432nd Fighter Squadron (432nd FS) "Clover"
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 432nd Fighter Squadron (432nd FS) "Clover" 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 June 11, 1943 transfers from Charters Towers Airfield to Amberley Field near Brisbane.

On August 12, 1943 elements of the squadron moved to 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby in New Guinea. On August 13, 1942 the squadron flies their first combat mission. By August 14, 1943 the rest of the squadron arrives at North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15). By September 1, 1943 the portion of the squadron at Port Moresby transferred to North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15).

On August 20, 1943 the squadron took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) escorting B-24 Liberators over Wewak and returning landed at Marilinan Airfield to refuel then took off againt on the flight back to Port Moresby. Lost was P-38H pilot Camp (KIA) that crash attempting to land at Terapo Airfield.

On October 29, 1943 lost is P-38J 42-66523 pilot 2nd Lt. Christopher O. Bartlett on an escort mission over Rabual and after a dog fight ditched off the north coast of New Britain and was hidden by friendly natives until December 1943 when a German missionary betrayed him to the Japanese and he became a Prisoner Of War (POW).

On October 31, 1943 lost is P-38H 42-66595 pilot Captain Frederick A. Harris (MIA) crashed into the sea on a test hop flight.

On March 25, 1944 transfers to Nadzab.

On April 3, 1944 took off on a strike mission over Hollandia. Over the target, intercepted by Ki-61 Tonys. Lost is P-38 42-67584 pilot F/O Joe B. Barton (MIA).

Tail Codes
432nd Fighter Squadron "Clover" (White): 140–169

References
P-38 Lightnings operated by the 475th Fighter Group
475th Fighter Group Museum
475th Fighter Group Association
475th Fighter Group Historical Foundation
Satan's Angels 475th Fighter Group 14th May 43–31st Dec 44 (1946)
Lightning Strikes: The 475th Fighter Group in the Pacific War, 1943-1945 (1988) by Ronald W. Yoshino
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 65 (475th FG, 432nd 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