24th Special Operations Wing
24th Special Operations Wing
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![]() Combat controllers from the 23d Special Tactics Squadron at White Sands Missile Range | |
Active | 1942–1944; 1946–1948; 1967–1987; 1989–1991; 1992–1999; 2012–present |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Role | Special Operations |
Part of | Air Force Special Operations Command |
Garrison/HQ | Hurlburt Field |
Motto(s) | Los Professionales Spanish The Professionals |
Engagements | War in Afghanistan |
Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Michael E. Martin |
Insignia | |
24th Special Operations Wing emblem (approved 1968, reinstated 2012) | ![]() |
24th Composite Wing emblem (approved 16 August 1994)[1][note 1] | File:24 WG.jpg |
The 24th Special Operations Wing is a United States Air Force active-duty wing that was activated on 12 June 2012.[2] Its headquarters is at Hurlburt Field, Florida and it has component groups located in North Carolina, Georgia and Washington. It is the third special operations wing in Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
The 24th SOW is a reactivation of the 24th Wing, previously assigned with the Twelfth Air Force, stationed at Howard Air Force Base, Panama. It was inactivated on 1 November 1999. The inactivation of the 24th Wing and the closure of Howard Air Force Base ended an 82-year United States Air Force presence in Panama, which began with the formation of the 7th Aero Squadron on 29 March 1917.
History
World War II
It was activated on 25 December 1942 to control all Army Air Forces units on Iceland. Disestablished in June 1944.[1]
Post war era
From August 1946 until replaced by the Antilles Air Division in July 1948 the wing supervised large numbers of major and minor bases and Air Force units in the Caribbean area from Puerto Rico to British Guiana.[1]
Panama and special operations
It was organized once more in November 1967 in the Panama Canal Zone, replacing the 5700th Air Base Wing. The wing assumed operation and maintenance responsibilities for Howard and Albrook Air Force Bases and a special operations mission that included air transport, paramilitary operations, exercise participation, civic actions in Central and South America, search and rescue missions, humanitarian operations, mercy missions, aeromedical evacuation, and support of Army Special Forces, U.S. military assistance units, and training of Latin American air forces. From its activation in 1967 until mid-1972, the 24th Wing operated the USAF Tropic Survival School at Albrook. It also controlled various rotational detachments from 1967–1987. The wing lost UH–1 helicopters and control of search and rescue missions in the area after 1 March 1983. The wing inactivated on 31 January 1987, its subordinate components reassigned directly to the USAF Southern Air Division.
The 24th was reactivated on 1 January 1989, as the 24th Composite Wing assuming responsibilities for Howard AFB and Albrook AFS. The wing flew combat sorties in the Invasion of Panama, December 1989 – January 1990. The wing trained foreign and domestic pilots in forward air control. It again flew search and rescue, aeromedical airlift and disaster relief missions in the Latin American region from 1989–1990. Members of the wing deployed to Southwest Asia to provide air liaison support between ground forces and air operations from 1 October 1990 – February 1991. When the 24th Composite Wing inactivated in 1991, its assets were placed under Air Forces in Panama.
On 11 February 1992 the wing again reactivated as the 24th Wing and became the senior USAF organization in Panama and replaced the previous command and division-level Air Force host units. In June 1992, it began operating the only C–21, CT–43, C–27 and special mission C–130s in Air Combat Command. The wing provided control and support to multi-service units directed by United States Southern Command and United States Southern Air Force from 1992–1999. Missions included counter-narcotics operations, aerial command and control, intratheater airlift, security assistance and defense of the Panama Canal. The wing operated both Howard Air Force Base and Albrook Air Force Station.
On 1 April 1997 the 310th Airlift Squadron was reassigned to Air Mobility Command's 21st Air Force. The 24th Wing was inactivated on 1 November 1999 with the closure of Howard AFB and its turnover to the Panamanian government.
Special tactics
When the wing was reactivated in June 2012 it comprised the 720th Special Tactics Group and the Special Tactics Training Squadron based at Hurlburt Field, the 724th Special Tactics Group based at Pope Army Airfield and 16 recruiting locations across the United States.[2][3] The Special Tactics Squadrons are made up of Special Tactics Officers, Combat Controllers, Combat Rescue Officers, Pararescuemen, Special Operations Weather Officers and Airmen, Air Liaison Officers, Tactical Air Control Party operators, and a number of combat support airmen which comprise 58 Air Force specialties.[3]
Lineage
- Established as the 24th Composite Wing (Special) on 19 November 1942
- Activated on 25 December 1942
- Disestablished on 15 June 1944
- Reestablished as 24th Composite Wing on 5 August 1946
- Activated on 25 August 1946
- Inactivated on 28 July 1948
- Activated on 30 October 1967 (not organized)
- Organized on 8 November 1967
- Redesignated 24th Air Commando Wing on 15 March 1968
- Redesignated 24th Special Operations Wing on 15 July 1968
- Redesignated 24th Special Operations Group on 30 June 1972
- Redesignated 24th Composite Group on 15 November 1973
- Redesignated 24th Composite Wing on 1 January 1976
- Inactivated on 31 January 1987
- Activated on 1 January 1989
- Inactivated on 15 February 1991
- Redesignated 24th Wing on 1 February 1992
- Activated on 11 February 1992
- Inactivated on 1 November 1999[4]
- Redesignated 24th Special Operations Wing
- Activated on 12 June 2012[3]
Assignments
- Iceland Base Command, US Army Forces, Iceland, 25 December 1942 – 15 June 1944
- Sixth Air Force, 25 August 1946 – 28 July 1948
- United States Air Forces Southern Command, 30 October 1967
- United States Air Force Southern Air Division, 1 January 1976 – 31 January 1987
- 830th Air Division, 1 January 1989 – 15 February 1991
- Twelfth Air Force, 11 February 1992 – 1 November 1999[4]
- Air Force Special Operations Command, 12 Jun 2012 – present[3]
Components
Groups
- 24th Operations Group: 11 February 1992 – 1 November 1999
- 130th Special Operations Group: attached 30 January 1971 – 27 February 1971, 5–14 February 1973
- 134th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group: attached 1 November 1943 – 15 June 1944
- 143d Air Commando Group: attached 8 February – 9 March 1969
- 342d Composite Group: 25 December 1942 – 18 March 1944[4]
- 720th Special Tactics Group: 12 June 2012 – present
- 724th Special Tactics Group: 12 June 2012 – present[3]
Squadrons
- 33d Fighter Squadron: 18 March 1944 – 15 June 1944
- 91st Reconnaissance Squadron: 12 January 1948 – 26 July 1948
- 330th Transport Squadron: 25 August 1946 – 15 October 1946
- 24th Air Transport: 15 March 1968 – 30 June 1971
- 605th Air Commando Squadron (later 605 Special Operations Squadron): 8 November 1967 – 30 April 1972
- 24th Special Operations Squadron (later 24th Composite Squadron; 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron): 18 March 1969 – 1 July 1975; 1 January 1976 – 31 January 1987; 1 January 1989 – 15 February 1991[4]
- Special Tactics Training Squadron: 12 June 2012 – present[3]
Detachments
- Det A, Fighter Command (IBC, US Army Forces, Iceland): attached 12 Feb – 15 Jun 1944
- Det, 314 Troop Carrier Group: attached 1 Oct 1946 – 26 Jul 1948
- TAC A-7 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 13 Nov 1972 – 30 Sep 1978
- ANG A-7 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 1 Oct 1978 – 31 Jan 1987
- ANG A-10 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached Feb–Apr 1985
- TAC C-130 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 8 Nov 1967 – 30 Nov 1974
- MAC C-130 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 1 Dec 1974 – 30 Sep 1977
- AFRES and ANG C-130 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 1 Oct 1977-c. 1 Dec 1984[4]
Stations
- Camp Olympia, Reykjavík, Iceland, 25 December 1942
- Camp Tripoli, Reykjavik, Iceland, 13 March – 15 June 1944
- Borinquen Field (later Borinquen Army Air Field, Borinquen Field, Ramey Air Force Base), Puerto Rico, 25 August 1946 – 28 July 1948
- Albrook Air Force Base, Panama Canal Zone, 8 November 1967
- Howard Air Force Base, Panama Canal Zone, 3 January 1968 – 31 January 1987
- Howard Air Force Base, Panama Canal Zone (later Panama), 1 January 1989 – 15 February 1991
- Howard Air Force Base, Panama, 11 February 1992 – 1 November 1999[4]
- Hurlburt Field, Florida, 12 Jun 2012 – present
Aircraft
- Lockheed P-38 Lightning (1942–1944)
- Bell P-39 Airacobra (1942–1943)
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1943–1944)
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (1944)
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (1946–1948)
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1946–1948, 1967–1970)
- Douglas C-54 Skymaster (1947–1948, 1967–1972)
- Beechcraft F-2 Expeditor (1948)
- Douglas A-26 Invader (1967–1968)
- Curtiss C-46 Commando (1967–1968)
- Douglas C-118 Liftmaster (1967–1971)
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules (1967–1984, 1992–1999)
- Convair C-131 Samaritan (1967–1968)
- Sikorsky CH-3 (1967–1970)
- Sikorsky H-19 (1967–1969)
- North American T-28 Trojan (1967–1970)
- Convair VT-29 (1967–1970)
- Helio U-10 Courier (1967–1971)
- Bell UH-1 Iroquois (1967–1983)
- Cessna A-37 Dragonfly (1967–1972)
- Grumman HU-16 Albatross (1969)
- Fairchild C-123 Provider (1970–1975)
- Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (1971, 1973)
- Cessna O-2 Skymaster (1971–1986)
- LTV A-7 Corsair II (1972–1987)
- Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (1985)
- Cessna OA-37 Dragonfly (1985–1991)
- Learjet C-21 (1992–1999)
- Boeing T-43 (1992–1999)
- Alenia C-27 Spartan (1992–1999)[4]
References
- Notes
- ^ Azure, a stylized square-rigged ship of three mast sails set, flag and pennants flotant sailing to sinister above an arced olive branch to dexter and an arced lightning flash to sinister conjoined in base Or, all within a diminished bordure of the like. Motto: Los Profesionales—The professionals
- Citations
- ^ a b c Robertson, Patsy (28 November 2007). "Factsheet 24 Wing". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Air Force launches first special tactics wing". 13 June 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "Fact Sheet 24th Special Operations Wing". Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
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suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f g Lineage, including assignments, stations, aircraft and components through 1999 in AFHRA Factsheet, 24 Wing
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.