The 24th SOW is a reactivation of the 24th Wing, previously assigned with the Twelfth Air Force, stationed at Howard Air Force Base, Panama. It was inactivated on 1 November 1999. The inactivation of the 24th Wing and the closure of Howard Air Force Base ended an 82-year United States Air Force presence in Panama, which began with the formation of the 7th Aero Squadron on 29 March 1917.
Mission
The 24th Special Operations Wing (24 SOW) is the only Special Tactics Wing in the Air Force. Its primary mission is to conduct global air, space, and cyber-enabled special operations across the spectrum of conflict to prepare to fight. The 24 SOW is U.S. Special Operations Command's tactical air/ground integration force and the Air Force's special operations ground force that leads global access, precision strike, personnel recovery and battlefield surgery operations.[6]
United States Air Force Pararescue (PJ) - primary mission is personnel recovery in hostile areas and are expert combat medical professionals.
United States Air Force Special Reconnaissance (SR) – Special Reconnaissance Airmen are trained in surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare (EW), long-range precision engagement and target interdiction, small unmanned aircraft systems.
United States Air Force Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) - provide precision terminal attack control and terminal attack guidance of U.S. and coalition fixed- and rotary-wing close air support aircraft, artillery, and naval gunfire; establish and maintain command and control (C2) communications; and advise ground commanders on the best use of air power.
Core capabilities encompass airfield reconnaissance, assessment, and control; personnel recovery; joint terminal attack control; battlefield surgery; and environmental reconnaissance.[6]
Organization
As of April 2020 the wing is organized as follows:[7]
24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL
Special Tactics Training Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL
It was activated on 25 December 1942 to control all Army Air Forces units on Iceland and subsequently disestablished in June 1944.[4]
Post war era
From August 1946 until replaced by the Antilles Air Division in July 1948 the wing supervised large numbers of major and minor bases and Air Force units in the Caribbean area from Puerto Rico to British Guiana.[4]
Panama and special operations
A 24th TASS O-2A and an Illinois ANG OA-37B over Honduras, 1984.
It was organized once more in November 1967 in the Panama Canal Zone, replacing the 5700th 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 ArmySpecial Forces, U.S. military assistance units, and training of Latin American air forces. From its activation in 1967 until mid-1972, the 24th Wing operated the USAF Tropic Survival School at Albrook. It also controlled various rotational detachments from 1967–1987. The wing lost UH–1 helicopters and control of search and rescue missions in the area after 1 March 1983. The wing inactivated on 31 January 1987, its subordinate components reassigned directly to the USAF Southern Air Division.
The 24th was reactivated on 1 January 1989, as the 24th Composite Wing assuming responsibilities for Howard AFB and Albrook AFS. The wing flew combatsorties in the Invasion of Panama, December 1989 – January 1990. The wing trained foreign and domestic pilots in forward air control. It again flew search and rescue, aeromedical airlift and disaster relief missions in the Latin American region from 1989–1990. Members of the wing deployed to Southwest Asia to provide air liaison support between ground forces and air operations from 1 October 1990 – February 1991. When the 24th Composite Wing inactivated in 1991, its assets were placed under Air Forces in Panama.
On 11 February 1992 the wing again reactivated as the 24th Wing and became the senior USAF organization in Panama and replaced the previous command and division-level Air Force host units. In June 1992, it began operating the only C–21, CT–43, C–27 and special mission C–130s in Air Combat Command. The wing provided control and support to multi-service units directed by United States Southern Command and United States Southern Air Force from 1992–1999. Missions included counter-narcotics operations, aerial command and control, intratheater airlift, security assistance and defense of the Panama Canal. The wing operated both Howard Air Force Base and Albrook Air Force Station.
On 1 April 1997 the 310th Airlift Squadron was reassigned to Air Mobility Command's 21st Air Force. The 24th Wing was inactivated on 1 November 1999 with the closure of Howard AFB and its turnover to the Panamanian government.
Special Tactics Airmen often embed with United States special forces including Navy SEALs, Army Green Berets and Rangers to provide various skills from combat air support to medical aid and personnel recovery.[8]
Lineage
Established as the 24th Composite Wing (Special) on 19 November 1942
Activated on 25 December 1942
Disestablished on 15 June 1944
Reestablished as 24th Composite Wing on 5 August 1946
Activated on 25 August 1946
Inactivated on 28 July 1948
Activated on 30 October 1967 (not organized)
Organized on 8 November 1967
Redesignated 24th Air Commando Wing on 15 March 1968
Redesignated 24th Special Operations Wing on 15 July 1968
Redesignated 24th Special Operations Group on 30 June 1972
Redesignated 24th Composite Group on 15 November 1973
Redesignated 24th Composite Wing on 1 January 1976
24th Special Operations Squadron (later 24th Composite Squadron; 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron): 18 March 1969 – 1 July 1975; 1 January 1976 – 31 January 1987; 1 January 1989 – 15 February 1991[9]
Special Tactics Training Squadron: 12 June 2012 – present[8]
Detachments
Det A, Fighter Command (IBC, US Army Forces, Iceland): attached 12 Feb – 15 June 1944
Det, 314 Troop Carrier Group: attached 1 October 1946 – 26 July 1948
TAC A-7 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 13 November 1972 – 30 September 1978
ANG A-7 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 1 October 1978 – 31 January 1987
ANG A-10 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached Feb–Apr 1985
TAC C-130 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 8 November 1967 – 30 November 1974
MAC C-130 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 1 December 1974 – 30 September 1977
AFRES and ANG C-130 Rotational Element (various detachments): attached 1 Oct 1977 – c. 1 December 1984[9]
Stations
Camp Olympia, Reykjavík, Iceland, 25 December 1942
Camp Tripoli, Reykjavik, Iceland, 13 March – 15 June 1944
Borinquen Field (later Borinquen Army Air Field, Borinquen Field, Ramey Air Force Base), Puerto Rico, 25 August 1946 – 28 July 1948
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