Welcome to the 20th Fighter Wing Association's History Page. The 20th Pursuit Group later absorbed by the 20th Fighter Bomber Wing has a long and proud history being one of the 13 original combat air groups formed by the Army before World War Two. It is the purpose of this page is to promote the history of this great unit and act as a source for individuals doing research on the 20th and its squadrons. Additional information can be received by contacting the Association's Historian. Individuals wishing to add information and material to our knowledge of the 20th are also welcome.

History: Activated in 1930 at Mather Field, Calif., the group was stationed at various locations before moving to England as the 20th Fighter Group in 1943, flying P-38s and later P-51s. The group was inactivated in 1945, but reborn less than a year later and moved to Shaw Field, S.C. In 1952, the group -- as part of the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing -- returned to England with F-84s. The wing absorbed the group in 1955, converted to F-100s in 1957 and was redesignated the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1958. Converting to F-llls, the wing moved to Upper Heyford, England, in 1970 and expanded to include EF-111s in 1983. With the post-Cold War withdrawal of American forces from Europe, the 20th Fighter Wing moved back to Shaw AFB, S.C., in January 1994.

Heraldry: The group's austere emblem, approved in 1934, features a nebula -- the heraldic symbol for clouds.

It was August 1917. It had been only fourteen years since the first powered flight and ten years since the Aeronautical Division of the U.S. Army Signal Corps (forerunner to the Air Force) had been formed. Air power was in its infancy and growing. The possibilities were endless. New innovations were occurring everywhere you looked, but the Great War raged in Europe and the US was gearing up for its part in that war. Three squadrons familiar to us all were formed at Kelly Field, Texas-the 55th, 77th, and 79th Aero Squadrons. Only the 55th's history would survive this initial formation to connect with the current squadrons. The Air Service hadn't yet figured out what it would look like, so there were many fits and starts as the service grew.

By September the three squadrons had their designations changed to Aero Construction Squadrons. On September 17, 1917 the 55th ACS was on its way to New York for deployment to the AEF. By November 1917, the 77th and 79th had also moved to NY for deployment to the AEF.

In January 1918 a new numbering scheme for aero squadrons was set up. Numbers 1-399 would be for Aero Service Squadrons (AS), 400-599 Aero Construction Squadrons (ACS), 600-799 Aero Supply Squadrons and 800-1099 Aero Repair Squadrons. The 55th became the 467th ACS, the 77th became the 489th ACS and the 79th became the 491st ACS. All three squadrons went on to serve the AEF building facilities in France.

To add to the complexity of their history, the 77th and 79th Aero Service Squadrons were born or reborn at Rich Field, Waco, Texas on February 20th and 22nd, 1918 respectively. On February 28th the two squadrons along with the 78th AS, moved by train to Hicks Field, Fort Worth, Texas. The 77th then moved to Taliafero Field # 2 (later named Barron Field), Everman, Texas.

The 55th ACS was demobilized on 16 March, 1919 at Garden City, NY. The 78th and 79th AS were demobilized on 15 November, 1918 and the 77th AS records show it demobilized on 18 November, 1918. However, recently found records show the 77th actually demobilized in March 1919.

The 20th Balloon Group with was authorized on 18 October, 1927. The group was redesignated a Pursuit Group (PG) in May 1929 and finally activated on 15 November, 1930. The first combat unit of the 20th PG was the 77th Pursuit Squadron (PS) activated on the same day as the 20th PG. The 55th PS was also activated on 15 November as part of the 2nd Bombardment Wing, but attached to the 20th PG. The 55th wasn't assigned to the 20th FG until 15 June, 1932.

The first combat aircraft of the 20th PG was a P-12 with serial number 29-355 assigned to the 77th PS in November 1930. The 55th PS received its first aircraft on 1 January 1931. The 79th PS was activated on 1 April, 1933 and assigned to the 20th PG. At this point the 20th had the three squadrons that would stay with it for its entire history, continuing even today.