Defending freedom: 20th OG recognizes 86 historic years

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, UNITED STATES

11.18.2016

Story by Airman BrieAnna Stillman 

20th Fighter Wing

The 20th Operations Group celebrated 86 years of history, Nov. 15.

Although Team Shaw members are familiar with the 20th OG as the group under which Shaw’s three fighter squadrons fall, most Team Shaw personnel may not know the 20th OG wasn’t always assigned to Shaw, has gone by several different names over the years and participated in many historically significant operations since its birth.

When the 20th OG was activated as the 20th Pursuit Group Nov. 15, 1930, it consisted of only two pursuit squadrons (later known as fighter squadrons): the 55th Pursuit Squadron and the 77th Pursuit Squadron. During this time, the 20th PG was stationed at Mather Field, California, Barksdale Field, Louisiana and Moffett Field, Calif. The group’s mission at the time was to train, participate in maneuvers and tactical exercises, and conduct aerial reviews and aircraft demonstrations. The 20th PG accomplished this mission with the Boeing P-12, Airco DH-4 and the Boeing P-26 Peashooter.

In the early ‘40s after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the 20th PG served as an air defense organization flying the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. In late December 1943, the 20th PG prepared for World War II with the Republic P-43 Lancer and entered combat with the Lockheed P-38 Lighting aircraft, which escorted heavy and medium bombers to targets inside Nazi-occupied Europe. During the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, the group supplied critical air cover to the outer flanks. The group also provided bomber escort during the Battle of the Bulge. Around this time, the group was redesignated the 20th Fighter Group. In October of 1945, the group returned to the states and was briefly inactivated. In 1946, the 20th FG was activated at Shaw AFB, South Carolina and took part in training exercises and flight demonstrations.

In the early ‘50s, the 20th FG was redesignated the 20th Fighter-Bomber Group before deploying to England to support the Strategic Air Command’s 3rd Air Division. In the mid ‘50s, the 20th FBG was inactivated along with most other combat groups in the U.S. Air Force. During this period of inactivation, the 55th and 77th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, which had previously fallen under the 20th FBG, were attached directly to the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing assigned to Royal Air Force Wethersfield, U.K.

For 30 years, the 20th FBG lay dormant. Then in 1985, the group was redesignated the 20th Tactical Fighter Group.

The group was reactivated March 1, 1992 as the 20th Operations Group. During the 1990s, the group deployed personnel and assets periodically to Southwest Asia to take part in no-fly zone patrols over Iraq. The 20th OG was inactivated upon the closure of RAF Upper Heyford, U.K., Jan. 1, 1994, and was reactivated once again at Shaw the same day, absorbing the 363rd OG’s personnel and equipment and assuming control of the 79th FS.

In more recent years, the group flew combat-air-patrols following 9/11 and supported Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom from 2008-2010.

The 20th OG is the tip of the spear in the 20th Fighter Wing’s mission of “providing combat-ready airpower and Airmen to meet any challenge, anytime, anywhere.” The group accomplishes this task today using F-16CM Fighting Falcons.

Today the 20th OG has a rich and proud history, and continues to be an asset in completing the Air Force mission, worldwide at a moment’s notice.

• Date Taken: 11.18.2016
• Date Posted: 11.18.2016 09:19
• Story ID: 215089
• Location: SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC, US