419th Night Fighter Squadron (419th NFS)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF)

Background
On March 24, 1943 constituted as the 419th Night Fighter Squadron (419th NFS) in the in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On April 1, 1943 activated as part of the Air Defense Department, AAF School of Applied Tactics at Orlando, Florida operating the P-70 Havocs. On April 22, 1943 moves to Kissimmee Army Airfield. On July 17, 1943 attached to 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group. On October 15, 1943 begins moving overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC).

Wartime History
On November 15, 1943 arrives on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands operating the P-70 Havocs and P-38 Lightnings. That same day assigned to 13th Fighter Command (13th FC), 13th Air Force (13th AF). On November 21, 1943 assigned to 18th Fighter Group (18th FG).

On December 10, 1943 the squadron flies their first combat mission from Guadalcanal.

On January 25, 1944 a detachment of P-70 night fighters begins operating from Bougainville.

On April 18, 1944 lost is P-38J Lightning 42-67788 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert J. McDonald (MIA) on a bombing and strafing mission against anti-aircraft guns and coastal guns in the Buka-Bonis area and was hit by anti-aircraft fire and bailed out and listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

On May 27, 1944 the detachment on Bougainville ceases operations and returns to Guadalcanal.

On June 15, 1944 becomes part of the Far East Air Force (FEAF).

On June 26, 1944 one detachment detachment of P-61 Black Widows begins operating from Nadzab Airfield in New Guinea.

On June 27, 1944 a detachment moves to Los Negros.

On July 25, 1944 the detachment at Nadzab Airfield ceases operations and returns to Guadalcanal.

On July 26, 1944 a detachment moves to Noemfoor.

On August 18, 1944 the detachment at Los Negros returns to Guadalcanal.

On August 21, 1944 the squadron moves to Middleburg Airfield on Middleburg Island in Dutch New Guinea (DNG).

On August 25, 1944 assigned directly to 13th Fighter Command (13th FC).

On November 27, 1944 the detachment at Noemfoor moves to Morotai.

On October 18, 1944 lost is P-61A Black Widow 42-5515 pilot Captain Howard G. Daniel (MIA) on an intruder mission bound for Waigeo Island off the Vogelkop Peninsula on the western tip of New Guinea and went Missing In Action (MIA).

On March 6, 1945 the squadron moves to Puerto Princessa Airfield on Palawan in the Philippines.

On March 16, 1945 the detachment on Morotai ceases operatios and moves to Puerto Princessa Airfield.

On March 18, 1945 a detachment moves to Zamboanga Airfield on Mindanao.

On June 20, 1945 a detachment moves to Sanga Sanga Airfield on Sanga Sanga Island and the

On July 20, 1945 the detachment at Zamboanga Airfield ceases operations and returns to Puerto Princessa Airfield.

On July 24, 1944 the detachment at Sanga Sanga Airfield ceases operations and returns to Puerto Princessa Airfield.

Postwar
On January 10, 1946 the squadron moves to Clark Field on Luzon and the same day is assigned to 85th Fighter Wing (85th FW).

On May 7, 1946 the squadron moves to Floridablanca Airfield. On February 20, 1947 inactivated.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 515 (419 NFS) [PDF pages 527]