924th Fighter Group



924TH FIGHTER GROUP
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona

Vision
To be the benchmark of total force flying training and maintenance excellence.

Mission
Forge the world’s most lethal attack pilots; mission, Airmen, family

Description
The 924th Fighter Group consists of three units; the 924th Maintenance Squadron, the 47th Fighter Squadron, and the 924th Operational Support Flight. All of which collectively employ 550 members in over 20 Air Force Specialty Codes. The 924th FG is the only unit-equipped formal training unit in Air Force Reserve Command with 28 A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft. The 924th FG trains and produces qualified A-10 pilots for theater commanders worldwide, and has graduated 29 new A-10 pilots since program production stood up as unit-equipped in 2014. The 924th FG supports the maintenance load for A-10 test as well through collaboration with the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center. The unit’s economic impact to the local community is $45 million annually.



Chronological History
The 924th FG was established in 1962 as the 924th Troop Carrier Group under Continental Air Command, flying C-119 Flying Boxcars at Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. Between 1962 and present, the unit changed missions and aircraft several times. In 1963, the unit transferred to the Tactical Air Command. From 1963 to 1967, the 924th flew experimental drop missions for NASA and was also part of the U.S. Air Force Combat Crew Training School, the first Air Force Reserve institution that trained active duty crews. In 1967, the 924th retired their C-119 aircraft and began flying the C-130 Hercules. The 924th was active during the Vietnam War, flying over 120 missions to Southeast Asia. In 1974, the unit transferred to Military Airlift Command and moved from Ellington AFB to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, where the unit became the first reserve unit to be assigned there. Later in 1976 the unit upgraded to the newer C-130B aircraft.

In 1981, the 924th transferred back to TAC and realigned as the 924th FG, converting to the F-4D Phantom II. The unit flew the F-4 until the aircraft was retired from the Air Force inventory and then converted to F-16As Fighting Falcon in July 1991, and was re-designated the 924th F G in February 1992. In July 1994 the 924th upgraded to F-16Cs and in October became the 924th Fighter Wing.

As part of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, the 924th Fighter Wing was inactivated in September 1996, and its aircraft were reassigned to the California National Guard.

On Jan 1, 2011, the 924th FG was reactivated at D-M AFB, Arizona as an Air Force Reserve Command geographically separated unit with administrative control to the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. On October 1, 2012, the 924th FG was realigned under the 944th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Between October 2013 and March 2014, the 924th FG gained 28 A-10s aircraft from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The 924th is now part of the Total Force Enterprise, and is the only unit-equipped both active and classic associate fighter group in Air Force Reserve Command’s inventory. With oversight of the 47th Fighter Squadron, 924th MS, and 924th OSF, the group is charged with working with the Regular Air Force’s 355th Fighter Wing to functionally integrate with the 355th Operations Group and 355th Maintenance Group to conduct A-10 pilot training at D-M AFB, Arizona.