24th Special Operations Wing, US Air Force

24TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS WING, US AIR FORCE

History: Established as 24 Composite Wing (Special) on 19 November 1942. Activated on 25 December 1942. Disestablished on 15 June 1944. Reestablished as 24 Composite Wing on 5 August 1946. Activated on 25 August 1946. Inactivated on 28 July 1948. Activated on 30 October 1967. Organized on 8 November 1967. Redesignated as: 24 Air Commando Wing on 15 March 1968; 24 Special Operations Wing on 15 July 1968; 24 Special Operations Group on 30 June 1972; 24 Composite Group on 15 November 1973; 24 Composite Wing on 1 January 1976. Inactivated on 31 January 1987. Activated on 1 January 1989. Inactivated on 15 February 1991. Redesignated as 24 Wing on 1 February 1992. Activated on 11 February 1992. Inactivated on 1 November 1999. Redesignated as 24 Special Operations Wing on 7 March 2012. Activated on 12 June 2012. Served in the defense of Iceland, December 1942–June 1944. From August 1946 until replaced by the Antilles Air Division in July 1948, supervised large numbers of major and minor bases and Air Force units in the Caribbean area from Puerto Rico to British Guiana. Organized once more in November 1967 in the Canal Zone, replacing the 5700 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, US military assistance units, and training of Latin American air forces. From activation in 1967 until mid-1972, the 24 Wing operated the USAF Tropic Survival School at Albrook. It controlled various rotational detachments, 1967–1987. Lost UH–1 helicopters and control of search and rescue missions in the area after 1 March 1983. Wing inactivated on 31 January 1987, its subordinate components reassigned directly to the USAF Southern Air Division. Wing activated on 1 January 1989, again assuming responsibilities for Howard AFB and Albrook AFS. The wing flew combat sorties in the invasion of Panama, December 1989–January 1990. Trained foreign and domestic pilots in forward air control. Flew search and rescue, aeromedical airlift and disaster relief missions in the Latin American region, 1989–1990. Members of the wing deployed to Southwest Asia to provide air liaison support between ground forces and air operations, 1 October 1990–c. February 1991. The 24 Composite Wing inactivated in 1991 and its assets were placed under Air Forces in Panama. On 11 Feb 1992 the wing activated, becoming the senior USAF organization in Panama, replacing the previous command and division-level Air Force host units. In Jun 1992, it began operating the only C–21, CT–43, C–27 and special mission C–130s in Air Combat Command (ACC). Provided control and support to multi-service units directed by United States Southern Command and United States Southern Air Force, 1992–1999. Missions included counternarcotics operations, aerial command and control, intratheater airlift, security assistance and defense of the Panama Canal. The wing operated both Howard AFB and Albrook Air Force Station. During 1999, 24 Wing conducted base closure and unit inactivation in compliance with the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 that stipulated all US military forces would depart Panama by 31 December 1999. Prepared special tactics forces for rapid global employment to enable airpower success, 2012-.


Coat of arms (crest) of 24th Special Operations Wing, US Air Force

(24th Wing)
Coat of arms (crest) of 24th Special Operations Wing, US Air Force

(24th Special Operations Wing)
Official blazon
English blazon wanted

Origin/meaning

The Emblem was approved in 1968; latest rendering, 20 August 2019.

Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/


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