24th Tactical Air Support Squadron


History

Proving ground unit

The first predecessor of the 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron was the 24th Bombardment Squadron 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 in a reorganization of United States Army Air Forces operational testing units in the spring of 1942.

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.

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.

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, and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 656th Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously activated.

Helicopter operations

The 24th Helicopter Squadron was activated in 1956 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. 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. Detachment 2 of the squadron was attached to the 41st Air Division to provide logistical support to the division's remote radar sites. 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.

Operations in Central and South America

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.

Close air support training

The 24 Tactical Air Support Squadron was activated on 2 March 2018 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The squadron flies the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. It is 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.

Lineage

; 24th Bombardment Squadron
; 24th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
; 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
India-Burma5 January 1944 – 28 January 194524th Combat Mapping Squadron
Central Burma29 January 1945 – 15 July 194524th Combat Mapping Squadron
China Defensive5 January 1944 – 4 May 194524th Combat Mapping Squadron