Kearby's Thunderbolts The 348th Fighter Group in World War II (1997) details the 348th FG
Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 26 Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces of the Pacific and CBI (1999) includes profiles of 348th FG pilots