20th Operations Group

The 20th Operations Group employs approximately 79 F-16C fighter 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. The 20th OG has personnel assigned to the 20th Operations Support Squadron "Mustangs," the 55th "Fighting Fifty-Fifth" Fighter Squadron, the 77th "Gamblers" Fighter Squadron and the 79th "Tigers" Fighter Squadron.

20th Operations Support Squadron

The 20th OSS "Mustangs" are responsible for all airfield activities and associated support of the 20th Fighter Wing's many fighter missions. The 20th OSS is a diverse squadron, consisting of five unique flights: Airfield Operations, Weapons and Training, Current Operations, Intelligence and Weather.

Fighter Squadrons

The three F-16C squadrons the 55th, 77th and 79th maintain a mission-ready, multi-role capability to mobilize, deploy and tactically employ forces worldwide for any contingency in support of U.S. national objectives. They are responsible for providing the people and resources necessary for conventional air-to-surface, air superiority, suppression of enemy air defenses, destruction of enemy air defenses and maritime operations.

Lineage

Authorized as 20 Balloon Group on 18 Oct 1927. Redesignated as 20 Pursuit Group on 30 Jun 1929. Activated on 15 Nov 1930. Redesignated as: 20 Pursuit Group (Fighter) on 6 Dec 1939; 20 Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 12 Mar 1941; 20 Fighter Group on 15 May 1942; 20 Fighter Group (Twin Engine) on 30 Dec 1942. Inactivated on 18 Oct 1945. Activated on 29 Jul 1946. Redesignated as: 20 Fighter-Bomber Group on 20 Jan 1950. Inactivated on 8 Feb 1955. Redesignated as 20 Tactical Fighter Group on 31 Jul 1985; 20 Operations Group on 1 Mar 1992. Activated on 31 Mar 1992. Inactivated on 1 Jan 1994. Activated on 1 Jan 1994.

Assignments

IX Corps Area, 15 Nov 1930; IV Corps Area, Oct 1932; 3 Wing, 1 Mar 1935; 1 Wing, Nov 1939; 10 Pursuit Wing, 18 Dec 1940; 4 Interceptor (later, IV Fighter) Command, 1 Oct 1941 (attached to Third Air Force, c. Feb-Sep 1942; Seattle Air Defense Wing, 28 Oct 1942-unkn); VIII Fighter Command, 25 Aug 1943; 67 Fighter Wing, 6 Oct 1943; 3 Air Division, 12 Aug-18 Oct 1945. Ninth Air Force, 29 Jul 1946; 20 Fighter (later, 20 Fighter-Bomber) Wing, 15 Aug 1947-8 Feb 1955 (attached to 3 Air Division, Jul-Dec 1950; Tactical Air Division, Provisional, 25 Apr-10 Oct 1951). 20 Fighter Wing, 31 Mar 1992-1 Jan 1994. 20 Fighter Wing, 1 Jan 1994-.

Operational Components

Squadrons:  24 Pursuit: 15 Nov 1930-16 Jun 1932. 55 Pursuit (later, 55 Fighter; 55 Fighter-Bomber; 55 Fighter): attached 15 Nov 1930, assigned 15 Jun 1932-18 Oct 1945; 29 Jul 1946-8 Feb 1955; 31 Mar 1992-30 Dec 1993; 1 Jan 1994-. 77 Pursuit (later, 77 Fighter; 77 Fighter-Bomber; 77 Fighter): 15 Nov 1930-18 Oct 1945; 29 Jul 1946-8 Feb 1955; 31 Mar 1992-30 Sep 1993; 1 Jan 1994-. 78 Pursuit (later, 78 Fighter): 1 Apr 1931-15 Jun 1932; 1 Jan 1994-30 Jun 2003. 79 Pursuit (later, 79 Fighter; 79 Fighter-Bomber; 79 Fighter): 1 Apr 1933-18 Oct 1945; 29 Jul 1946-8 Feb 1955; 31 Mar 1992-30 Jun 1993; 1 Jan 1994-. 87 Pursuit: 1 Mar 1935-1 Sep 1936.

Stations: Mather Field, CA, 15 Nov 1930; Barksdale Field, LA, 31 Oct 1932; Moffett Field, CA, 19 Nov 1939; Hamilton Field, CA, 9 Sep 1940; Wilmington, NC, 2 Feb 1942; Morris Field, NC, 18 Apr 1942; Drew Field, FL, 7 Aug 1942; Paine Field, WA, 30 Sep 1942; March Field, CA, 4 Jan-11 Aug 1943; Kingscliffe, England, 26 Aug 1943-11 Oct 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 16-18 Oct 1945. Biggs Field, TX, 29 Jul 1946; Shaw Field (later, Shaw AFB) SC, 20 Oct 1946; Langley AFB, VA, 19 Nov 1951-22 May 1952; Wethersfield RAF Station, England, 1 Jun 1952-8 Feb 1955. RAF Upper Heyford, England, 31 Mar 1992-1 Jan 1994. Shaw AFB, SC, 1 Jan 1994-.

Commanders

Maj Clarence L. Tinker, c. 15 Nov 1930; Capt Thomas Boland, c. 14 Oct 1932; Lt Col Millard F. Harmon, c. 31 Oct 1932-unkn; Maj Armin F. Herold, c. 7 Oct 1936-unkn; Lt Col Ross G. Hoyt, Sep 1937; Col Ira C. Eaker, c. 16 Jan 1941; Maj Jesse Auton, c. 1 Sep 1941; Maj Homer A. Boushey, Jan 1942; Lt Col Edward W. Anderson, c. 9 Mar 1942; Lt Col Jesse Auton, 18 Aug 1942-unkn; Col Barton M. Russell, by Aug 1943; Lt Col Mark E. Hubbard, 2 Mar 1944; Maj Herbert E. Johnson Jr., 19 Mar 1944; Lt Col Harold J. Rau, 20 Mar 1944; Lt Col Cy Wilson, 25 Jun 1944; Col Harold J. Rau, 27 Aug 1944; Col Robert P. Montgomery, 18 Dec 1944; Maj Jack C. Price, 3 Oct 1945-unkn. Col Joseph L. Laughlin, 29 Jul 1946; Col Archie J. Knight, c. 24 Feb 1947; Col William J. Cummings, 31 Jul 1947; Col George R. Bickell, Aug 1948-unkn; Col John A. Dunning, 1949; Lt Col Jack R. Brown, c. 22 Oct 1951; Col William D. Ritchie, 29 Apr 1952-8 Feb 1955. Col Richard H. Meeboer, 31 Mar 1992; Col Daniel C. Clark, 15 Jul 1993-1 Jan 1994. Col Kees W. Rietsema, 1 Jan 1994; Col Robert M. Hylton, 19 Aug 1994; Col William H. Camp, Nov 1995; Col James M. Corrigan, 9 Jul 1996; Col James A. Whitmore, 17 Dec 1997; Col Michael V. Ely, 1 Jul 1999; Col Noel T. Jones. 24 Aug 2001; Col Robert J. Beletic, 23 Jan 2003; Col Joel E. Malone, 24 May 2004; Col John C. Columbo; 27 Apr 2006; Col David G. Van der Veer Jr., 6 Jun 2008; Col James R. Sears, 18 Aug 2010; Lt Col Matthew J. Cliver, 20 Sep 2010 (temporary); Col James R. Sears, 5 Oct 2010; Col Shaun McGrath, Jun 2012; Col Paul Murray, 30 Jul 2013-26 Jun 2015; Col Douglas Thies 26 Jun 2015-30 Jun 2017; Col Brian Jackson 30 Jun 2017-28 Jun 2019, Col Robert Raymond 28 Jun 2019-.

Aircraft

P-12, 1930-1935; DH-4, 1931; P-26, 1934-1938; P-36, 1938-1940; P-40, 1940-1942; P-39, 1942-1943; P-43, 1942-1943; P-38, 1943-1944; P-51, 1944-1945. P-51, 1946-1948; P-84 (later, F-84), 1948-1952; No aircraft, 1953-1955. F-111, 1992-1993; EF-111, 1992; A/OA-10, 1994-1996; F-16, 1994-.

Operations

Trained, participated in maneuvers and tactical exercises, and conducted aerial reviews and aircraft demonstrations, 1930-1939. In early 1940s, the group provided cadres of personnel to form other pursuit groups. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, served as an air defense organization. An operational training unit early in 1942, but by the end of the year the group began intensive training for overseas combat duty. Entered combat in late Dec 1943. Escorted heavy and medium bombers to targets in enemy-occupied Europe. Returning from those escort missions, group aircraft often strafed enemy airdromes, trucks, gun emplacements, radio stations, and locomotives in France, Belgium, and Germany. Became known as the “Loco Group” because of its destruction of so many enemy locomotives on low-level attacks. Continued escort duties, but in Mar 1944 began flying fighter-bomber missions. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for action on 8 Apr 1944 when the group attacked two airfields in central Germany and destroyed 20 enemy aircraft and damaged 23 others. Patrolled the English Channel during the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 Jun 1944. Throughout Jun 1944, supported the invasion force with strafing, bombing, and escort missions. Participated in the airborne attack against German forces in the Netherlands in Sep 1944. From 11-16 Sep, escorted bombers on shuttle mission to Russia. From Oct to Dec 1944, the group escorted bombers and attacked railroads, vehicles, and other targets beyond the Siegfried Line in Germany. During the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, escorted bombers to the battle area. Flew patrols to support the Allied airborne attack across the Rhine River in Mar 1945. Flew last mission of the war on 25 Apr 1945. Returned to the United States in Oct 1945 and inactivated. After activation again in 1946, took part in training exercises and flight demonstrations and ferried aircraft within the United States. From Jul-Dec 1950, deployed to England to support the Strategic Air Command’s 3 Air Division. Not manned, Nov 1952-Feb 1955, during which period tactical squadrons were attached directly to the wing. On 1 Jan 1994, inactivated in England and on the same day activated at Shaw AFB. Took part in training exercises. During the 1990s, the group’s assigned squadrons deployed periodically to Southwest Asia to take part in no-fly-zone patrols over Iraq. In 1999, group elements participated in the Air War over Serbia (Yugoslavia). Flew combat air patrols after 11 Sep 2001 terrorist attack on the US. Elements deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Feb 2003. Beginning in 2000, primary mission was suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses. Supported Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, 2008-2010.

Service Streamers

World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers

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

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citation: Central Germany, 8 Apr 1944. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2009; 1 Jun 2009-31 May 2011; 1 Jun 2011-31 May 2012; 1 Jun 2012-31 May 2013. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: [31 Mar]-30 Jun 1992; 1 Oct 1992-31 Dec 1993; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1994; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1999; 1 Jun 1999-31 May 2001.

Emblem

Group will use the wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 14 Mar 2016.
Commanders through Jul 2013
Aircraft, and Operations through 31 Dec 2010.
Supersedes statement prepared in Mar 2014.
Prepared by Daniel Haulman.