24th Fighter Squadron
24th Fighter Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1917–1919; 1921–1946; 2019-present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Fighter |
Part of | Air Combat Command |
Garrison/HQ | Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth |
Nickname(s) | Leaping Tigers[1] |
Mascot(s) | Leaping Tigers |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lt Col Michael Chebino[2] |
Insignia | |
24th Fighter Squadron emblem[note 2][3] | |
24th Pursuit Squadron emblem[note 3][3][note 4] | |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | F-16C, F-35A |
The 24th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Combat Command unit, assigned to the 495th Fighter Group at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The squadron was activated in 2019 and flies the F-35A as an active associate unit of the 457th Fighter Squadron.
The squadron's first predecessor was organized in June 1917 as the 19th Aero Squadron, a provisional unit, at Kelly Field, Texas. It deployed to France as the 24th Aero Squadron (Observation) and flew combat missions. Following the armistice, it became part of the Army of Occupation. It returned to the United States and was demobilized in November 1919.
The squadron's second predecessor was formed in 1921 as the 24th Squadron (Pursuit). It moved to the
History
World War I
The 24th Fighter Squadron was formed in early June 1917 as the 19th Provisional Aero Squadron, drawing its personnel from Company F, Provisional Aviation School Squadron, which had been organized at Kelly Field, Texas on 1 May 1917. It became the 24th Aero Squadron on 14 June 1917.[4][3] On 11 November 1917, the original squadron was divided, with half of the squadron being organized as the 185th Aero Squadron.[5]
The unit deployed to England after the U.S. entry into World War I on 9 January 1918, and from there moved on to France after a training period in England, on 18 July 1918, positioned first at St. Maixent Replacement Barracks, and later at Ourches Aerodrome.
During its
The unit went on to fly 155 missions from
After the November 1918 Armistice with Germany, the squadron was part of the Occupation of the Rhineland, returning to the United States on 1 October 1919 and being demobilized.[6][7][8]
Panama Canal Defense
Interwar years
The 24th Squadron (Pursuit) was organized at
The unit remained at France Field until October 1932 when it moved to the newly completed
The
In October 1939, the Squadron received word that it was to re-equip with the new
World War II
After the Pearl Harbor Attack in December 1941, the squadron initially remained on standing alert at Albrook, but dispatched C Flight to
On 15 October 1942, eight P-39Ks were dispatched on a mission near
The respite at Albrook was short-lived, however, as it had now become the policy of Sixth Air Force to rotate its fighter squadrons in and out of remote bases for practical as well as for morale purposes. Thus, on 17 January 1943, (with a total of 17 aircraft on hand) the squadron took up residence again at La Joya #2, following the arrival of the dry season, where it stayed until 28 May, when it returned once again, briefly, to Albrook. However, just prior to the return to Albrook on 24 May, 12 P-39K's flew in support of three Navy
The next move, however, was to
On 27 August 1943, flying their new P-40N's, A and B Flights flew a mass cross-country to Costa Rica. The next day, they flew down the Atlantic side of the Isthmus of Panama – completely undetected – and made a successful surprise "attack" on the
The squadron was moved again to
On 15 August 1944, the squadron moved again, this time to France Field and, by October, the unit had reached perhaps its highest state of combat readiness, with 23 of 24 P-39Q's airworthy, the highest percentage in XXVI Fighter Command at the time.[6][13]
In February 1945, the unit was redesignated as the 24th Fighter Squadron (Two Engine) and this signaled the advent of the sleek
With the end of the war in September 1945, the squadron reduced its activities, and many personnel were transferred back to the United States for separation. The squadron was placed in a non operational status on 1 November 1945, and inactivated on 15 October 1946. Its remaining aircraft were transferred to the
Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR)
In April 2023 the 24th Fighter Squadron deployed with the 457th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to the 378 Air Expeditionary Wing. This marked a return to combat operations for the men and women of the 24 FS and the last operational deployment of the F-16C. The unit was selected for conversion to the F-35A.
Active associate squadron
The squadron was reactivated on 25 October 2019 at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth as an active duty associate unit of Air Force Reserve Command's 457th Fighter Squadron. At Carswell, it replaced the 355th Fighter Squadron, which moved to another base without personnel or equipment. The squadron is assigned to the 495th Fighter Group, which is located at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.[16] Its assigned pilots flew the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons of the 457th until late 2023. On October 1, 2023 the unit was recoded as the newest F-35A Fighter Squadron. The F-35A marks a significant milestone for the men and women of the 24th Fighter Squadron, the unit now hosts the most combat capable fighter aircraft in USAF history.
Lineage
- 24th Aero Squadron
- Organized as 19th Aero Squadron (Provisional) c. June 1917
- Redesignated 24th Aero Squadron on 14 June 1917
- Redesignated 24th Aero Squadron (Observation)[17] 22 August 1917
- Demobilized on 1 October 1919
- Consolidated with the 24th Pursuit Squadron on 8 April 1924[4][16]
- 24th Fighter Squadron
- Constituted as the 24th Squadron (Pursuit) on 30 August 1921
- Organized on 1 October 1921
- Redesignated 24th Pursuit Squadron on 25 January 1923
- Consolidated with the 24th Aero Squadron on 8 April 1924[4]
- Redesignated 24th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 6 December 1939
- Redesignated 24th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
- Redesignated 24th Fighter Squadron (Two Engine) on 1 February 1945[13][18]
- Inactivated on 15 October 1946
- Redesignated 24th Fighter Squadron
- Activated on 25 October 2019[16]
Assignments
- Post Headquarters, Kelly Field, c. June 1917
- Aviation Concentration Center, January 1918
- American Expeditionary Forces, 24 January – 6 August 1918 (attached to Royal Flying Corps until 18 July 1918[citation needed]
- Replacement Concentration Center, AEF, 23 July 1918[citation needed]
- IV Corps Observation Group, 6 August 1918
- First Army Observation Group, 22 August 1918
- Third Army, 9 April 1919
- III Corps Observation Group, 6 May 1919 (attached to 2nd Infantry Division)
- American Forces in Germany, 2 July 1919
- Post Headquarters, Mitchell Field, 2 August 1919[citation needed]
- II Corps Area, 5 August – 1 October 1919[citation needed]
- Second Corps Area, 1 October 1921
- Panama Canal Department, 30 April 1922
- 6th Group (Observation) (later 6th Group (Composite), 6th Composite Group), 27 May 1922[note 9][note 10]
- 20th Pursuit Group, 15 November 1930 (attached to 6th Composite Group)
- 3d Attack Wing, 16 June 1932 (attached to 6th Composite Group)
- 16th Pursuit Group (later 16th Fighter Group), 1 December 1932
- XXVI Fighter Command, 1 November 1943
- 6th Fighter Wing, 25 August – 15 October 1946
- 495th Fighter Group, 25 October 2019 – present[16]
Stations
|
|
Aircraft
- Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, 1917[citation needed]
- Salmson 2A2, 1918-1919
- De Havilland DH-4, 1918–1919, 1922-1930
- Spad S.XIII, 1919
- Fokker D.VII, 1921–1922
- S.E.5at various times during period 1922–1930
- Thomas-Morse MB-3 at various times during period 1922–1930
- Boeing PW-9, at various times during period 1922–1930
- Boeing P-12, 1930–1939
- Boeing P-26 Peashooter, 1938–1939
- Curtiss P-36 Hawk, 1936–1942
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1940–1944
- Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1942–1943, 1944–1945
- Douglas P-70 Havoc, 1942–1943
- Lockheed P-38 Lightning, 1945–1946
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1946[19]
- General Dynamics F-16C Viper, 2019–2023
- Lockheed F-35A Lighting II[citation needed]
See also
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Aircraft are General Dynamics F-16C Block 30A F-16C Fighting Falcons of the 457th Fighter Squadron. Taken 11 August 2003.
- ^ Approved 30 October 2019.
- ^ Approved 18 February 1924.
- ^ Heraldic description: A leaping tiger in the proper colors. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 128
- ^ Probably a 1932 Serial, Squadron #5. Note squadron emblem prominent on fuselage. Taken about 1933.
- ^ Identified aircraft are serials 38-13, 38-69 and 38-15.
- ^ Aircraft were operating from Madden Field, Panama. Serials 42-104978 (Squadron #13), 42-104973 (Squadron #33) and 42-104953 (Squadron #29).
- ^ Aircraft is Bell P-39Q-20-BE Airacobra, serial 44-3528 "Miss Izzy". Taken at France Field, Panama with squadron personnel in 1944.
- ^ Clay states that the squadron was relieved from assignment to the 6th Group on 8 May 1928. Clay, p. 1391. Maurer gives the year of this transfer as 1929. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 127 (Maurer, Combat Units, p. 42. also states assignment to the 6th Group ended in 1929). Neither says to what headquarters the squadron was assigned. Ream indicates the assignment to the 6th continued until the squadron was reassigned to the 20th Pursuit Group. Ream, Factsheet. If the squadron was relieved from the 6th Group without formal reassignment, it would have transferred to the next higher headquarters, the Panama Canal Department.
- ^ For the various designations of the 6th Group, see Robertson, Patsy (27 June 2017). "Factsheet 6 Operations Group (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
- Citations
- ^ "24th Fighter Squadron Fact Sheet" (PDF). 301fw.afrc.af.mil. September 2020.
- ^ Hightower, Nije (22 June 2022). "24th Fighter Squadron welcomes new commander". 301st Fighter Wing. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Ream, Margaret (24 September 2020). "Factsheet 24 Fighter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d Clay, p. 1391
- ^ Gorrell [page needed]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Hagedorn, [page needed]
- ^ a b War Department, Battle Participation of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces [page needed]
- ^ a b Brown & Pillsbury [page needed]
- ^ "Abstract, Reconnaissance and Miscellaneous Reports 24 Aero Squadron (Observation), Jan 1917-Dec 1919 [sic]". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ "Abstract, Miscellaneous Documents 24 Fighter Squadron [sic], Jan 1917-Dec 1919 [sic]". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ a b c Maurer, Aviation in the U.S. Army [page needed]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Abstract, Miscellaneous Documents 24 Fighter Squadron, Feb 1919-Jul 1943". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Abstract, Weekly Status and Operations Reports 24 Fighter Squadron, Nov 1943-Aug 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ "Abstract, History of Madden Field, Jan-Nov 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ "Abstract, History 24 Fighter Squadron, Oct 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d Lineage in Ream, Factsheet, except as noted.
- ^ Order of Battle in World War I, p. 1003
- ^ "Abstract, History 24 Fighter Squadron, Feb 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
- ^ Aircraft through 1946 in Ream, Factsheet, except as noted.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Browne, George Waldo; Pillsbury, Rosecrans W. (1921). The American Army in the World War, A Divisional Record of the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe. Overseas Book Company. Retrieved 7 November 2020. (ISBN 978-1298486-80-6for 2015 reprint by Creative Media Partners, Burbank CA}
- Clay, Steven E. (2011). US Army Order of Battle 1919-1941 (PDF). Vol. 3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919-1941. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. OCLC 637712205. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- Gorrell, Col. Edgar S. (1974). History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917-1919. Series E: Squadron Histories. Vol. 5 History of the 22d-24th Aero Squadrons. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration. OCLC 215070705.
- Hagedorn, Dan (1995). Alae Supra Canalem: Wings Over the Canal. Nashville, TN: Turner Publishing. ISBN 1-56311-153-5.
- Maurer, Maurer (1987). Aviation in the U.S. Army, 1919-1939 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force. OCLC 15661556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. 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. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer (1978). The US Air Service in World War I (PDF). Vol. 1 The Final Report and a Tactical History. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force. ISBN 978-1477602-74-4. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- War Department (1920). Battle Participation of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, Belgium and Italy, 1917–1919. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. OCLC 118250. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
- Order of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the World War (PDF). Vol. 3, Part 2 Zone of the Interior: Territorial Departments, Tactical Divisions Organized in 1918, Posts, Camps and Stations (Reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Center of Military History. 1988 [1949]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2015.