17th Fighter Squadron (Provisional)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG)

Background
On October 14, 1942 activated as the 17th Fighter Squadron (Provisional) assigned to the 49th Fighter Group (49th FG) at Amberly Field with the P-38F Lightings under the command of Major James C. Selman. That same day, pilots assigned to the squadron included Captain Manning. Captain Robert Porter, 2nd Lt. Carl G. Planck, 2nd Lt. Charles L. Ralph, 2nd Lt. Norman D. Hyland, 2nd Lt. Arland Stanton, 2nd Lt. Thomas, 2nd Lt. Frederick J. Sibley, 2nd Lt. Robert Howard, 2nd Lt. Arthur R. Bauhof, 2nd Lt. Harold E. Holze, 2nd Lt. Keith E. Oveson, 2nd Lt. Walter M. Markey, 2nd Lt Richard I. Bong, 2nd Lt. Theron D. Price, 2nd Lt. Roy A. Russell, 2nd Lt. John G. O'Neill, 2nd Lt. Jack C. Mankin, 2nd Lt. Leroy Donnell and 2nd Lt. Clayton F. Barnes.

On October 20, 1942 attached to the squadron were pilots 2nd Lt. 2nd Lt. Wilbert Arthur and 2nd Lt. William Gersch. On October 20, 1942 the 370th Service Squadron was formed with personnel from the squadron to support operations.

Wartime History
On October 15, 1942 the squadron began flying training missions with the P-38F Lightning from Amberley Field to prepare pilots for combat.

On November 4, 1942 Captain Porter led a formation of eight P-38s plus a B-25 Mitchell on a ferry flight via Horn Island Airfield then onward to Port Moresby.. After landing at Horn Island Airfield to refuel, the formation took off again. After becoming airborne, P-38F Lighting piloted by Captain Jim Porter lost his right engine at an altitude of roughly 150' and ditched off Horn Island with only minor injuries and was picked up by a launch and taken ashore then continued the flight in another plane.

On November 8, 1942 lost is P-38F Lightning piloted by 1st Lt. Robert E. Ferner on a training flight when he lost control at 5,000' in a dive and was killed in the crash.

On November 9, 1942 Captain Porter and the other pilots return from Port Moresby to Amberly Field.

On November 13, 1942 pilots 1st Lt. Charles T. Gelatka, 1st Lt. Harry E. Lidstrom and 1st Lt. Lowell C. Lutton and 2nd Lt. 2nd Lt. Thomas M. Farrell were assigned to the squadron.

On November 14, 1942 Captain Manning led another eight P-38s flight north to 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby with pilots 1st Lt. Donald C. McGee, 1st Lt. William D. Sells, 2nd Lt Richard I. Bong, 2nd Lt. Norman D. Hyland, 2nd Lt. Walter M. Markey, 2nd Lt. Carl G. Planck and 2nd Lt. Charles S. Gallup. That same day, Major James C. Selman was assigned to the Headquarters Squadron, 49th Fighter Group (49th FG) and the same day Captain John Thogerson assumed command.

On November 25, 1942 during take P-38F "Synchronized Sal" 42-12646 piloted by 1st Lt. Carl T. Rauch, Jr. when the right propeller ran away during take off from off from Amberley Field and did not become airborne and was unable to stop with the brakes burned out. The plane narrowly avoided construction equipment extending the runway then crossed a road before coming to a stop at the end of the runway extension.

On November 27, 1942 Captain Robert Porter was flown as a passenger aboard B-17E "Sally" 41-2633 on a flight to Port Moresby.

On December 4, 1942 during a training mission, P-38F "Synchronized Sal" 42-12646 piloted by 2nd Lt. Charles F. Rowsey accidentally collided with P-38 piloted by 2nd Lt. John G. O'Neill. Damaged, O'Neill managed to trim his P-38 to fly on one engine and made a safe landing. While attempting to bail out, Rowsey became caught on his own tail boom and died on impact. On December 7, 1942 a military funeral and burial was conducted for Lt. Rowsey at Ipswich Cemetery.

On December 10, 1942 the squadron was to be disbanded with their remaining P-38s flown to Charters Towers Airfield and the remaining personnel, seven officers and enlisted men flown to Anthill Plains Airfield. The rest of the officers assigned to 5th Fighter Command (V Fighter Command) in Port Moresby.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Major James C. Selman (October 14, 1942–November 14, 1942)
Captain John Thogerson (November 14, 1942–December 10, 1942)

References
Activation And History of 17th Fighter Squadron (Provisional) P-38 Type Aircraft pages 1-4 via AFHRA via E. Rogers
Squadron History 370th Service Squadron Army Air Forces Period including 31 December 1942 pages 1-11 via AFHRA via E. Rogers
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 30-31 (24th PG / 3rd PS, 17th PS, 17th PS (Provisional) 31 (17th PS(P) continued)
Oz@War - 17th Fighter Squadron (Provisional), 5th Air Force , USAAF in Australia during WWII (photos)
Thanks to Edward Rogers and Mary Martin additional research and analysis