24th Intelligence Squadron
24th Intelligence Squadron
| |
---|---|
Active | 1942-1945; 1992–1994; 2003–present |
Country |
|
Branch |
|
Role | Intelligence |
Part of | Air Combat Command |
Garrison/HQ | Ramstein Air Base, Germany |
Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
Decorations |
Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Belgian Fourragère |
Insignia | |
24th Intelligence Squadron emblem (approved 10 October 1942)[1] |
|
The 24th Intelligence Squadron, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, was activated in January 2003.
Mission
The 24th Intelligence Squadron plans, directs and conducts multi-source ISR tasking, processing, exploitation and dissemination (TPED) operations in support of USAFE, USEUCOM, USAFRICOM, USCENTCOM, NATO, and Joint/Combined Force Air Component Commanders. The squadron operates two primary mission systems: Distributed Ground System (DGS-4) and Eagle Vision One.
DGS-4 is a part of the greater Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS), which is the Air Force's "Sentinel" weapon system (AN/GSQ-272). DGS-4 is one of five core sites executing collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination of intelligence data derived from Air Force ISR platforms including U-2 and PREDATOR UAV. DGS-4 has the unique distinction to be the only DGS involved in operations across three different commands on a recurring basis (USEUCOM, USCENTCOM and USAFRICOM).
Eagle Vision One executes collection, processing, exploitation and dissemination of Commercial Satellite Imagery (CSI). The 24th Intelligence Squadron’s Eagle Vision One is one of only five Eagle Vision systems worldwide. It is the only active duty Eagle Vision unit with its own pool of Eagle Vision imagery analysts. Eagle Vision is a deployable ground station with the capability to produce CSI and geospatial products.
History
The 24th Intelligence Squadron (IS) traces its roots back to World War II. It was constituted as the 24th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 February 1942 and activated on 27 February 1942 under the 76th Observation (later 76th Reconnaissance) Group at Wilmington, NC. The unit was redesignated, inactivated and reactivated numerous times over the years, finally activating in its current form on 8 June 2003 as the 24 IS.
Lineage
- Constituted as the 24th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 February 1942
- Activated on 6 March 1942
- Redesignated 24th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942
- Redesignated 24th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bombardment) on 2 April 1943
- Redesignated 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943
- Inactivated on 4 October 1945
- Redesignated 24th Air Intelligence Squadron on 1 February 1992
- Activated on 11 February 1992
- Inactivated on 1 December 1995
- Redesignated 24th Intelligence Squadron on 17 December 2002
- Activated on 8 January 2003[1]
Assignments
- 76th Observation Group (later 76th Reconnaissance Group), 27 February 1942
- III Reconnaissance Command (later III Tactical Air Command), 11 August 1943
- 10th Photographic Group, 1 May 1944
- 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 13 June 1944 (attached to 10th Photographic Group until 11 August 1944)
- XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional), 7 October 1944 (attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group until 2 November 1944)
- 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 30 October 1944
- 67th Tactical Reconnaissance (later 67 Reconnaissance Group), 17 May 1945
- 363d Reconnaissance Group, c. 5 July 1945
- Unknown (probably Boston Port of Embarkation), c. 20 August–4 October 1945
- 24th Operations Group, 11 February 1992 – 1 December 1995
- United States Air Forces in Europe Air and Space Operations Center, 8 January 2003
- 616th Support Group, 1 November 2005
- 603d Support Group, 1 December 2006
- 693d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, 1 April 2008 – present[1]
Stations
- Army Air Base, Wilmington, North Carolina, 27 February 1942
- Pope Field, North Carolina, 28 March 1942
- Vichy Army Air Field, Missouri, 14 December 1942
- Morris Field, North Carolina, 8 May 1943
- Gainesville Army Air Field, Texas, 30 October 1943
- Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, 16 January–12 April 1944
- RAF Chalgrove, England, 27 April 1944
- Le Molay Airfield, France, 15 August 1944
- Toussus le Noble Airfield, France, 30 August 1944
- Gosselies Airfield, Belgium, 21 September 1944
- Le Culot Airfield, Belgium, 5 November 1944
- Venlo Airfield, Netherlands, 10 March 1945
- Gutersloh Airfield, Germany, 16 April 1945
- Braunschweig Airfield, Germany, 25 April 1945
- Eschwege Airfield, Germany, 17 May–23 August 1945
- Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts, 3–4 Oct 1945
- Howard Air Force Base, Panama, 11 February 1992 – 1 December 1995
- Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 8 January 2003 – present[1]
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Presidential Unit Citation | France 6–20 May 1944 | 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2014-31 May 2015 | 24th Intelligence Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award | 1 June 2015-31 May 2016 | 24th Intelligence Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 11 February 1992-31 July 1993 | 24th Air Intelligence Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 2006-31 December 2007 | 24th Intelligence Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2009-31 May 2011 | 24th Intelligence Squadron[1] | |
Belgian Fourragère | [12 August-28] September 1944; [6 November]-17 December 1944; 18 December 1944-[14] January 1945 | 24th Intelligence Squadron[1] |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
American Theater without inscription | 27 February 1942 – 12 April 1944 | 24 Observation Squadron (later 24th Reconnaissance Squadron, 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron)[1] | |
Air Offensive, Europe | 27 April 1944 – 5 June 1944 | 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1] | |
Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1] | |
Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1] | |
Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1] | |
Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 | 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1] | |
Central Europe | 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1] | |
Air Combat, EAME Theater | 27 April 1944 – 11 May 1945 | 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron[1] |
References
- Notes
Bibliography
- 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 December 17, 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 December 17, 2016.