The 20th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina. The wing is assigned to Air Combat Command's Fifteenth Air Force.

20th Fighter Wing
78th Fighter Squadron F-16C Block 50P 92-3920
Active	1947–1948; 1948–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
Motto(s)	Victory by Valor[1]
Engagements	1991 Gulf War[1]
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Lawrence T. Sullivan
Notable commanders	Merrill McPeak[1]
Insignia
20th Fighter Wing emblem[note 1][1]

The wing's mission is to provide, project, and sustain combat-ready aircraft in conventional and anti-radiation suppression of enemy air defenses, strategic attack, counter-air, air interdiction, joint maritime operations and combat search-and-rescue missions.

History

The 20th Fighter Wing was established on 20 July 1947 at Shaw Field, South Carolina and activated on 15 August. Upon its activation, the 20th commanded the functions of both the support groups as well as the flying 20th Fighter Group and the squadrons assigned to it. On 26 August 1948, the wing's 20th Airdrome Group was discontinued and its elements became realigned under the 20th Air Base Group.

On 15 December 1993, the flight line at RAF Upper Heyford was closed. The wing moved without personnel and equipment from the UK to South Carolina on 1 January 1994, inheriting the personnel and equipment of the 363d Fighter Wing.

Two F-16s from the wing collided during a training flight on 15 October 2009. One F-16, piloted by Captain Lee Bryant, was able to land safely at Shaw.[2] The other plane, piloted by Captain Nicholas Giglio, 32, apparently crashed into the ocean. Authorities believe that Giglio was killed instantly in the collision and did not eject.[3] An accident investigation board determined that the crash was caused by pilot error. The board stated that Giglio was flying too fast and was not paying adequate attention as he attempted to rejoin Bryant's aircraft for the return flight to Shaw.[4]

Units

The 20th Fighter Wing is composed of four groups each with specific functions.^{[citation needed]} The Operations Group controls all flying and airfield operations. The Maintenance Group performs maintenance of aircraft, ground equipment and aircraft components. The Mission Support Group has a wide range of responsibilities,a few of its functions are Security, Civil Engineering, Communications, Personnel Management, Logistics, Services and Contracting support. While the Medical Group provides medical and dental care.

• 20th Operations Group

55th Fighter Squadron

77th Fighter Squadron

79th Fighter Squadron

20th Operations Support Squadron

• 20th Maintenance Group

55th Fighter Generation Squadron[5]

77th Fighter Generation Squadron

79th Fighter Generation Squadron

20th Component Maintenance Squadron

20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron

20th Maintenance Operations Squadron

• 20th Mission Support Group

20th Communications Squadron

20th Contracting Squadron

20th Security Forces Squadron

20th Force Support Squadron

20th Logistics Readiness Squadron

20th Civil Engineering Squadron (20 CES)

• 20th Medical Group

20th Health Care Operations Squadron

20th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron

• 20th Comptroller Squadron

Lineage

• Established as the 20 Fighter Wing on 28 July 1947

Organized on 15 August 1947

Discontinued on 26 August 1948[note 3]

Activated on 24 August 1948[note 4]

Redesignated 20 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 20 January 1950

Redesignated 20 Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 July 1958

Redesignated 20 Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991[1]

Assignments

Flying components

Group

• 20th Fighter Group (later 20 Fighter-Bomber Group, 20 Operations Group): 15 August 1947 – 26 August 1948, 14 August 1948 – 8 February 1955; 31 March 1992 – 1 January 1994; 1 January 1994 – present (detached 26 July-c. 17 December 1950 and 25 April – 10 October 1951)[1]
• 20th Maint, Mission Support Groups etc

Squadrons

• 42d Electronic Combat Squadron: assigned 1 July 1983 – 1 June 1985, attached 2 June 1985 – 24 January 1991, assigned 25 January 1991 – 1 July 1992.
• 55th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (later 55th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Squadron): attached 15 November 1952 – 7 February 1955, assigned 8 February 1955 – 31 March 1992
• 77th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (later 77th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 77th Fighter Squadron): attached 15 November 1952 – 7 February 1955, assigned 8 February 1955 – 31 March 1992
• 79th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (later 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Squadron): attached 15 November 1952 – 7 February 1955, assigned 8 February 1955 – 31 March 1992[1]

Stations

• Shaw Field (later Shaw Air Force Base), South Carolina, 15 August 1947 – 26 August 1948, 24 August 1948 – 9 November 1951
• Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 9 November 1951 – 22 May 1952
• RAF Wethersfield, England, 31 May 1952 – 1 April 1970
• RAF Woodbridge, England, 1 October 1954 – 1 April 1970 (79th only)
• RAF Upper Heyford, England, 1 April 1970 – 1 January 1994
• Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 1 January 1994 – present[1]

Aircraft operated

Awards

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 1 June 1999 - 31 May 2001[6]
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 1 June 2013 - 31 May 2014[7]
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 1 June 2014 - 31 May 2015[8]
• Air Force Meritorious Unit Award, 1 June 2018 - 31 May 2020[9]

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• This article includes content from Shaw AFB Website's history page.
• Gordon, Doug (March–April 2001). "Turbulent Times: The USAF's 20th TFW in the 1950s, Part Two - Super Sabres". Air Enthusiast (92): 2–8. ISSN 0143-5450.
• Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-513-4.
• 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 17 December 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 17 December 2016.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present
• Shaw AFB Home Page

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