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On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seed that on other days and other fields will bear the fruits of victory.

-- General Douglas MacArthur

20th Fighter Wing

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Lineage

Established as 20th Fighter Wing on 28 Jul 1947. Organized on 15 Aug 1947. Redesignated: 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 20 Jan 1950; 20th Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 Jul 1958; 20th Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991.

Assignments

Ninth Air Force, 15 Aug 1947; Fourteenth Air Force, 1 Feb 1949; Tactical Air Command, 1 Aug 1950; Ninth Air Force, 22 Jan 1951 (attached to Tactical Air Division, Provisional, 25 Apr?10 Oct 1951; Tactical Air Command, 6?30 Nov 1951); Tactical Air Command, 1 Dec 1951 (attached to 49th Air Division, Operational, 12 Feb 1952?); United States Air Forces in Europe, 31 May 1952 (remained attached to 49th Air Division, Operational); Third Air Force, 5 Jun 1952 (remained attached to 49th Air Division, Operational [later, 49th Air Division (Operational)], to 1 Jul 1956); Seventeenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1961; Third Air Force, 1 Sep 1963; Ninth Air Force, 1 Jan 1994? .

Components

Group. 20th Fighter (later, 20th Fighter-Bomber; 20th Operations): 15 Aug 1947?8 Feb 1955 (detached 26 Jul?c. 17 Dec 1950 and 25 Apr?10 Oct 1951); 31 Mar 1992?1 Jan 1994; 1 Jan 1994?.

Squadrons. 42d Electronic Combat: assigned 1 Jul 1983?1 Jun 1985, attached 2 Jun 1985?24 Jan 1991, assigned 25 Jan 1991?1 Jul 1992. 55th: attached 15 Nov 1952?7 Feb 1955, assigned 8 Feb 1955?31 Mar 1992. 77th: attached 15 Nov 1952?7 Feb 1955, assigned 8 Feb 1955?31 Mar 1992. 79th: attached 15 Nov 1952?7 Feb 1955, assigned 8 Feb 1955?31 Mar 1992.

Stations

Shaw Field (later, AFB), SC, 15 Aug 1947; Langley AFB, VA, 9 Nov 1951? 22 May 1952; Wethersfield RAF Station (later, RAF Wethersfield), England, 31 May 1952; RAF Upper Heyford, England, 1 Apr 1970?1 Jan 1994; Shaw AFB, SC, 1 Jan 1994?.

Commanders

Col Phineas K. Morrill, Jr., 15 Aug 1947; none (not manned), 25 Apr?10 Oct 1951; Col Reginald F. C. Vance, c. 11 Oct 1951; Col John A. Dunning, 22 Oct 1951; Col Arthur G. Salisbury, 6 Jun 1955; Col Raymond F. Toliver, 4 Apr 1957; Col Jay T. Robbins, 21 Jun 1959; Col Wendell J. Kelly, 26 Jun 1961; Col Royal N. Baker, 9 Jul 1961; Brig Gen John W. Baer, 10 Jun 1963; Col Ernest T. Cragg, 26 Jun 1965; Col Paul C. Watson, 10 Ju1 1966; Brig Gen Edmund B. Edwards, 12 Aug 1966; Col Joseph A. Hagemann, 11 Jul 1968; Col Grant R. Smith, 1 Apr 1970; Brig Gen Richard M. Baughn, 15 Jun 1971; Brig Gen William C. Norris, 2 Feb 1973; Col James H. Ahmann, 12 Nov 1973; Col Kenneth D. Burns, 17 Aug 1974; Col Robert D. Anderson,23 Jun 1975; Col Gerald D. Larson, 9 Jun 1977; Col Jerry W. Tietge, 30 Mar 1978; Col Merrill A. McPeak, 25 Feb 1980; Col Donald G. Waltman, 12 Apr 1981; Brig Gen Fred R. Nelson, 27 May 1981; Brig Gen Dale W. Thompson, Jr., 17 Feb 1984; Col Graham E. Shirley, 7 Jul 1986; Col Lee A. Downer, 8 Jul 1988; Col Lawrence E. Stellmon, 9 Feb 1990; Col Terry J. Schwalier, 20 Jul 1992?.

Aircraft

P (later, F)?51, 1947?1948; P (later, F)?84, 1948?1950, 1950?1951, 1951? 1957; F?100, 1957?1971; F?111, 1970?; EF?111, 1984?1992.

Operations

Trained to maintain proficiency as a tactical fighter unit, 1947?1950. The tactical group participated in firepower demonstrations, field exercises, and special operations. Trained Turkish officers in P?51s, Feb?Apr 1948. Tactical group detached, supporting SAC?s 3d Air Division at RAF Manston, England, Dec 1950?Apr 1951. Wing headquarters not operational, 25 Apr? 10 Oct 1951; all personnel detached for duty with Tactical Air Division, Provisional, which assumed operational control over all wing elements. Moved to England in May 1952 with a mission of maintaining proficiency for tactical operations with conventional and nuclear weapons in support of NATO operations in the European area. Replaced the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at RAF Upper Heyford, England, on 1 Apr 1970. Transferred last F?100 in Feb 1971 and received first F?111 in Sep 1970 as part of general aircraft conversion. Trained to conduct conventional or nuclear tactical air operations, primarily through firepower demonstrations and tactical exercises. Operated from RAF Greenham Common, England, 29 Apr?17 Aug 1976. Added electronic combat mission in 1983 and the EF?111 aircraft to implement that mission in Feb 1984. Participated in numerous tactical and electronic countermeasure exercises at many operating locations with other USAF and Allied assets. Deployed aircraft and personnel to Southwest Asia and Turkey providing tactical and electronic combat operations against Iraq, 17 Jan?28 Feb 1991. Won the 1991 Gunsmoke tactical gunnery competition in the F?111 category. Relieved of electronic combat mission and the EF?111 aircraft with the inactivation of the 42d Electronic Combat Squadron on 1 Jul 1992.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1956?30 Sep 1957; 1 May 1963? 31 Dec 1964; 1 Jan 1965?31 Mar 1966; 1 Jul 1968?31 Mar 1970; 1 Sep 1970?30 Jun 1972; 31 Mar 1973?30 Jun 1974; 1 Jul 1977?30 Jun 1979; 1 Jul 1981?30 Jun 1983; 1 Jul 1987?30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1990?30 Jun 1992.

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 20th Operations Group prior to 28 Jul 1947.

Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Central Germany, 8 Apr 1944.

Emblem

Per fess Azure and Gules, a fess nebuly Or, all within a diminished bordure of the like. Motto: VICTORY BY VALOR. Approved on 18 Dec 1934 for 20th Group and on 31 Oct 1951 for 20th Wing (KE 21245).

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