20th Operations Group The 20th Operations Group ( 20 OG ) is a component of the 20th Fighter Wing , assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is stationed at Shaw Air Force Base , South Carolina . The 20th Operations Group is a successor organization of the 20th Pursuit Group , one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the US Army before World War II . During World War II the 20th Fighter Group was an Eighth Air Force fighter unit stationed in England . Assigned to RAF Kings Cliffe in 1943 . It was the oldest USAAF group to be assigned to the Eighth Air Force for an extended period , flying 312 combat missions . It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for a sweep over Germany on 8 April 1944 . Overview . The 20th Operations Group is the flying component of the 20th Fighter Wing . The unit employs approximately 80 F - 16CJ fighter aircraft in a mission - ready , multi - role capability to mobilize , deploy and tactically employ forces worldwide for any contingency in support of US national objectives . It is 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 . Assigned units . The 20th OG flies the F - 16CJ Fighting Falcon . Its tail code is " SW " , and consists of the following squadrons : History . Origins . The 20th Balloon Group was authorized as an inactive element of the Department of the Army Air Arm on 18 October 1917 . It was redesignated as the 20th Pursuit Group in 1929 and activated on 15 November 1930 at Mather Field , California and consisted of the 71st Service Squadron ( the administrative and support element of the group ) and initially two flying squadrons : The 20th flew Boeing P - 12 single - seat , biplane fighters which featured two . 30 caliber machine guns , an open cockpit , a Pratt and Whitney engine , and a top speed of 180 miles per hour . Upon activation , the group welcomed the arrival of the first of many famous airmen to grace its ranks . Major Clarence L . Tinker , its first commander , led the group until 13 October 1932 . Major Tinker , part Osage Indian , gained fame as Major General Tinker , World War II Commander of the Seventh Air Force in the Pacific Theater . Tinker Air Force Base , Oklahoma , was named in his honor a year after his death during the Battle of Midway in 1942 . On 15 May 1931 the 20th PG made a cross - country trip while going on maneuvers . These maneuvers were part of the first of its kind for the Air Corps . “ The Great Air Armada ” put on shows in Chicago , New York City , Boston , and Washington , DC . The maneuvers consisted of all Air Corps aircraft with the exception of basic trainers , around 640 aircraft . The Group remained at Mather Field for a little less than two years until 15 October 1932 . On that date an advance party of more than 200 officers , enlisted men , and their dependents , under the command of Captain Thomas Boland , sailed from San Francisco aboard the . They traveled through the Panama Canal and debarked at New Orleans , Louisiana , on 30 October 1932 . On the following day , they arrived at Barksdale Field , Louisiana . Just prior to its transfer to Barksdale , the group was assigned , along with the 3rd Attack Group , to the 3rd Attack Wing in June 1932 . The 3rd Attack Wing and Group operated out of Fort Crockett , Texas . By February 1933 when Barksdale Field was formally dedicated , the group ' s training program was in full operation . Its aerial training mission focused on the development of procedures and techniques for engaging enemy aircraft and provided for the protection of vital industrial centers , airdromes , and bombardment aircraft . In October 1934 , the group ( by then four flying squadrons strong ) , made its first aircraft transition — from the P - 12 to the Boeing P - 26 Peashooter . This open cockpit monoplane had a engine and a top speed of 253 miles per hour . Like the P - 12 , it possessed two . 30 caliber machine guns . Unlike its predecessor , it also featured wing - mounted bomb racks . The 20th Pursuit Group acquired its first aircraft with a closed cockpit , the Curbs P - 36 Mohawk , in September 1938 . The P - 36 had a engine , and a top speed of 303 miles per hour . It could carry up to 400 pounds of bombs under - slung . During this time , the 20th began training , participating in maneuvers and tactical exercises , and conducting aerial reviews and aircraft demonstrations . On 15 November 1939 the 20th moved to Moffett Field , California ; it stayed there less than one year , and moved again on 9 September 1940 to Hamilton Field , also in California . At Hamilton the group changed aircraft once again , this time to the Curtiss P - 40 Warhawk . This was the top of the line pre - World War II pursuit fighter . It had a range of , a top speed of 343 miles per hour , two . 50 caliber machine guns in the nose , and four more in the wings . Several events in 1941 marked the group ' s assignment at Hamilton Field . Deployed flights spent the first part of 1941 at Muroc Lake , California , and Esler Field , Louisiana , conducting maneuvers . In October 1941 , the group split into its component squadrons and deployed to various locations on the east coast , with group headquarters temporarily established at Morris Field , North Carolina . In December 1941 , the 20th reassembled at Hamilton Field , California . World War II . Training unit . The 20th PG made several station moves following the United States ’ declaration of war on Japan . Until February 1942 the 20th performed air defense operations . From Hamilton Field it returned to the east coast and Wilmington , North Carolina , to Morris Field , North Carolina . The group ’ s mission at this time was to act as a training unit to create new fighter groups . The group would receive new personnel , train them , and then they would be transferred out in mass to form a new unit , leaving only a small cadre behind to start the process over again . This process is believed to have been used for as many as six new Fighter Groups . The individual squadrons were stationed at various fields in South and North Carolina and Florida . While at Wilmington , the group exchanged its P - 40s for P - 39 Airacobra s as part of its training role . Additionally , the group received P - 43 Lancer s while in the Carolinas , also for training purposes . The P - 43 was obsolete at this point and was never on the official record of the group . This aircraft was the predecessor of the P - 47 Thunderbolt . At the end of September 1942 the group moved to Paine Field , Washington state – all in the latter part of 1942 . In January 1943 the group moved to March Field , California , where it acquired its P - 38 Lightning aircraft . In March the group would once again proceed with training new members , but this time the results of that training would deploy to England . RAF Kings Cliffe . On 11 August 1943 , the personnel of the 20th departed California aboard three trains and arrived at Camp Miles Standish , Massachusetts , five days later . From this European staging area the members of the 20th embarked on HMS " Queen Elizabeth " and departed for the United Kingdom on 20 August 1943 . If the members of the 20th had expected a typical " Queen Elizabeth " pleasure cruise , they were sorely disappointed . The ship had been refitted to accommodate over 19 , 000 men . Staterooms designed for two or three people had 20 to 30 bunks double and triple stacked for officers and enlisted men . In addition to these conditions , enlisted personnel also served shifts of 24 hours on deck , followed by 24 hours below deck . This doubled the number of personnel the cramped quarters could accommodate . Due to her high speed , the ship traveled unescorted , despite the ever - present threat posed by German U - Boat s . The five day trip across the Atlantic was reported as uneventful , except for long chow lines ( two meals per day ) and frequent boat drills . HMS " Queen Elizabeth " dropped anchor on 25 August and the men of the 20th disembarked at the Firth of Clyde . From there they were transported to the docks at Greenock , Scotland , and then , by train , to their new home , RAF Kings Cliffe , England . Fortune smiled on the 55th FS at this time . Due to space restrictions it had to be stationed at RAF Wittering , about five miles from the rest of the group . The facilities at there were much superior to those at King ’ s Cliffe . The 55th Squadron joined the rest of the group at King ’ s Cliffe in April 1944 . In England , the group was assigned to the VIII Fighter Command . The group was under the command of the 67th Fighter Wing . Aircraft of the 20th were identified by a black / white stripes along their cowlings and tails . Arriving at King ’ s Cliffe , the group faced the prospect of operating from one of the most primitive airfields in England . The buildings were old and inadequate and airfield facilities were close to nonexistent . The only thing in abundance was poor weather and mud . Overcoming the initial shock of these conditions the group soon settled in and got on with the serious job of flying . Prior to the 20th ’ s arrival in theater , the Republic P - 47 Thunderbolt served as the primary US fighter aircraft in Europe . This aircraft was a formidable match for the German Luftwaffe ( Air Force ) fighters in air - to - air combat but lacked one important feature — range . Without sufficient range , the conduct of daytime bomber escort missions , first into Europe and then Germany itself , proved nearly impossible . That problem was perhaps best illustrated on 14 October 1943 when 60 of 293 unescorted bombers ( 20 percent ) , dispatched against the ball - bearing works in Schweinfurt failed to return from their mission . P - 38 Lightning . With the arrival in Europe of the Lockheed P - 38 , the long range escort mission of the Eighth Air Force began in earnest . Initially , due to a lack of available aircraft , the 20th conducted operations as an attached component of the 55th Fighter Group . Full group operations for the 20th commenced in late December 1943 when it became fully equipped with P - 38s . One of the early highlights of the group ’ s World War II exploits entailed the escort of a bombing mission into the Bordeaux area of France on 31 December 1943 . This 1 , 300 mile round trip constituted the longest fighter escort mission to date . That distance , in fact , stretched the P - 38s beyond their operational limits , forcing 17 of 31 aircraft to land at other bases due to insufficient fuel . Despite its advantages of range and speed over its German contemporaries , the P - 38 suffered limitations which resulted in less than a break - even rate in enemy aircraft downed versus 20th aircraft lost . Within a 90 - day span , from 31 December 1943 to 31 March 1944 the operational ledger disclosed 52 German aircraft destroyed while the 20th ’ s losses amounted to 54 pilots . By the end of the P - 38 era in July 1944 , the 20th ’ s kill rate improved slightly ; the group logged 84 pilots lost versus 89 German aircraft destroyed in the air and 31 destroyed on the ground . The P - 38 was ill - equipped to deal with the extreme cold and high moisture conditions that prevailed at the operating altitudes of 20 , 000 to 33 , 000 feet over Northern Europe . A high number of group casualties resulted from engine failure at altitude . Thrown rods , engine explosions and unexpected power reduction during flight were all fatal flaws that the Axis aircraft exploited . The P - 38 was equal to any German fighter at altitudes below 15 , 000 feet , but was usually at a disadvantage above that altitude . Despite the shortcomings of its aircraft , the 20th earned a healthy reputation based on its escort of successful bombing raids and its secondary mission of ground strafing . From the outset of its World War II operations , the 20th ’ s mission concentrated on escorting medium and heavy bombers to targets on the continent . It retained this primary mission throughout the war . Its escort missions completed , however , the group began to routinely strafe targets of opportunity while en route back to England . The 20th became known as the " Loco Group " because of its numerous and successful attacks on locomotives . It received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance on 8 April 1944 when it struck airfields in central Germany and then , after breaking up an attack by enemy interceptors , proceeded to hit railroad equipment , oil facilities , power plants , factories , and other targets . The group retained escort as its primary function until the end of the war , but in March 1944 began to fly fighter - bomber missions , which became almost as frequent as escort operations . The squadrons strafed and dive - bombed airfields , trains , vehicles , barges , tugs , bridges , flak positions , gun emplacements , barracks , radio stations , and other targets in France , Belgium , and Germany . Aircraft from the 20th flew patrols over the English Channel during the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 , and supported the invasion force later that month by escorting bombers that struck interdictory targets in France , Belgium , and the Netherlands , and by attacking troops , transportation targets , and airfields . The invasion of Normandy in early June 1944 featured 20th FG daylight escort operations in support of Allied fleet movements . The P - 38 was specifically chosen for the task due to its distinctive shape ( dual - boom fuselage ) and the ease with which fleet anti - aircraft gunners could distinguish it from enemy aircraft . In July 1944 , the P - 38 era for the 20th came to an end . On 19 July , Lieutenant Colonel Cy Wilson , the Group Commander , led 49 Lightnings on a bomber escort mission into Southern Germany . The next day two squadrons of P - 38s operated with one squadron of P - 51s . The group flew its final P - 38 combat mission on 21 July . P - 51 Mustang . The 20th FG converted to P - 51 s in July 1944 and continued to fly escort and fighter - bomber missions as the enemy retreated across France to the Siegfried Line . The group participated in Operation " Market Garden " , the airborne attack on the Netherlands in September 1944 . It also escorted bombers to Germany and struck rail lines , trains , vehicles , barges , power stations , and other targets in and beyond the Siegfried Line during the period October – December 1944 . By November 1944 , Allied air superiority had been so firmly established that the Luftwaffe attempted only two more full - scale interdiction missions against Allied bombers before the end of the war . On 2 November , a German force of about 250 fighter aircraft intercepted 1 , 121 Eighth Air Force bombers and their fighter escort en route to the synthetic oil plants in Merseburg , Germany . In the ferocious air battle that followed , Eighth Air Force fighters destroyed 148 German planes , more than half the attacking force . Aircrews of the 20th Group contributed to the elimination of 33 enemy aircraft on that day . Lieutenant Colonel Robert P . Montgomery led the 20th ’ s assault , destroyed three aircraft himself and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his performance . The unit took part in the Battle of the Bulge by escorting bombers to the battle area . Germany launched its final major air defense operation on 19 January 1945 . This last full - scale attack against Allied bombers lasted approximately 20 minutes . In that time , over the German homeland , aircraft of the Eighth Air Force downed a total of 121 out of 214 attacking aircraft without the single loss of a fighter aircraft . Only nine B - 17s , two percent of the total force , were lost . The late introduction of Luftwaffe jet aircraft , far superior to the P - 51 mainstay of the Allied fighter force in both speed and high altitude performance , came too late to alter the course of the air struggle over Europe . The Me - 262 twin jet and Me - 163 single rocket engine aircraft first appeared in small numbers at the end of 1944 . Although not a great threat in air - to air combat , ( they lacked maneuverability ) , these aircraft proved almost impossible to stop when they attacked the heavy bombers . The group flew patrols to support the airborne attack across the Rhine in March 1945 , and carried out escort and fighter - bomber missions as enemy resistance collapsed in April . In the last month of the war , aircrews of the 20th downed their first Me262s . On 10 April 1945 , during airfield attacks around Potsdam and Brandenburg , 20th pilots destroyed five Me262s in individual encounters , while the group as a whole eliminated a total of 55 German fighters ( mostly on the ground ) without a single loss . Following the war , the 20th FG returned to the United States for inactivation at Camp Kilmer , New Jersey and was inactivated on 18 December 1945 . Cold War . The 20th Fighter Group was reactivated on 29 July 1946 at Biggs Field , Texas . In October 1946 , the group relocated to Shaw Field , South Carolina , where it was assigned under the newly activated 20th FW on 15 August 1947 under the Hobson Plan . The group took part in training exercises and flight demonstrations and ferried aircraft within the United States . In October 1946 , the group relocated to Shaw Field , South Carolina , where it was assigned under the 20th Fighter Wing on 15 August 1947 as a Ninth Air Force unit . The 20th Fighter Group was first equipped with North American P - 51D , then exchanged its P - 51s in February 1948 for F - 84B Thunderjet s , the first TAC group to receive operational F - 84s . The group was composed of the 55th , 77th and 79th Fighter Squadrons . The F - 84s began arriving in February 1948 and ran though May when the full complement was received . Nine were lost in accidents before the remainder were returned to Republic Aircraft in May 1949 in exchange for F - 84D models . Control over the wing changed hands on 1 February 1949 with its assignment to the Fourteenth Air Force . In July 1950 , the Korean War had just begun . USAF plans had been sent to the Strategic Air Command 12th Fighter - Escort Wing in England to bolster the forces in Europe . But the Cold War got hot before the 12th ’ s F - 84s were ready to go . The 20th ' s D . O . ( Duty Officer ) was called from a Saturday night party at the club to take a message that the 20th was going to England . The 20th had about seven days to get ready . It included receiving a set of two - 230 gallon tip tanks for each airplane to replace the two - 185 gallon tanks that had been provided with the F - 84Ds . On 19 July 1950 the 20th Fighter Bomber Group ( FBG ) under the command of Colonel John Dunning executed the first movement of a full jet fighter group to Europe . The 20th flew their F - 84Ds from Shaw AFB to Dow AFB , Maine . At Dow AFB a message was received to remove personal baggage from the . 50 cal . ammunition compartments so that live ammunition could be loaded . Headquarters felt there was a strong possibility that the Soviets would try to interfere with the movement of the unit to England . The 20th would then continue on its movement without Soviet action via Goose Bay AB , Labrador ; Bluie West One , Greenland ; Keflavík Air Base , Iceland ; Kinross , Scotland and finally to RAF Manston , England . Halfway between Greenland and Iceland one of the F - 84s had an engine flame out . The pilot bailed out but died from exposure before the rescue vessel could reach him . While at Manston , the 20th Fighter Group was placed under the temporary operational control of the SAC 3rd Air Division . The group returned to Shaw in December , where almost all aircraft were found to have wing cracks to some degree , being sent to Republic Aircraft for repairs . With most of the group ' s aircraft non - operational , the mission of the group became an indoctrination unit for new enlistees as part of the large influx of new airmen due to the Korean War . Over 700 new airmen were indoctrinated before the program was terminated in April 1951 . Under the Hobson Plan , there could be only one controlling wing per Air Force Base . On 2 April the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was reassigned to Shaw from Langley AFB , Virginia , which placed two wings at Shaw . To circumvent this , the 20th FBW was temporarily " not manned " and the provisional 20th Tactical Air Division was created to accommodate both wings . In October the provisional Air Division was inactivated and the 363rd TRW became the parent organization at Shaw ; the 20th FBW holding tenant status briefly . The 20th Fighter - Bomber Wing and Group was reassigned to Langley AFB , Virginia on 19 November 1951 as a tenant organization , initially falling under the control of the 47th Bombardment Wing ( Light ) , then being assigned to HQ TAC , then attached to the 49th Air Division . Upon arrival , the group began to receive new Republic F - 84G Thunderjet s . These aircraft were specially equipped to carry a nuclear weapon with a special electrical system and controls in the cockpit to aim and release the weapon . The mission of these aircraft were to carry small nuclear bombs and were designed , if necessary to deliver these weapons on Soviet forces if they invaded West Germany . Squadrons rotated deployment to Kirtland AFB , New Mexico for training in nuclear weapons delivery during Jan / Feb 1952 . In May 1952 elements of the Group began deploying to England , and the first elements of the 20th FBW departed Langley on 15 May for Goose Air Base Labrador , staging though Bluie West One , Greenland and Keflavík Airport , Iceland . After a week in transit due to weather delays in the Atlantic crossing , the 55th FBS arrived at RAF Wethersfield . The complete group arrived in England on 22 May . Due to restricted space at Wethersfield , the 55th and 77th Fighter Bomber Squadrons along with wing headquarters were based there while the 79th FBS was moved to nearby RAF Woodbridge , three miles southeast of Bentwaters . Not manned , 1 November 1952 – 8 February 1955 , during which period tactical squadrons were attached directly to the wing as the Air Force reorganized its wings into the ' tri - deputate ' system . The inactivation of the combat group in the 20 FW and combat groups throughout the USAF resulted in their World War II histories being lost . One must understand that “ group ” and “ wing ” are two distinct and separate units . The modern USAF wings wanted to retain the proud histories of the combat groups and requested that the groups be redesignated as wings . The request was denied , but it was decided to “ temporarily ” bestow the histories and honors of the combat groups . The “ temporary ” bestowals have remained in effect to this day . Modern era . Incorporating the lessons learned during Operations " Desert Shield " and " Desert Storm " , the Air Force directed wing organizational changes that led to the Objective Wing Organization . Similar to the 1947 " Wing - Base Plan " , the Objective Wing organized each operational wing with a combat ( now called operations ) group , as well as logistics , support , and medical groups , with most wing squadrons assigned under the appropriate groups . The group was reactivated on 1 March 1992 as the 20th Operations Group and assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing . The 20th OG was bestowed the history and honors of the 20th Fighter - Bomber Group . The group was relieved of electronic combat mission on 1 July 1992 . Inactivated along with the wing upon the closure of RAF Upper Heyford on 1 January 1994 , the group was reactivated at Shaw AFB , South Carolina the same day , absorbing the personnel and equipment of the 363rd Operations Group . This reassignment was part of a service - wide effort to preserve the lineage of the Air Force ’ s most honored wings . The 78th Fighter Squadron activated on that day to join the wing , after having last been assigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Bentwaters , UK . The squadron was inactivated once again on 30 June 2003 , as part of the US Air Force ’ s FY 2003 force structure changes , leaving Shaw with three F - 16CJ squadrons . The 20th provided forces in April 1999 for NATO ’ s Operation " Allied Force " in the European theater . A Shaw pilot deployed to Aviano Air Base , Italy , during the conflict shot down an enemy MiG - 29 . For 10 years , the 20th FW and its F - 16CJ squadrons flew contingency rotations in support of Operations " Northern " and " Southern Watch " . In 1999 the wing sent elements to take part in the Air War Over Serbia ( Yugoslavia ) . The wing also flew combat air patrols in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 , attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon . In February 2003 , Shaw deployed approximately 1 , 300 servicemembers and 15 aircraft in support of Operation " Iraqi Freedom " . Operations " Northern " and " Southern Watch " successfully culminated with the advent of hostilities in Iraq .