431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades"
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG)

Background
Assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force, 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels" as the 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades" equipped with the P-38 Lightning flying combat missions in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) during World War II.

Wartime History
On May 14, 1943 the 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades" was activated at Charters Towers Airfield in Queensland in Australia. On July 1, 1943 transfers from Charters Towers Airfield to Amberley Field near Brisbane.

On August 8, 1943 elements of the squadron move to 12 Mile Drome (Berry) near Port Moresby in New Guinea. On August 14, 1943 the entire squadron moves to Dobodura No. 12. By October 3, 1943 the portion of the squadron at Port Moresby transferred to Dobodura No. 12.

On August 30, 1943 lost is P-38H 42-66502 pilot 2nd Lt. Ronald E. Dunlop (survived) on a mission and returning force landed on the beach at Kukipi and survived unhurt and returned to duty.

On September 8, 1943 lost is P-38H 42-66542 pilot 1st Lt. Chester D. Phillips (MIA) on a patrol over Wau and went missing.

On September 13, 1943 lost is P-38H 42-66749 pilot 2nd Lt. John G. Knox (MIA) on a mission against Wewak and encountered Japanese fighters over Madang. Afterwards, his aircraft was found but no trace of the pilot or a parachute.

On October 15, 1943 lost is P-38H 42-66522 pilot 2nd Lt William G. Seiber (survived) on a mission to intercept Japanese aircraft over Oro Bay and claimed a victory then was damaged and bailed out over the Solomon Sea and was later rescued.

On November 8, 1943 lost is P-38H Lightning pilot 2nd Lt. John J. Durkin (survived) bailed out or ditched lost in bad weather in Porlock Harbor off the north coast of New Guinea. He landed unhurt and was immediately rescued by USS Victoria (AO-46) and returned to duty.

On December 28, 1943 lost is P-38G "Beautiful Lass" 43-2204 pilot 2nd Lt. Ormond E. Powell (MIA) on a patrol over Cape Gloucester and was last seen entering bad weather and went missing.

On January 18, 1944 the squadron led by Major Meryl M. Smith flew a fighter sweep over Wewak and were intercepted by 25 enemy fighters. Lost was P-38H Lightning 42-66534 piloted by 2nd Lt. John R. Weldon, Jr. (MIA), P-38H-1-LO "Hot Box Annie" 42-66545 pilot 2nd Lt. Joseph A. Robertson (MIA) and P-38H Lightning 42-66554 pilot 1st Lt. William T. Ritter (MIA).

On January 22, 1944 lost was P-38G 42-12711 pilot 2nd Martin P. Hawthorne (KIA) on a test flight and crashed near Dobodura No. 7.

On March 26, 1944 the squadron transfers to Nadzab Airfield No. 3 (Fighter Strip).

On May 15, 1944 moves to Hollandia on the north coast of New Guinea.

On July 15, 1944 the squadron transfered to Mokmer Drome on Biak Island.

On October 13, 1944 lost on a training flight is P-38J 42-104343 pilot 2nd Lt. Donald W. Patterson (MIA) north of Noemfoor.

On November 9, 1944 the squadron moves to Dulag Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines and later operates from San Jose Airfield on Mindoro Island.

On December 7, 1944 the squadron took off on a patrol over Ormoc Bay. Over the target, Major Jack B. Rittmayer claimed three Japanese planes shot down.

On December 25, 1944 the squadron took off from Dulag Airfield on Leyte on a fighter sweep and escort mission for B-24 Liberators bombing Mabalacat Field near Clark Field. Arrived over the target at 21,000' and were intercepted by 20 enemy fighters attacking from two directions. Lost is P-38L 44-24846 pilot 2nd Lt Robert A. Koeck (MIA) and P-38L 44-24889 pilot 1st Lt. Enrique Provencio (MIA) and P-38L 44-24874 pilot 1st Lt. Floyd H. Fulkerson, Jr. (rescued).

On December 31, 1944 lost was P-38H 42-66562 pilot Captain William C. Gronemeyer with passenger 1st Lt. Charles W. Springer.

On January 7, 1945 four P-38s from "Daddy Flight" took off from Dulag Airfield on Leyte on a fighter sweep bound for Mindoro and encountered enemy aircraft over Negros. Lost was P-38L "Eileen-Ann" 44-24845 piloted by Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. and P-38J 43-28836 piloted by Major Jack B. Rittmayer on a fighter sweep over Negros and went Missing In Action (MIA). Afterwards, San Jose Airfield on Mindoro was renamed "McGuire Drone" in honor of McGuire.

On February 28, 1945 the squadron transferred to Clark Field on Luzon in the Philippines. By March 5, 1945 the portion of the squadron operated from San Jose Airfield then transferred to Clark Field.

On April 19, 1945 the squadron moves to Lingayen Airfield.

Squadron Numbers
431st FS "Hades" (Red): 110–139

Commanding Officer (C.O.)
Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. (May 1944–December 1944)

References
Pacific Wrecks - 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels" P-38 Lightnings
475th Fighter Group Museum
475th Fighter Group Historical Foundation
Satan's Angels 475th Fighter Group 14th May 43–31st Dec 44 (1946)
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 532-533 (431st Fighter) [PDF pages 544-545]
Lightning Strikes: The 475th Fighter Group in the Pacific War, 1943-1945 (1988) by Ronald W. Yoshino
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 65 (475th FG, 431st FS)
Possum, Clover & Hades 475th Fighter Group in World War II (2004) by John Stanaway
475th Fighter Group Aviation Elite Units 23 (2007) by John Stanaway