24th Tactical Air Support Squadron emblem (approved 21 June 2018)[1]
Patch with 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron emblem (1976–1991)
24th Combat Mapping Squadron emblem (approved 2 April 1945)[2]
Proving ground unitedit
The first predecessor of the 24 TASS 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 in a reorganization of United States Army Air Forces operational testing units in the spring of 1942.[3]
Mapping in the Pacificedit
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 reserveedit
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.
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.[4] 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.[5] Detachment 2 of the squadron was attached to the 41st Air Division to provide logistical support to the division's remote radar sites.[6] 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.[7][8]
Operations in Central and South Americaedit
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.
Army Air Forces, India-Burma Sector, 26 December 1943 (attached to 5306th Photographic and Reconnaissance Group (Provisional), 26 December 1943 – 17 January 1944, Tenth Air Force)
^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
^ abcdefghijklmnoHaulman, 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.
^Abstract, History 314th Troop Carrier Wing Jul–Dec 1956 (retrieved 10 July 2013)
^Abstract, History 24th Helicopter Sq Jan–Jun 1958 (retrieved 10 July 2013)
^ abAbstract, History 41st Air Div Jul–Dec 1956 (retrieved 10 July 2013)
^Abstract, History 24th Helicopter Sq July–Dec 1958 (retrieved 10 July 2013)
^Abstract, History 24th Helicopter Sq Jan–Jun 1959 (retrieved 10 July 2013)
^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)
^Mathison, 2nd Lt. Nicolle E. (28 December 2020). "24th Tactical Air Support Squadron inactivates, leaving mark on joint integration, close a". 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)
Bibliographyedit
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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits Archived 4 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 15 June 1971
AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II Archived 4 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 30 September 1976, p.
External linksedit
Tails Through Time: Short Trips on the Long Road of Aviation History – The 24th Combat Mapping Squadron:Unsung Heroes of the Pacific War Retrieved 10 July 2013.
CBI Unit Histories – 24th Combat Mapping Squadron Retrieved 10 July 2013.
"A Tale of Two Airplanes" by Kingdon R. "King" Hawes, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.)