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20th FW receives first fighter jets

A P-51D Mustang assigned to the 20th Fighter Group (FG) sits on the flightline of Shaw Field, S.C., circa 1946, above, and an F-84 Thunderjet sits on the Shaw flightline, circa 1948. In 1948, the 20th FG, assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing (FW) on Aug. 15, 1947, exchanged its Mustangs for Thunderjets, one of the first aircraft to be powered by a jet engine. The 20th FW, created at Shaw Field, July 28, 1947, has not always lowered its landing gear here, with the unit being assigned around the world in places such as Royal Air Force Wethersfield, England, and Langley Air Force Base, Va. However, in 1994, the 20th FW returned to its birthplace at Shaw to fly F-16CJ Fighting Falcons and A/OA-10 Thunderbolts IIs.

20th FW receives first fighter jets

Published July 28, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Destinee Sweeney
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- A P-51D Mustang assigned to the 20th Fighter Group (FG) sits on the flightline of Shaw Field, South Carolina, circa 1946, above, and an F-84 Thunderjet sits on the Shaw flightline, circa 1948. In 1948, the 20th FG, assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing (FW) on Aug. 15, 1947, exchanged its Mustangs for Thunderjets, one of the first aircraft to be powered by a jet engine.

The 20th FW, created at Shaw Field, July 28, 1947, has not always lowered its landing gear here, with the unit being assigned around the world in places such as Royal Air Force Wethersfield, England, and Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. However, in 1994, the 20th FW returned to its birthplace at Shaw to fly F-16CJ Fighting Falcons and A/OA-10 Thunderbolts IIs.