20th Bombardment Wing (World War II)
Encyclopedia
The 20th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was with the Eighth Air Force
, based at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 10 November 1946.
, May–June 1943, for duty with Eighth Air Force
. Received its first groups in November 1943 and served in combat in the European theater from December 1943 until April 1945.
Returned to the US in August 1945 and prepared for B-29 Superfortress
operations, although had no combat components assigned. Reassigned to Strategic Air Command
postwar Eighth Air Force
in May 1946 and elevated to VIII Bombardment Command. Inactivated before becoming operational in November 1946.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last assignment was with the Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, based at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 10 November 1946.
History
Prewar bombardment wing in the northwest. Moved to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, May–June 1943, for duty with Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
. Received its first groups in November 1943 and served in combat in the European theater from December 1943 until April 1945.
Returned to the US in August 1945 and prepared for B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
operations, although had no combat components assigned. Reassigned to Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
postwar Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
in May 1946 and elevated to VIII Bombardment Command. Inactivated before becoming operational in November 1946.
Lineage
- Constituted as 20th Bombardment Wing on 19 October 1940
- Activated on 18 December 1940
- Inactivated on 1 September 1941
- Activated on 1 November 1942
- Redesignated 20th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in February 1943
- Redesignated 20th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in August 1943
- Redesignated 20th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in June 1945
- Redesignated 20th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) in August 1945
- Redesignated VIII Bomber Command (Very Heavy) in October 1945
- Inactivated on 10 November 1946
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948.
Assignments
- 4th Air Force, 18 December 1940 – 1 December 1941
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, November 1942-8 May 1943 - Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 1 July 1943 – 6 August 1945 - Continental Air Forces, 15 August 1945
- Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 14 May – 10 November 1946
Units assigned
- 7th Bombardment Group: 18 December 1940-5 September 1941
- 34th Bombardment Group: 18 June-28 August 1945
- 42d Bombardment Group: 16 January – 1 September 1941
- 93d Bombardment Group: 13 September 1943 – 12 June 1945
- 385th Bombardment Group: 18 June-4 August 1945
- 388th Bombardment Group: 18 June-13 August 1945
- 446th Bombardment Group: November 1943-1 June 1945
- 448th Bombardment Group: 30 November 1943 – 6 July 1945
- 452d Bombardment Group: 18 June-12 August 1945
- 489th Bombardment Group489th Bombardment GroupThe 489th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the IV Bomber Command, stationed at Drew Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 7 November 1945....
: 14 August-29 November 1944
Stations
- Fort DouglasFort DouglasFort Douglas may refer to:* Fort Douglas , a Hudson's Bay Company fort near Winnipeg, Manitoba* Fort Douglas, Utah, a former U.S. Army fort in Salt Lake City, Utah** Fort Douglas , a transit station at the site of the former fort...
, Utah, 18 December 1940 – 1 September 1941 - MacDill Field, Florida, November 1942-c. 8 May 1943
- Camp Lynn (AAF-101), England, c. 9 June 1943
- RAF CheddingtonRAF CheddingtonRAF Cheddington is a former World War II airfield in England, located 1 mile south-west of Cheddington in Buckinghamshire. The airfield was closed in 1952.-Origins:...
(AAF-113), England, c. 1 July 1943 - RAF Horsham St FaithRAF Horsham St FaithRAF Horsham St Faith was a Royal Air Force station near Norwich, Norfolk, England from 1939 to 1963. It was then developed as Norwich International Airport.-RAF Bomber Command use:...
(AAF-123), England, c. 14 September 1943 - RAF HethelRAF HethelRAF Hethel is a former World War II airfield used by the US during the Second World War in Norfolk, England situated located 7 miles south west of Norwich.-USAAF use:...
(AAF-114), England, 24 September 1943
- RAF HardwickRAF HardwickRAF Hardwick is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located W of Bungay in Norfolk and a similar distance from the A140 main road from Norwich to Ipswich.-Origins:...
(AAF-104), England, c. 7 November 1943 - RAF Snetterton HeathRAF Snetterton HeathRAF Snetterton Heath is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located on the A11, 6 miles SW of Attleborough in Norfolk.-Overview:...
(AAF-138), England, c. 13 June – 6 August 1945 - Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota, c. 15 August 1945
- Peterson FieldPeterson FieldPeterson Field is a public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Plains, a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. It is privately owned by G. Thomas Peterson.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, Colorado, 17 August 1945 - MacDill Field, Florida, 14 May – 10 November 1946.