page_title: RAF Upper Heyford
section_title: 20th Tactical Fighter Wing
hierarchical_section_title: RAF Upper Heyford / United States Air Force use / 20th Tactical Fighter Wing
caption_attribution_description: English: EF-111A Serial 66-0049 42nd Electronic Countermeasure squadron - 20th Tactical Fighter Wing - RAF Upper Heyford UK.
context_page_description: RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located 5 miles north-west of Bicester near the village of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. In the Second World War the airfield was used by Bomber Command. During the Cold War, Upper Heyford was one of the former RAF bases chosen to house the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command strategic bombers on 90-day TDY deployments until 1965, from 1966 United States Air Forces in Europe tactical reconnaissance aircraft, and from 1970 F-111 strike aircraft.
context_section_description: Headquarters, 20th Tactical Fighter Wing relocated from RAF Wethersfield to RAF Upper Heyford on 1 June 1970.
  Shortly after arriving at Upper Heyford, the 20th TFW began converting to a new aircraft - the General Dynamics F-111E Aardvark (unofficially).  On 12 September 1970 the first two F-111Es arrived at RAF Upper Heyford. The last of the 20th's F-100s that it brought from Wethersfield were transferred to the Air National Guard on 12 February 1971.  In November 1971, the wing's F-111s were declared operationally ready.
  The 20th TFW participated in F-111 NATO and US unilateral operations Shabaz, Display Determination, Cold Fire, Ocean Safari, Datex, Priory, Reforger, Dawn Patrol, Highwood, Hammer, Open Gate (1982 at Ovar Air Base, Portugal) and others from January 1972 to October 1993.
  Upper Heyford gained a fourth flying squadron on 1 July 1983, with the activation of the 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron. In February 1984, the first Grumman (General Dynamics) EF-111A Ravens of that squadron arrived.
  Parental responsibility over the 42nd by the 20th TFW was short-lived, however, and on 1 June 1985, operational control of the squadron shifted to the 66th Electronic Combat Wing at Sembach Air Base, West Germany.
caption: General Dynamics F/EF-111A Serial 66-0049 42nd Electronic Countermeasure squadron - 20th Tactical Fighter Wing.
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