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24th Station Complement Squadron: A Brief History
The 24th Station Complement Squadron was activated on 20 May 1943 at Kellogg Field in Battle Creek, Michigan. On 27 July, the unit departed (in company with the 22nd, 23rd and 25th Station Complement Squadrons) for "Camp Shanks, New York Port of Embarkation for further movement by water." In early August, "after an uneventful voyage, with the exception of the enlisted men pulling K.P., six officers and one-hundred and eight tired enlisted men landed safely on the shores of the British Isles."
The 24th Station Complement Squadron began operating at Station 356 on 12 August 1943. The first entry in the squadron history noted "After a sleepless night, spent reading and playing poker, the train finally halted at Audley End - our destination. We were met and welcome and welcomed by Major Fellows, Lt. Bauer and a number of G.I.'s who brought us directly to AAF Station F-356 where our spirits were lifted by the aroma of hot coffee and sizzling bacon. With our stomachs satisfied there was but one thought left in mind - SLEEP."
Duties performed by the men of the 24th varied, from providing station fire-fighting capabilities to air traffic control; housekeeping duties to transportation duties and station defense. Any other duty that didn't fit neatly into another organization's schedule found it's way to the 24th, a point made clear in the last edition of the squadron history. "...(during) our tour over here in the ETO the Complement Squadron sort of took it on the chin and turned out to be more or less of a bastard outfit, looked down on, somewhat, by Fighter Squadrons, designated as "housekeepers" for the Station, destined to do more than their share of KP, extra duty, fill-in jobs, etc. It was no wonder that the men so often cried for a transfer out someplace. But all this is water under the bridge; the 24th is now a memory and a little stack of completed records stored away in a box someplace.'
Like other sub-units of the 33rd Service Group, the 24th Station Complement was disbanded on 15 April 1945, and its men scattered among the three squadrons of the 438th Air Service Group. Eight officers and fifty enlisted men were absorbed by the 438th Headquarters and Base Services Squadron, twenty-two enlisted were assigned to the 688th Air Materiel Squadron, and the remaining three officers and twenty-five enlisted men were detailed to the 864th Air Engineering Squadron.
"The 24th Station Complement Squadron is no more, finished!" it said on the final page of the squadron history. "Closed shop! Disbanded! -- So long, it was nice knowing you! ...So on the 15th of April 1945 we drink a toast, though it will be "mild and bitter." to the old 24th - it died a natural death, may it rest in peace--amen."
The 24th Station Complement Squadron began operating at Station 356 on 12 August 1943. The first entry in the squadron history noted "After a sleepless night, spent reading and playing poker, the train finally halted at Audley End - our destination. We were met and welcome and welcomed by Major Fellows, Lt. Bauer and a number of G.I.'s who brought us directly to AAF Station F-356 where our spirits were lifted by the aroma of hot coffee and sizzling bacon. With our stomachs satisfied there was but one thought left in mind - SLEEP."
Duties performed by the men of the 24th varied, from providing station fire-fighting capabilities to air traffic control; housekeeping duties to transportation duties and station defense. Any other duty that didn't fit neatly into another organization's schedule found it's way to the 24th, a point made clear in the last edition of the squadron history. "...(during) our tour over here in the ETO the Complement Squadron sort of took it on the chin and turned out to be more or less of a bastard outfit, looked down on, somewhat, by Fighter Squadrons, designated as "housekeepers" for the Station, destined to do more than their share of KP, extra duty, fill-in jobs, etc. It was no wonder that the men so often cried for a transfer out someplace. But all this is water under the bridge; the 24th is now a memory and a little stack of completed records stored away in a box someplace.'
Like other sub-units of the 33rd Service Group, the 24th Station Complement was disbanded on 15 April 1945, and its men scattered among the three squadrons of the 438th Air Service Group. Eight officers and fifty enlisted men were absorbed by the 438th Headquarters and Base Services Squadron, twenty-two enlisted were assigned to the 688th Air Materiel Squadron, and the remaining three officers and twenty-five enlisted men were detailed to the 864th Air Engineering Squadron.
"The 24th Station Complement Squadron is no more, finished!" it said on the final page of the squadron history. "Closed shop! Disbanded! -- So long, it was nice knowing you! ...So on the 15th of April 1945 we drink a toast, though it will be "mild and bitter." to the old 24th - it died a natural death, may it rest in peace--amen."
