24th Tactical Air Support Squadron

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24th Helicopter Squadron
Air Education and Training Command.png
MH-139A Grey Wolf lifts an Air Force Global Strike Command Detachment 7 special mission aviator into the air.jpg
An MH-139A Grey Wolf lifts a special mission aviator into the air during testing
Active1939–1942; 1942–1946; 1947–1949; 1951–1953; 1956–1960; 1969–1975; 1976–1991; 2018–2020; 2024–present
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Helicopter training
Part of Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ Maxwell AFB, Alabama
Nickname(s)Golden Jaguars
Engagements China Burma India Theater
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
24th Helicopter Squadron emblem [a] [1] 24 Tactical Air Support Sq emblem.png
Patch with 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron emblem (1976–1991) 24 Tactical Air Support Squadron emblem.png
24th Combat Mapping Squadron emblem [b] [2] 24th Reconnaissance Squadron (World War II).png

The 24th Helicopter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. It is a regular air force associate of the reserve 703d Helicopter Squadron, conducting training on the Boeing MH-139 Grey Wolf.

Contents

Previously, as the 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron, it was an air support squadron at Nellis Air Force Base.

Mission

The squadron conducts advanced training on the Boeing MH-139 Grey Wolf, focused on complex operational scenarios, including night landings, low-altitude maneuvers and precision targeting. [3]

History

World War II

Proving ground unit

The first predecessor of the squadron was the 24th Bombardment Squadron (Light) which was activated in late 1939 as a test unit for light bombardment aircraft at Maxwell Field, Alabama. The squadron was disbanded in the spring of 1942 [4] in a reorganization of United States Army Air Forces operational testing units.

Mapping in the Pacific

The second predecessor of the squadron was activated in the fall of 1942 as the 24th Photographic Mapping Squadron. After training in the United States under Second Air Force, the squadron deployed to the China Burma India Theater, where it performed combat mapping. mostly with North American B-25 Mitchells and Consolidated B-24 Liberators equipped with vertical and oblique Mapping cameras until moving to Clark Field in the Philippines, where it was inactivated in 1946. In Asia, the squadron deployed detachments to a number of locations, although the headquarters remained in Guskhara Airfield, India. [2]

Air Force reserve

The squadron was activated again in the reserves in 1947 as the 24th Reconnaissance Squadron, but apparently was not equipped before inactivating when Continental Air Command reorganized under the Wing Base Organization plan in 1949.[ citation needed ]

Strategic Air Command

The squadron was activated in the regular Air Force in 1951 as the 24th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at Lake Charles Air Force Base, Louisiana and equipped with Boeing RB-29 Superfortresses. When its parent 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing converted to a bombardment mission in 1952, the squadron became the 24th Bombardment Squadron, but was inactivated in 1953, [2] and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 656th Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously activated. [c]

Helicopter operations

The third predecessor of the squadron was activated in 1956 as the 24th Helicopter Squadron at Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee. After several months of training the squadron moved to Tachikawa Air Base, Japan, where it served until 1960. The transfer was made on an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy. [5] The unit's mission was to maintain helicopter logistics airlift capability, to perform air land supply operations, scheduled and special airlift operations, and conduct training. [6] Detachment 2 of the squadron was attached to the 41st Air Division to provide logistical support to the division's remote radar sites. [7] In 1958 and 1959 the squadron returned to Burma when it participated in Operation South Bound, which provided assistance to the Burmese Air Force in combatting local insurrectionists. [8] [9]

Operations in Central and South America

A Uruguayan tactical air controller stands guard over a squadron OA-37 Dragonfly DF-ST-91-05339.JPEG
A Uruguayan tactical air controller stands guard over a squadron OA-37 Dragonfly

The squadron was redesignated the 24th Special Operations Squadron and activated in Panama in 1969. In 1985, the squadron was consolidated with its two predecessor units. The consolidated squadron became the 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron in 1987, and was inactivated in the spring of 1991. [1]

Close air support training

An F-16C Fighting Falcon on display at Aviation Nation 2019 at Nellis Air Force Base. 24th TAAS F-16C - Aviation Nation 2019.jpg
An F-16C Fighting Falcon on display at Aviation Nation 2019 at Nellis Air Force Base.

The squadron was activated on 2 March 2018 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. [1] It was the USAF's Forward Air Controller – Airborne schoolhouse for the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon as well as supporting the joint terminal attack controller qualification course and Weapons School. [10]

The squadron became non operational in December 2020, which was marked by an "inactivation ceremony" at Nellis. [11] It was inactivated on 1 June 2022. [12]

Helicopter training

The squadron was redesignated the 24th Helicopter Squadron and activated in December 2024 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. It is a regular Air Force associate of Air Force Reserve Command's 703d Helicopter Squadron, conducting training on the Boeing MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter. It is assigned to the 58th Operations Group, stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. [12] The squadron will train its first cohort of students for the Grey Wolf. They will build on foundational skills learned in basic helicopter courses, refining them into mission-ready capabilities focused on complex operational scenarios, including night landings, low-altitude maneuvers and precision targeting. [3]

Lineage

24th Bombardment Squadron
Redesignated 24th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 28 September 1939
Activated on 1 December 1939
Disbanded on 1 May 1942
Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with 24th Bombardment Squadron, Medium and 24th Composite Squadron as 24th Composite Squadron [1]
24th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Activated on 2 September 1942
Redesignated as 24th Photographic Squadron, Heavy on 6 February 1943
Redesignated as 24th Combat Mapping Squadron on 11 August 1943
Inactivated on 15 June 1946
Activated in the reserve on 12 July 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Activated on 10 October 1951
Redesignated 24th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 16 June 1952
Redesignated 24th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium and inactivated on 16 January 1953
24th Helicopter Squadron
Activated on 9 July 1956
Inactivated on 8 March 1960
Activated on 18 March 1969
Redesignated 24th Composite Squadron on 15 November 1973
Inactivated on 1 July 1975
Activated on 1 January 1976
Redesignated 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron on 1 January 1987
Inactivated on 31 March 1991
Inactivated on 1 June 2022
Activated on 6 December 2024 [12]

Assignments

Stations

  • Maxwell Field, Alabama, 1 December 1939
  • Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, 2 September 1940
  • Eglin Field, Florida 29 June 1941 − 1 May 1942
  • Peterson Field, Colorado, 2 September 1942
  • Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, 13 October 1943
  • Camp Anza, California, 8 November 1943 − 18 November 1943
  • Guskhara, India, 5 January 1944
  • Calcutta, India, 23 December 1945
  • Kanchrapara, India, 17 December 1945 − 17 January 1946 (air echelon moved to Clark Field on 18 December)
  • Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, 29 January 1946 − 15 June 1946
  • Hamilton Field (later Hamilton Air Force Base), California, 12 July 1947 − 27 June 1949
  • Lake Charles Air Force Base, Louisiana, 10 October 1951 − 16 January 1953
  • Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee, 9 July – 25 September 1956
  • Itami Air Base, Japan, 10 October 1956
  • Showa Air Station, Japan, 1 July 1957 − 8 March 1960
  • Howard Air Force Base, 18 March 1969 − 1 July 1975
  • Howard Air Force Base (later Howard Air Base), 1 January 1976 − 31 March 1991
  • Nellis Air Force Base, 2 March 2018 [13] – 1 June 2022
  • Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 6 December 2024 – present [12]

Detachment Locations during World War II

  • Hsinching Airfield, China, 17 March 1944 – 9 April 1944, 27 April 1944 − c. 1 July 1944, October–November 1944
  • Jorhat Airfield, India, 9 April 1944 – 22 April 1944
  • Liuchow Airfield, China, 10 July 1944 – 22 September 1944
  • Chanyi Airfield, China, 22 September 1944 – 17 February 1945
  • Pengshan Airfield, China, November 1944
  • Tulihal and Cox's Bazar, India, February 1945 − c. April 1945

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1957 – 1 August 195824th Helicopter Squadron [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award18 March 1969 – 13 April 197024th Special Operations Squadron [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award2 June 1970 – 3 July 197024th Special Operations Squadron [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award16 March 1971 – 15 March 197324th Special Operations Squadron [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1976 – 30 June 197824th Composite Squadron [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 April 1982 – 31 March 198424th Composite Squadron [1]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award20 December 1989 – 14 February 199124th Tactical Air Support Squadron [1]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Streamer APC.PNG India-Burma5 January 1944 – 28 January 194524th Combat Mapping Squadron [1]
Streamer APC.PNG Central Burma29 January 1945 – 15 July 194524th Combat Mapping Squadron [1]
Streamer APC.PNG China Defensive5 January 1944 – 4 May 194524th Combat Mapping Squadron [1]
Streamer AFE.PNG Just Cause20 December 1989–31 January 199024th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Panama [12]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Approved 21 June 2018
  2. ↑ Approved 2 April 1945. Description: Over and through a medium blue disc, wide border yellow orange, edged black, a caricatured wolf wearing brown aviator's helmet and shoes, yellow sweater, red gloves and trousers, and having brown revolver in holster about waist, running toward dexter, in front of a large, white cloud formation, holding a sheet of white paper in the right hand, pointing a black aerial camera toward base with left forepaw, and leaving black horizontal speed lines to rear.
  3. ↑ SAC found itself with two 24th Bombardment Squadrons when the 24th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron became a bombardment unit. The 24th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, assigned to the 68th Wing, and the 24th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy at Walker Air Force Base, assigned to the 6th Bombardment Wing. SAC elected to replace the squadron at Chennault. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 125–127.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Haulman, Daniel L. (5 December 2018). "Factsheet 24 Tactical Air Support Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 126–127
  3. 1 2 Webster, SRA Erika (11 December 2024). "Maxwell AFB activates 24th Helicopter Squadron". 42d Air Base Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  4. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 125
  5. ↑ No byline. "Abstract, History 314th Troop Carrier Wing Jul–Dec 1956". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  6. ↑ No byline. "Abstract, History 24th Helicopter Sq Jan–Jun 1958". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  7. 1 2 No byline. "Abstract, History 41st Air Div Jul–Dec 1956". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  8. ↑ No byline. "Abstract, History 24th Helicopter Sq July–Dec 1958". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  9. ↑ No byline. "Abstract, History 24th Helicopter Sq Jan–Jun 1959". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  10. ↑ Sarver, A1C Andrew D. (16 March 2018). "24th TASS activates, focuses on close air support". 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Mathison, 2nd Lt. Nicolle E. (28 December 2020). "24th Tactical Air Support Squadron inactivates, leaving mark on joint integration, close air support". Nellis Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Musser, James (27 March 2025). "United States Air Force Lineage and Honors History 24 Helicopter Squadron (AETC)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 Information through December 2018 in Haulman, Factsheet.

Bibliography

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