![Shaw AFB - Patton Hall](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Shaw_AFB_-_Patton_Hall.jpg)
Shaw Air Force Base (Shaw AFB) is a
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
(USAF) base located approximately west-northwest of downtown
Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Known as the Sumter Metropolitan Statistical Area, the namesake county adjoins Clarendon and Lee to form the core of Sumter-Lee-Clarendon Tri-county (o ...
. It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is under the jurisdiction of USAF
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
(ACC). The
20th Fighter Wing
The 20th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina. The wing is assigned to Air Combat Command's Fifteenth Air Force.
The wing's mission is to provide, project, and sustain ...
(20th FW) is the host unit.
History
Lt. Ervin David Shaw
The base is named in honor of
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
pilot 1st Lieutenant Ervin David Shaw. Lt. Shaw was one of the first Americans to fly combat missions in
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. Shaw, a
Sumter County native, was assigned to
No. 48 Squadron of the
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
, as a member of the
Royal Canadian Flying Corps.
Shaw died after three enemy aircraft attacked his
Bristol F.2B
The Bristol F.2 Fighter is a British First World War two-seat biplane Fighter aircraft, fighter and reconnaissance aircraft developed by Frank Barnwell at the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It is often simply called the Bristol Fighter, ''"Brisfit ...
while he was returning from a reconnaissance mission on 9 July 1918.
Shaw downed one of his attackers before he was killed.
[Mueller, Robert (1989). Volume 1: ''Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982''. USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C. , ]
World War II
Shaw Field was activated on 30 August 1941 and placed under the jurisdiction of the
U.S. Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...
Southeast Air Corps Training Center. The mission of the new airfield was a basic (Phase II) flying school to instruct air cadets in flying, and the Air Corps Basic Flying School was activated at the field on 26 June to operate the school. The airfield consisted of three runways and several auxiliary airfields.
[Manning, Thomas A. (2005), ''History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002''. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ]
* Shaw AAF Aux No. 1 – (Burnt Gin Airfield),
Wedgefield, South Carolina
Wedgefield is an unincorporated community in the High Hills of Santee area in western Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Wedgefield is also a Census Designated Place (CDP). Wedgefield was so named because its location was likened to a " ...
* Shaw AAF Aux No. 2 – (Rembert Airfield),
Rembert, South Carolina
Rembert is a town in Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 306 at the 2010 census, a decline from 406 in 2000. It is included in the Sumter, South Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Ellerbe's Mill was list ...
* Shaw AAF Aux No. 3 – (Monaghan Airfield),
Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Known as the Sumter Metropolitan Statistical Area, the namesake county adjoins Clarendon and Lee to form the core of Sumter-Lee-Clarendon Tri-county (o ...
* Shaw AAF Aux No. 4 – (Sumter Airfield),
Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Sumter County, South Carolina, United States. Known as the Sumter Metropolitan Statistical Area, the namesake county adjoins Clarendon and Lee to form the core of Sumter-Lee-Clarendon Tri-county (o ...
Flying activities at the field began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee
BT-13 Valiant
The Vultee BT-13 Valiant is an American World War II-era basic (a category between primary and advanced) trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, and later US Army Air Forces. A subsequent variant of the B ...
s. Enough construction was completed for the first group of cadets entered training 15 December 1941, and the first class completed training in February 1942. The concrete parking ramp was completed during May 1942.
In October 1942, the flight training was changed to Advanced (Phase III) flying training and
AT-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces ...
single-engine and
Beech AT-10
The Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita was an American World War II trainer built for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) by Beechcraft. It was used to train pilots for multi-engined aircraft such as bombers.
Development
Beechcraft began design ...
twin-engine trainers were used. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the
U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) Pilot School, under the USAAF Southeast Training Center trained more than 8,600 pilots in the basic and advanced flying curriculum, its graduates were then sent to Advanced Flight Training in single or multi-engine aircraft.
On 1 April 1945 jurisdiction of Shaw Field was transferred to the
First Air Force
The First Air Force (Air Forces Northern; 1 AF-AFNORTH) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Its primary mission is the air defense of the Co ...
. The 139th Army Air Force Base Unit,
I Fighter Command
I Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces intermediate command responsible for command and control of the fighter operations within the First Air Force during World War II. It was initially established in June 1941 as the 1st Inte ...
became the host unit. and pilots were sent to Shaw for fighter transition training in
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bombe ...
single-engined fighters.
For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a
prisoner-of-war (POW) camp. The first group of
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
POWs arrived on 1 March 1945. Eventually, 175 of them lived in an encampment just off the main base, on Peach Orchard Road (also known as
South Carolina Highway 441
South Carolina Highway 441 (SC 441) is a state highway in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The highway connects the Sumter area in Sumter County with rural areas of Lee County.
Route description
SC 441 begins at an intersectio ...
) across from Shaw's (side) hospital (currently closed) gate and worked on local farms in the area. They departed in the early months of 1946 for the rebuilding of European cities and towns that were devastated during the war. Those prisoners were eventually repatriated to Germany around 1947, with some returning to the Shaw and Sumter area and obtaining their U.S. citizenship.
[Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.]
Postwar era
Shaw Army Airfield was designated a permanent USAAF installation after the war, being transferred to
Continental Air Forces
Continental Air Forces (CAF) was a United States Army Air Forces major command, active 1944–1946. It was tasked with combat training of bomber and fighter personnel, and for Continental United States (CONUS) air defense after the Aircraft Warn ...
on 16 April 1945. After a period of reorganization, jurisdiction was transferred to
Air Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was est ...
on 1 March 1946. From July 1946 until May 1947 Shaw was the home of the
414th and
415th Night Fighter Squadrons.
The squadrons flew the
P-61 Black Widow
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow is a twin-engine United States Army Air Forces fighter aircraft of World War II. It was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and the first aircraft designed specifically as a night fight ...
in Europe with
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...
during World War II, and were reassigned back to the United States after the end of hostilities. The 414th was transferred to
Caribbean Air Force
The United States Air Forces Southern Command is an inactive Major Command of the United States Air Force. It was headquartered at Albrook Air Force Base, Canal Zone, being inactivated on 1 January 1976.
Initially designated Panama Canal Air Forc ...
at
Río Hato Army Air Base
Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for "river". When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil.
Rio or Río may also refer to:
Geography Brazil
* Rio de Janeiro
* Rio do Sul, a ...
, Panama in March 1947 to perform an air defense mission of the
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit ...
. The 415th was reassigned to
Alaska Air Command at
Adak Island
Adak Island ( ale, Adaax, russian: Адак) or Father Island is an island near the western extent of the Andreanof Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Alaska's southernmost town, Adak, Alaska, Adak, is located on the island. The isl ...
,
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
in May 1947 also to perform an air defense mission, over the
Aleutian Islands
The Aleutian Islands (; ; ale, Unangam Tanangin,”Land of the Aleuts", possibly from Chukchi language, Chukchi ''aliat'', "island"), also called the Aleut Islands or Aleutic Islands and known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago, are a cha ...
and the territorial waters of western Alaska.
United States Air Force
20th Fighter Group
![20th Fighter Group P-51D Mustangs November 1946 Shaw Field SC](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/20th_Fighter_Group_P-51D_Mustangs_November_1946_Shaw_Field_SC.jpg)
Jurisdiction of Shaw was again transferred to
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 J ...
(TAC) on 23 March 1946. The
20th Fighter Group was reassigned to Shaw on 20 October 1946 from
Biggs Army Airfield
Biggs Army Airfield (formerly Biggs Air Force Base) is a United States Army military airbase located on the Fort Bliss military base in El Paso, Texas.
History Biggs Field/Biggs Army Airfield (1916–47)
On 15 June 1919, following an attack b ...
, Texas which was transferred to
Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...
. The 20th FG came under
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...
.
[20th Fighter Wing History, Office of History 20th Fighter Wing. Shaw AFB, South Carolina. December 2010, AFD-110131-026.pdf]
After the establishment of the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
(USAF) as a separate military branch in September 1947, Shaw Army Airfield was renamed Shaw Air Force Base, on 13 January 1948 and the
20th Fighter-Bomber Wing
The 20th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina. The wing is assigned to Air Combat Command's Fifteenth Air Force.
The wing's mission is to provide, project, and sustain ...
was activated on 15 August 1947 with the implementation of the
Hobson Plan
The Hobson Plan was an organizational structure established by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948, following experimental organization in 1947. Known as the "Wing-Base Organization," it replaced the organization used by the United States A ...
.
The 20th Fighter Group was first equipped with
North American P-51D, then exchanged its P-51's in February 1948 for
F-84B Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 first flew in 1946. Although it entered service in 1947, the Thun ...
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 through May when the full complement was received. Nine were lost in accidents before the remainder were returned to
Republic Aviation
The Republic Aviation Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Farmingdale, New York, on Long Island, New York, Long Island. Originally known as the Seversky Aircraft Company, the company was responsible for the design and produc ...
in May 1949 in exchange for F-84D models. Control over the wing changed hands on 1 February 1949 with its assignment to
Fourteenth Air Force
The Fourteenth Air Force (14 AF; Air Forces Strategic) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). It was headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
The command was responsible for the organizatio ...
.
On 23 September 1949 the
161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was transferred to the 20th from the
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
The 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (363 ISRW) is a United States Air Force unit. The group is assigned to the United States Air Force Sixteenth Air Force, stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
The mission ...
at
Langley AFB
Langley Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Hampton, Virginia, adjacent to Newport News. It was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the entry of the United States into World War I in April 19 ...
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. The 161st flew the
Lockheed RF-80A reconnaissance version of the
F-80 Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, prod ...
. A reduction in USAF units in April 1949 led to a consolidation of units at fewer bases. With the outbreak of the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
in 1950, the mission of the 161st was to train replacement reconnaissance aircraft pilots. The 161st TFS became the nucleus on which the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing's mission at Shaw when the wing transferred there in 1951.
The 20th Fighter Group was reassigned to
Langley AFB
Langley Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Hampton, Virginia, adjacent to Newport News. It was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established after the entry of the United States into World War I in April 19 ...
,
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
on 1 December 1951 in preparation for a permanent overseas deployment to
RAF Wethersfield
MDP Wethersfield is a Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence facility in Essex, England, located north of the village of Wethersfield, Essex, Wethersfield, about north-west of the town of Braintree, Essex, Braintree. Origin ...
, England to support
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
.
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
![Rf-4c-67-0436-363trw-10-86](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Rf-4c-67-0436-363trw-10-86.jpg)
On 1 April 1951, the
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
The 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (363 ISRW) is a United States Air Force unit. The group is assigned to the United States Air Force Sixteenth Air Force, stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
The mission ...
was transferred to Shaw from
Langley Air Force Base
Langley Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Hampton, Virginia, adjacent to Newport News, Virginia, Newport News. It was one of List of airfields of the Training Section of the United States Army Air Service, thirty-two ...
, Virginia. The 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing would remain at Shaw, under various designations, for the next 43 years. The wing's mission was to fly photographic, electronic and electronic intelligence missions to support both air and ground operations by American or Allied ground forces through its operational component, the
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group 363rd or 363d may refer to:
* 363d Expeditionary Operations Group, inactive United States Air Force unit
* 363d Bombardment Squadron or 19th Antisubmarine Squadron, inactive United States Air Force unit
* 363d Fighter Squadron or 164th Airlift Squa ...
. In addition, the 363d provided combat crew training for reconnaissance aircrews.
[Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. .]
In addition to the 363 TRW, Headquarters
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...
was transferred to Shaw from
Pope Air Force Base
Pope Field is a U.S. military facility located 12 miles (19 km) northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.. Federal Aviation Administration. effective 15 November 2012 ...
,
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
on 1 September 1954.
During the tenure of the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB (1951–1993), the wing was the first USAF operational unit equipped with the following aircraft:
*
Martin RB-57A Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twin-engined tactical bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English Electric ...
*
Douglas RB-66 Destroyer
The Douglas B-66 Destroyer is a light bomber that was designed and produced by the American aviation manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company.
The B-66 was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) and is heavily based upon the United S ...
*
McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo is a supersonic jet fighter which served the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
Initially designed by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation as a long-range bomber escort (known as a ''p ...
*
McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and Bow ...
Over the next four decades, the squadrons under the 363 TRW changed frequently. Nearly all tactical reconnaissance aircraft aircrews in the United States Air Force were trained or stationed at Shaw Air Force Base.
= 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
=
![Rb-57-363trw-shaw](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Rb-57-363trw-shaw.jpg)
On 23 March 1953, the
432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was re-activated at Shaw. The group's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW. When elevated to the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 8 February 1958, the wing operated the USAF Advanced Flying Training School, Tactical Reconnaissance. The 432d TRW and 363d TRW both were under the
837th Air Division
The 837th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command's Ninth Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina where it was inactivated on 1 February 1963.
The division wa ...
, headquartered at Shaw.
The group initially conducted training with two squadrons (20th, 29th) flying the Republic RF-84F "Thunderflash" and two squadrons (41st, 43d) flying the Martin RB-57A "Canberra". In 1957, the group upgraded the 20th and 29th to the McDonnell RF-101C "Voodoo", and the 41st and 43d transitioned to the electronic warfare EB-66C Destroyer.
In a budgetary move, the 432d TRW was inactivated on 8 April 1959. The RF-101C equipped 17th and 18th TRSs were deployed to NATO, being reassigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at
Laon-Couvron Air Base, France.
=4411th Combat Crew Training Group
=
The Shaw reconnaissance training mission was taken over by the 4411th Combat Crew Training Group, consisting of RF-101C and EB-66C aircraft. The 4411 CCTG became an operational group under the 363d TRW and continued the training mission at Shaw for reconnaissance aircraft until both it and the
837th Air Division
The 837th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command's Ninth Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina where it was inactivated on 1 February 1963.
The division wa ...
were inactivated on 1 February 1963. All assets from these organizations were then transferred to the 363d TFW.
=66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
=
![Rf80a 302d 66trs 1953](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/T-33A_302d_66trs_1953.jpg)
On 1 January 1953 the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was activated at Shaw, replacing the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, the title of which reverted to the
Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, where the 66th Fighter Group served in the European theater as part of
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Force ...
. The 66th Reconnaissance (later, Strategic Reconnaissance) Group, was a part of
Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...
(SAC) from July 1947 – May 1951, at
Barksdale AFB
Barksdale Air Force Base (Barksdale AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in northwest Louisiana, United States, in Bossier Parish. It is contiguous to Bossier City, Louisiana, along the base's western and northwestern edge. Barksdale AFB ...
,
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
as an
Air Force Reserve
The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a MAJCOM, major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of ...
corollary unit under the guidance of active duty units in order to train and maintain currency in reconnaissance operations for its reserve personnel.
The 66 TRW was formed at Shaw from the RB-26 assets of the 18 TRS and RF-80s transferred from
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
. Wing and squadrons trained at Shaw prior to deployment to
NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...
. The 66th had three operational squadrons: the 30th, 302d and 303d TRS. The 30 TRS flew the RB-26 Invader, equipped for night reconnaissance, while the 302d and 303d flew the RF-80A Shooting Star for day reconnaissance.
On 25 June 1953, the 66 TRW departed Shaw, being reassigned to
Sembach Air Base
Sembach Kaserne is a United States Army post in Donnersbergkreis, Germany, near Kaiserslautern, and is about 19 miles (30 km) east of Ramstein Air Base. Prior to 2010, the installation was a United States Air Force installation and prior t ...
,
West Germany
West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
. Just prior to the wing's deployment to NATO, the 303 TRS was reequipped with RF-80As.
363d Fighter Wing
![17th Fighter Squadron - General Dynamics F-16C Block 42J Fighting Falcon 90-754](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/17th_Fighter_Squadron_-_General_Dynamics_F-16C_Block_42J_Fighting_Falcon_90-754.jpg)
By 1980, the advent of
reconnaissance satellites
A reconnaissance satellite or intelligence satellite (commonly, although unofficially, referred to as a spy satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications.
The ...
made the need for tactical aircraft reconnaissance less and less necessary. The aging and phaseout of the 1960s-era
RF-4C
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II variants were numerous versions and designations of the F-4 and are described below.
Production numbers for major versions
asterisk indicates converted from other version
Variants
;XF4H-1
:Two prototype ...
aircraft fleet and the utility of the
Lockheed TR-1 in Europe for tactical reconnaissance led to the decision by the USAF to realign the mission of the 363rd TRW. The reconnaissance training mission of the wing was terminated in 1981 and beginning in 1982, the wing would become 363d Tactical Fighter Wing (363d TFW), being equipped with
General Dynamics F-16 fighter aircraft. On 1 October 1981, the 363 TRW was re-designated .
[Rogers, Brian (2005). ''United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978''. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. .][Martin, Patrick (1994). ''Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings''. Schiffer Military Aviation History. .]
The 363 TFW received its first F-16 on 26 March 1982. The 363 TFW flew F-16A/B Block 10 aircraft until 1984 then converted to Block 15s; F-16C/D Block 25s in autumn 1985 and Block 42s in late 1991. All aircraft carried the "SW" Tail Code.
On 9 August 1990, the 17 TFS and 33 TFS of 363 TFW became the first F-16 squadrons to deploy to the
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...
in
Operation Desert Shield
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a Coalition of the Gulf War, 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Ba'athist Iraq, ...
. Operating from
Al Dhafra Air Base
Al Dhafra Air Base ( ar, قاعدة الظفرة الجوية) is a military installation in the United Arab Emirates. The base is located approximately south of Abu Dhabi and is operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
Facilities
The air ...
as the 363d Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional), along with the 10 TFS from the 50 TFW,
Hahn Air Base
Hahn Air Base was a United States Air Force installation near Lautzenhausen in Germany for over 40 years. The major unit was the United States Air Force's 50th Tactical Fighter Wing during most of the years it was active.
It was originally buil ...
, Germany. The wing flew combat missions to
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
and
Kuwait
Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...
during Operation
Desert Storm
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...
between 17 January and 28 February 1991.
Following Desert Storm, the 19th and 33d Tactical Fighter Squadrons deployed to the
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...
in support of
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an air-centric military operation conducted by the United States Department of Defense from Summer 1992 to Spring 2003.
United States Central Command's Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) had the mission of mon ...
, a coalition effort to enforce the Iraqi
No-fly zone
A no-fly zone, also known as a no-flight zone (NFZ), or air exclusion zone (AEZ), is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in an enemy power's te ...
south of the
32nd parallel north
The 32nd parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 32 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America and the Atlantic Ocean.
In the United States, the parallel defines part of th ...
. The 33 TFS made history when one of its pilots downed an Iraqi aircraft with an
AIM-120 AMRAAM
The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM (pronounced ), is an American beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. It is 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter, and employs ...
missile. The incident marked the first time an AIM-120 was fired in combat and was the first U.S. F-16 air-to-air kill.
With the closure of
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Early history
On 16 October 1939, Myrtle Beach Town Council resolved that the community "is in dire need of a modern municipal airport". The ...
South Carolina and the inactivation of the
354th Fighter Wing
The 354th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force wing that is part of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is the host wing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and is assigned to the Eleventh Air Force (11 AF).
The wing replaced the 343d Fighter W ...
, the 21st Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated at Shaw and received 30
Republic A/OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the inactivating
355th Fighter Squadron
The 355th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the ''Fightin' Falcons'', is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. It is an active-duty unit assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing and operates the Lockheed Martin F-35A ...
on 1 April 1992. All A-10 aircraft with the 21 TFS were designated as OA-10A.
As a result of the August 1992 destruction of
Homestead AFB
Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB), previously known as Homestead Air Force Base (Homestead AFB) is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (482 FW) of the ...
Florida by
Hurricane Andrew
Hurricane Andrew was a very powerful and destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that struck the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana in August 1992. It is the most destructive hurricane to ever hit Florida in terms of structures damaged ...
in September 1992, the 31st Fighter Wing's 309th Fighter Squadron was initially evacuated to Shaw AFB prior to the hurricane making landfall. With Homestead unusable for an extended period after the hurricane, on 1 October 1992 the squadron was permanently assigned to the 363 FW.
The 363rd Fighter Wing was inactivated at Shaw AFB on 31 December 1993. The next day, 1 January 1994, the 20th Fighter Wing inactivated at
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located 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 ...
and reactivated without personnel or equipment at Shaw AFB, returning to the base it had left for duty with NATO forty-one years earlier.
20th Fighter Wing
As a result of the end of the
Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
, the USAF made several dramatic changes with the inactivation and re-designation of wings and their units. A significant reduction in forces in Europe was made in the early 1990s, which reflected the changes in Europe after
fall of the Berlin Wall
The fall of the Berlin Wall (german: Mauerfall) on 9 November 1989, during the Peaceful Revolution, was a pivotal event in world history which marked the destruction of the Berlin Wall and the figurative Iron Curtain and one of the series of eve ...
.
On 15 December 1993, the flight line at
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located 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 ...
, England was closed and the host unit, the 20th Fighter Wing, was transferred from USAFE to
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
. The 20th was reassigned to Shaw AFB, replacing the 363d Fighter Wing as part of the USAF heritage program, which kept senior units on active duty and inactivated newer ones.
Upon activation at Shaw, the 20 FW assumed the personnel and equipment of the inactivated 363 FW. The operational squadrons of the 363d Operations Group were assigned to the 20th Operations Group and re-designated as follows:
* 17th Fighter Squadron -> 77th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
* 19th Fighter Squadron -> 78th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
* 21st Fighter Squadron -> 55th Fighter Squadron (OA-10A)
* 309th Fighter Squadron -> 79th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
![77th Fighter Squadron - Lockheed F-16C Block 50 Fighting Falcon - 94-0046](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/77th_Fighter_Squadron_-_Lockheed_F-16C_Block_50_Fighting_Falcon_-_94-0046.jpg)
Since moving to Shaw in 1994 the 20th has taken part and continues to take part in numerous operations. In September 1994 the 20 FW provided fighter cover for US operations in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy. This operation restored democratically elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide who had been ousted in September 1991 by military forces within Haiti.
The wing was called to send F-16s in support of NATO operations during the Kosovo War in April 1999. On 4 May 1999 an F-16, ''91–0353'', from the 78th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flying out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, shot down a Yugoslavian MiG-29 (aircraft number ''109''). On 10 June 1999 NATO air operations were suspended.
Throughout the 1990s the 20 FW routinely rotated squadrons to enforce the no-fly zones over Iraq. Southern Watch began in August 1992 and ended with the 2003 invasion of Iraq, invasion of Iraq in 2003. 20 FW squadrons rotated in and out of the Middle East to support enforcement of the no-fly zone. The 20th routinely sent squadrons to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey supporting the no-fly zone in northern Iraq between January 1997 and March 2003.
After the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center (1973–2001), World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001, the U.S. Defense Department developed Noble Eagle to protect US soil in the War on Terrorism. The 20 FW has been tasked with providing patrols over New York City, Washington, DC and any other location the wing is called upon to protect. In addition to Noble Eagle tasking the 20th provides fighter cover for the President of the United States when traveling and at Camp David.
In February 2003 the 20 FW deployed approximately 1,300 service members and 15 aircraft to the 363 AEW at Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia, attached to the provisional CENTAF 363d Air Expeditionary Wing. This deployment was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the United States actions for the removal of Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq.
In May 2008 the 77 FS deployed its aircraft and airmen along with maintainers from the 20 MXG to Joint Base Balad, where they conducted operations until relieved by the 55 FS in October 2008. The 55th carried out operations in Iraq until January 2009.
During 2009 the three squadrons concentrated on regaining aircrew skill sets that atrophy during a combat deployment, in preparation for the next round of deployments. During 2010 the 55th and 77th once again fought in Iraq. The 77 FS again was the lead 20 FW unit deploying to Joint Base Balad, Iraq in January 2010. The 77th carried out operations there until relieved by the 55 FS in May 2010. The 55th finished its tour in Iraq in October 2010.
The wing has been called to send both personnel and aircraft in support of War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), operations in Afghanistan. One such deployment was in January 2007 when 150 airmen deployed as part of an Air Expeditionary Force. During the October 2009 to February 2010 the 79 FS deployed its aircraft and airmen along with maintainers from the 20 MXG to Bagram AB, Afghanistan.
Third US Army
![US3ASSI](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/United_States_Army_Central_CSIB.svg)
In its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission Recommendations, DoD recommended to relocate the Third US Army Headquarters from Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson, Georgia, to Shaw AFB as a tenant unit on the base. This was a portion of a larger recommendation that would close Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson.
On 1 June 2011, Third Army Headquarters at Shaw, Patton Hall, was dedicated during a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new headquarters. Third Army continued the transfer of its personnel and equipment in order to be fully operational at Shaw AFB by 15 June 2011. An estimated 3,000 people relocated to the Sumter area, including families. This includes approximately 1,200 service members, who will be working out of the $100 million, command and control facility. The new Patton Hall took 22 months to build, has 42 conference rooms, a 200-seat auditorium and can support up to 1,500 personnel.
Major commands to which assigned
* Southeast Air Corps Training Center, 26 June 1941
: Redesignated: AAF Southeast Training Center, 29 October 1942
: Redesignated: Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command, 31 July 1943
*
First Air Force
The First Air Force (Air Forces Northern; 1 AF-AFNORTH) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Its primary mission is the air defense of the Co ...
, 1 April 1945
*
Continental Air Forces
Continental Air Forces (CAF) was a United States Army Air Forces major command, active 1944–1946. It was tasked with combat training of bomber and fighter personnel, and for Continental United States (CONUS) air defense after the Aircraft Warn ...
, 16 April 1945
*
Air Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was est ...
, 1 March 1946
*
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 J ...
, 23 March 1946
* Continental Air Command, 1 December 1948
*
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 J ...
, 1 December 1950
*
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
, 1 June 1992 – present
Major units assigned
* 77th Air Base Squadron, 1 August 1941 – 10 July 1942
: Redesignated: 77th Base HQ and Air Base Squadron
: 10 July 1942 – 20 April 1944
* 2142d AAF Base Unit, 30 April 1944 – 31 March 1945
* 139th AAF Base Unit, 31 March 1945 – 31 March 1946
* 67th Network Warfare Wing, 67th Reconnaissance Group, 11 February 1946 – 31 March 1946
* 316th AAF Base Unit, 31 March 1946 – 25 August 1948
* 20th Fighter Wing, 20th Fighter Group (later Wing)
: 20 October 1946 – 1 December 1951; 1 January 1994 – present
* 161st (later 18th) Tactical Reconnaissance Squadro
(Declassified Unit History, August 1944 – April 1945): 23 September 1949 – 25 May 1959
* 437th Airlift Wing, 437th Troop Carrier Wing, 1 August 1950 – 16 October 1950
* 363d Training Group, 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (later Tactical Fighter), 6 November 1951 – 31 December 1993
* 66th Air Base Wing, 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 1 January 1953 – 25 June 1953
* 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group (later Wing), 18 March 1954 – 18 June 1959
* Ninth Air Force, Ninth Air Force (later dual-hatted as US Air Forces Central), 20 August 1954 – present
*
837th Air Division
The 837th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command's Ninth Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina where it was inactivated on 1 February 1963.
The division wa ...
, 8 February 1958 – 1 February 1963
* 4411th Combat Crew Training Group, 8 April 1959 – 15 June 1969
* 4416th Test Squadron, 15 June 1963 – 1 May 1970
* 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron, 1 December 1971 – 15 June 2011
Role and operations
Today the 20th Fighter Wing remains at Shaw. As the host wing, it also retains the responsibility for providing facilities, personnel and material for the base's operation. Major components of the 20 FW are:
* 20th Operations Group (20 OG) (Tail Code "SW")
: The 20th Operations Group employs approximately 80 F-16CJ fighter aircraft in conventional and anti-radiation suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), strategic attack, counter-air, air interdiction, joint maritime operations and combat search-and-rescue missions.
* 20th Maintenance Group
: The 20th Maintenance Group includes the 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the 20th Component Maintenance Squadron, the 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron and the 20th Maintenance Operations Squadron.
* 20th Mission Support Group
: The 20th Mission Support Group supports more than 5,400 military and civilian employees and 11,000 family members. The 20 MSG is also responsible for thousands of acres of land, including the outdoor recreation area located northwest on Lake Wateree, and the approximately Poinsett Electronic Combat Range located about southwest of the base.
* 20th Medical Group
: The 20th Medical Group provide ambulatory medical and dental services to the 20th Fighter Wing, Headquarters 9th Air Force and associate units. It is an outpatient clinic with 24-hour 911 Emergency Medical Services (EMS), advanced life support (ALS) ambulance response and transport capability for base personnel and flight line operations.
Tenant units located on Shaw AFB are:
* Headquarters
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...
(9 AF)
* United States Air Forces Central (USAFCENT), the air component of United States Central Command (arrived 20 August 1954).
* Detachment 1, 609th Air and Space Operations Center (609 AOC)
* United States Army Central (USARCENT), the United States Army Component of United States Central Command.
Substantial military contracting occurs through Shaw AFB. In fiscal year 2020, for example, the following corporate activities occurred at the Air Force Base:
* Abacus Technology Corp. information technology sustainment.
CAE USAaircrew training and courseware development for McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15E, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-16, and Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, F-22A aircraft.
* CACI information technology at the Network Operations and Security Center (NOSC) on Shaw AFB, with a focus on Central Command.
Kapsuun Group LLCsupport services for A4/A6 staff.
SAICinfrastructure engineering and technical modeling support, weapon system mission data analysis, and precision fires manager engineering and analysis.
* SAIC live virtual modeling and simulation for U.S. Army Central.
* Titan Facility Services LLC medical housekeeping, waste management and linen management.
In July 2020, Bristol General Contractors LLC of Anchorage, Alaska, was contracted to build a Mission Training Complex on the base, with construction expected finished by May 2022.
Based units
Flying and notable non-flying units based at Shaw Air Force Base.
Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Shaw, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.
United States Air Force
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
(ACC)
*
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...
(United States Air Forces Central Command, US Air Forces Central Command)
** Headquarters Ninth Air Force (US Air Forces Central Command)
** 609th Air Operations Center
*** 609th Air Support Squadron
*** 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron
* Fifteenth Air Force
** Headquarters Fifteenth Air Force
**
20th Fighter Wing
The 20th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina. The wing is assigned to Air Combat Command's Fifteenth Air Force.
The wing's mission is to provide, project, and sustain ...
(host wing)
*** Headquarters 20th Fighter Wing
*** 20th Operations Group
**** 20th Operations Support Squadron
**** 55th Fighter Squadron – General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants, F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
**** 77th Fighter Squadron – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
**** 79th Fighter Squadron – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
*** 20th Maintenance Group
**** 55th Fighter Generation Squadron – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
**** 77th Fighter Generation Squadron – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
**** 79th Fighter Generation Squadron – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
**** 20th Maintenance Operations Squadron
**** 20th Component Maintenance Squadron
**** 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron
*** 20th Medical Group
**** 20th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron
**** 20th Health Care Operations Squadron
*** 20th Mission Support Group
**** 20th Civil Engineer Squadron
**** 20th Communications Squadron
**** 20th Contracting Squadron
**** 20th Force Support Squadron
**** 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron
**** 20th Security Forces Squadron
** 432d Wing, 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing
*** 25th Attack Group (GSU)
**** 25th Operational Support Squadron
**** 50th Attack Squadron – General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-9A Reaper
**** 482nd Attack Squadron – MQ-9A Reaper
** 495th Fighter Group
*** Headquarters 495th Fighter Group
* Sixteenth Air Force
** 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing
*** 365th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group
**** 51st Intelligence Squadron (GSU)
** 557th Weather Wing
*** 1st Weather Group
**** 28th Operational Weather Squadron (GSU)
United States Army
United States Army Central, US Army Central (ARCENT)
* Headquarters US Army Central (ARCENT)
See also
* RAF Kings Cliffe#20th Fighter Group, 20th Fighter Group (World War II)
* South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
* 27th Flying Training Wing (World War II)
* 609th Information Warfare Squadron
References
USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers – 1908 to present
Early Photo Jet Recon, Colonel Jean K. Woodyard, USAF Retired
External links
Shaw AFB public website
Ninth Air Force*
*
{{Authority control
Installations of the United States Air Force in South Carolina
1941 establishments in South Carolina
Initial United States Air Force installations
Airports in South Carolina
Sumter, South Carolina
Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in South Carolina
Buildings and structures in Sumter County, South Carolina