The Origins of 'Iron Mike' Published Sept. 16, 2008 By Corey Dahl 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 21st Space Wing's mascot, Iron Mike, is a well-known figure to most Knights. It's not as well known, however, where Iron Mike came from. Iron Mike was created in 1966 by the 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska. The squadron, assigned to the 21st Composite Wing - a forerunner of the 21st SW - adopted a 45-pound suit of armor as its mascot. The suit, which included a helmet, sword and shield, was soon popular among all of the 21st CW's units. From 1966 to 1969, Iron Mike changed hands many times among the squadrons of the 21st CW. Sometimes squadrons lent Iron Mike to other units; other times, Iron Mike was "liberated" from squadrons. Iron Mike traveled across North America and as far as Greenland and even Vietnam. However, when the 317th deactivated in 1969, Iron Mike was sent to the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio. The 21st CW, which didn't authorize the move, asked to have its beloved mascot returned, but the museum declined. The original Iron Mike remains there to this day. Iron Mike's legend lives on, though. In 1996, four years after activating as the present day 21st Space Wing, the wing adopted Iron Mike as its official mascot, a representative of the wing's fighting spirit. Today, Iron Mike's most visible duty is leading the 21st SW team during Air Force Space Command's annual Guardian Challenge competition. (Editor's Note: This article is one of several highlighting the Air Force Space Command Year of Leadership and its focus on heritage)