20th Tactical Air Support Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron is the former name of the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron
, a unit of the United States Air Force
. It is currently assigned to the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base
, Nevada. Its original term of service overlapped World War II, and it was inactivated in 1949 following the War. Reactivated in 1965, it served notably for seven and a half years of combat duty during the Vietnam War
, after which in 1973 it was inactivated. It was reactivated at Shaw Air Force Base
in 1990, and again inactivated on 31 December 1991. It's reactivation at Creech AFB took place on 14 January 2011.
In November 1941, the squadron established a flight at Howard Field to handle local missions and a month later, another flight at Waller Field, Trinidad. The Howard Field flight ceased operations when the squadron moved from France Field to Howard Field in February 1942, but the Trinidad detachment operated, as did a third detachment established -Ln Puerto Rico in June 1942, until December 1943. Redesignated 20th Troop Carrier Squadron in July 1942. Moved again in June 1943, this time to Albrook Field.
The 20th TCS flew many different types of aircraft between 1941 and 1949, several being one of a kind, such as the XC-105, the only four-engined aircraft that it possessed during World War II. It also flew, except for the first half of 1943, OA-10s in emergency rescue missions over the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea from June 1942-August 1945. In May 1946 the squadron received C-54 aircraft. The 20th TCS moved in September 1948 from Panama to Bergstrom AFB, Texas. It left all aircraft and equipment at Albrook, except for a detachment of C-54s that had left Albrook in July 1948 to participate in the Berlin Airlift. At Bergstrom, the 20th TCS received C-82 aircraft in November 1948 and began transition training. In early January 1949, the squadron's air echelon deployed seven C-82s on temporary duty to Kearney AFB, Nebraska, to transport supplies to snowbound ranchers and farmers, while the rest of the squadron moved at the end of Jan to Smyrna AFB, Tenn. The C-82s and aircrews arrived at Smyrna in late February 1949. While at Smyrna, the 20th trained with U.S. Army paratroopers in airborne tactics and carried cargo about the United States. The squadron inactivated on 20 October 1949.
The 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron (20th TASS) was organized at Da Nang
, Vietnam, on 8 May 1965. It received its first O-1 Bird Dog later that month.
The squadron was fully operational by August, 1965. It ran check flights for newly assigned aircrews, as well as flew visual reconnaissance and forward air control missions under various call signs. As it expanded, it stationed pilots and ground crews at several forward operating locations. However, it did not receive its full complement of over 30 Bird Dogs until the end of the year, as the turnover process from the U. S. Army was a slow one. The army was reluctant to surrender the FAC role, but had agreed to do so under an inter-service agreement that allowed them to have helicopters.
By the end of 1965, the 20th TASS was assigned the mission of directing interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail; this was dubbed Operation Tiger Hound. Its original forward operating bases for this were Khe Sanh
, Kham Duc
, and Kon Tum, which were very close to the trail, unlike Da Nang, which was the width of the country away from the trail. Other forward sites were added later--Dong Ha
, Quảng Trị City
(La Vang Airfield
), Huế
, Tam Ky, Quang Ngai, Dak To
, and Pleiku
.
In mid-July 1966, the squadron was tasked with a second Area of Operations. It was within North Vietnam, from the Demilitarized Zone 30 miles northward. These Tally Ho missions were flown from Dong Ha. During this period, it was decided that all cross-border flights would use call sign Covey. In country missions carried a variety of call signs, including Jake and Trail.
By this time, the Bird Dogs' shortcomings were becoming apparent. It was a simple plane, easily maintained, highly maneuverable, and had good visibility. The fore and aft seating allowed both pilot and observer good views, and the high wing obviously left a good ground view. However, the PAVN and VC antiaircraft defenses were increasingly dangerous, and the slow unarmored O-1 was vulnerable. Its operational times were limited by its unsophisticated instrumentation and navigational equipment, which made flying in bad weather or at night difficult (night missions were particularly challenging and dangerous). Its lack of weaponry was also frustrating, as FACs could watch the enemy disappear while the strike aircraft were still en route. Frustrated FACs sometimes resorted to strafing the enemy with M-16 rifles fired out of the plane's windows.
As a result, the 20th TASS began receiving O-2 Skymaster
s in 1967. The O-2 was a temporary solution, meant to serve until the OV-10 Bronco
came on line. The O-2 was a modified Cessna 337 civilian plane. It was dual engined, with one engine at either end of the fuselage. The 20th was the first FAC squadron in Vietnam to receive it. The aircraft carried more ordinance, was capable of longer loiter times, had more power, and featured improved conventional navigation aids and in-flight instrumentation. Nevertheless, it had its own limitations. During this period, the squadron continued to fly 0-1s.
In January, 1969, the squadron began the transition from O-1s to the OV-10 Bronco. By July, the last O-1 was history, though the squadron continued to fly 0-2s. As of October 1969, 20th TASS aircraft, pilots and ground crews were assigned to 11 forward locations, five supporting the U. S. Army and six supporting the ARVN. Its headquarters remained at Da Nang.
As the war wound down from 1970 through 1972, the squadron withdrew from its forward locations. The Easter Offensive by the People's Army of Vietnam in April 1972 made the 20th TASS return to FAC support from forward locations. It also temporarily tripled the squadron's sortie rate. When the North Vietnamese began to rocket Da Nang, the pilots of the 20th used their armed OV-10s to retaliate directly with rockets, strafing, and small bombs in addition to calling in air strikes.
In January, 1973, the squadron ceased combat. It turned over its O-2s to the Vietnamese Air Force
(VNAF
) and passed its Broncos along to other USAF units. On 15 January, the 20th was transferred as a paper unit to George AFB, California. On 1 April 1973, it was officially inactivated. Its service in Vietnam was over. In its nearly eight years in Vietnam, it had earned five Presidential Unit Citations, four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards (with Combat 'V' Device), and three Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm. In addition, its pilots and crews earned many personal decorations.
On 19 August 1967, Captain Donald D. Stevens, flying an 0-2, risked heavy ground fire, which damaged his aircraft, for eight hours during the medical evacuation of a wounded American soldier and the extraction of a ground team sent in to help him. His gallantry won him the Air Force Cross
.
Four months later, on Christmas Day, Major Jerry Allan Sellers was killed when his 0-2 was shot down during a night mission in which he saved a ground patrol from being overrun by illuminating ground targets with his landing lights so that gunships could direct accurate fire at the enemy. His lights drew heavy anti-aircraft fire, and he was shot down. He also earned an Air Force Cross.
On 29 June 1972, Captain Steven L. Bennett
's OV-10 was hit by a surface to air missile. Rather than leave his observer to his fate, Bennett crash landed in the Tonkin Gulf. The observer escaped the sinking plane, but Bennett drowned. He was awarded the Medal of Honor
, one of only two awarded to FACs in the war.
On July 11, 1972 Major John Leonard Carroll a 20th TASS pilot on temporary duty with the 56th Special Operations Wing
at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base and flying an O-1G Bird Dog as a Raven FAC
, earned the squadron's third Air Force Cross. His aircraft was shot down over the Plaine des Jarres, Xiangkhoang Province Laos, and he was killed on the ground shooting it out with two PAVN companies attempting to capture him.
On 1 October 1973 the 20th TASS activated at Wiesbaden AB, West Germany, to provide forward tactical air control for U.S. Army, Europe, and Seventh Army operations. The squadron had only three 0-2A aircraft available until July 1974, when it began flying OV-10A aircraft. Engaged in close air support training during USAFE, NATO, and U.S. Army exercises, its pilots served as both ground and airborne forward air controllers. During training exercises, the 20th deployed to and flew from bases in Italy, Spain, Denmark, Turkey, England, Belgium, West Germany, and The Netherlands. In January 1976, the squadron moved with the 601st Tactical control Wing to Sembach AB, West Germany. In May 1981, it added search and rescue missions to its tasks. In 1984, it lost all OV-10 aircraft, squadron aircrews ferrying them to George AFB, Calif, June-August 1984. squadron inactivated on 30 September 1984.
Activated again on 1 April 1990 at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, as part of the 507th Tactical Air Control Wing, it was inactivated 31 December 1991.
, Nevada, and redesignated it as the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron
, under the command of Lt. Col. Travis "Flare" Burdine. The squadron belongs to the 432d Operations Group
, part of the 432d Wing
at Creech. The new 20th RS flies General Atomics MQ-1 Predator|MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted aircraft on missions that include route reconnaissance, target marking, on-scene commander, intelligence-surveillance-and-reconnaissance, close air support and generally providing eyes, ears, and voice above the battlefield. The reactivation ceremony was attended by Ms. Angela Engele-Bennett, daughter of 20th TASS Medal of Honor recipient Steven Bennett, and her family.
20th Tactical Air Support Squadron
The 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron is the former name of the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, a unit of the United States Air Force. It is currently assigned to the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. Its original term of service overlapped World War II, and it was inactivated in 1949...
, a unit of the United States Air Force
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...
. It is currently assigned to the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base
Creech Air Force Base
Creech Air Force Base , formerly known as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, is a United States Air Force base located one mile north of the central business district of Indian Springs, in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is about northwest of Las Vegas and northwest of Nellis Air...
, Nevada. Its original term of service overlapped World War II, and it was inactivated in 1949 following the War. Reactivated in 1965, it served notably for seven and a half years of combat duty during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, after which in 1973 it was inactivated. It was reactivated at Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command...
in 1990, and again inactivated on 31 December 1991. It's reactivation at Creech AFB took place on 14 January 2011.
Operations 1940 through 1949
The 20th Transport Squadron activated at France Field, Panama Canal Zone, on 15 December 1940, but had only one officer and no airplanes until February 1941. The squadron became operational by March 1941, hauling cargo on local flights with C-33s. In April 1941 the 20th received C-39 aircraft, and on 11 May made its first out-of-country flight, to Managua, Nicaragua. Before the end of the year, the squadron was flying to destinations throughout the Caribbean area, Central America, South America, and sometimes to the United States, transporting passengers, mail, and supplies in support of U.S. forces.In November 1941, the squadron established a flight at Howard Field to handle local missions and a month later, another flight at Waller Field, Trinidad. The Howard Field flight ceased operations when the squadron moved from France Field to Howard Field in February 1942, but the Trinidad detachment operated, as did a third detachment established -Ln Puerto Rico in June 1942, until December 1943. Redesignated 20th Troop Carrier Squadron in July 1942. Moved again in June 1943, this time to Albrook Field.
The 20th TCS flew many different types of aircraft between 1941 and 1949, several being one of a kind, such as the XC-105, the only four-engined aircraft that it possessed during World War II. It also flew, except for the first half of 1943, OA-10s in emergency rescue missions over the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea from June 1942-August 1945. In May 1946 the squadron received C-54 aircraft. The 20th TCS moved in September 1948 from Panama to Bergstrom AFB, Texas. It left all aircraft and equipment at Albrook, except for a detachment of C-54s that had left Albrook in July 1948 to participate in the Berlin Airlift. At Bergstrom, the 20th TCS received C-82 aircraft in November 1948 and began transition training. In early January 1949, the squadron's air echelon deployed seven C-82s on temporary duty to Kearney AFB, Nebraska, to transport supplies to snowbound ranchers and farmers, while the rest of the squadron moved at the end of Jan to Smyrna AFB, Tenn. The C-82s and aircrews arrived at Smyrna in late February 1949. While at Smyrna, the 20th trained with U.S. Army paratroopers in airborne tactics and carried cargo about the United States. The squadron inactivated on 20 October 1949.
Combat Operations in Vietnam 1965 to 1973
Da Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
, Vietnam, on 8 May 1965. It received its first O-1 Bird Dog later that month.
The squadron was fully operational by August, 1965. It ran check flights for newly assigned aircrews, as well as flew visual reconnaissance and forward air control missions under various call signs. As it expanded, it stationed pilots and ground crews at several forward operating locations. However, it did not receive its full complement of over 30 Bird Dogs until the end of the year, as the turnover process from the U. S. Army was a slow one. The army was reluctant to surrender the FAC role, but had agreed to do so under an inter-service agreement that allowed them to have helicopters.
By the end of 1965, the 20th TASS was assigned the mission of directing interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail; this was dubbed Operation Tiger Hound. Its original forward operating bases for this were Khe Sanh
Khe Sanh
Khe Sanh is the district capital of Hướng Hoá District, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam, located 63 km west of Đông Hà.Khe Sanh Combat Base was a United States Marine Corps outpost in South Vietnam used during the Vietnam War. The airstrip was built in September 1962...
, Kham Duc
Battle of Kham Duc
The Battle of Kham Duc was a major battle of the Vietnam War, also known in Vietnam as the American War. The event occurred in Quang Tin Province , South Vietnam, between May 10 and May 12, 1968. During the Tet Offensive of 1968, the Vietnam People's Army 2nd Division tried to capture Da Nang but...
, and Kon Tum, which were very close to the trail, unlike Da Nang, which was the width of the country away from the trail. Other forward sites were added later--Dong Ha
Dong Ha
Đông Hà is the capital town of Quang Tri province, Vietnam. It is located at around . Dong Ha is situated at the crossroads of National Highway 1A and Route 9, part of the East-West Economic Corridor . It lies on the Reunification Express Railway and is served by Dong Ha Railway Station...
, Quảng Trị City
Quang Tri
Quảng Trị is a town district of Quang Tri province in the North Central Coastal region of Vietnam. Significantly, it was the only South Vietnamese provincial capital to be captured by the North Vietnamese forces for a limited period in the 1972 offensive....
(La Vang Airfield
La Vang
La Vang or Lavang is a locale in Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam. It is the site of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of La Vang, a Roman Catholic sanctuary, commemorating a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary that was seen there in 1798...
), Huế
Hue
Hue is one of the main properties of a color, defined technically , as "the degree to which a stimulus can be describedas similar to or different from stimuli that are described as red, green, blue, and yellow,"...
, Tam Ky, Quang Ngai, Dak To
Dak To
Đắk Tô is a village in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and in the so-called "tri-border" area where the borders of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia all come together. Located just north of the Vietnamese town of Tan Canh , Dak To is populated by a Montagnard tribal people known as the Degar...
, and Pleiku
Pleiku
Pleiku is a town in central Vietnam, located in that nation's central highland region. It is the capital of the Gia Lai Province; it is inhabited primarily by the Bahnar and Jarai ethnic groups, sometimes known as the Montagnards or Degar....
.
By this time, the Bird Dogs' shortcomings were becoming apparent. It was a simple plane, easily maintained, highly maneuverable, and had good visibility. The fore and aft seating allowed both pilot and observer good views, and the high wing obviously left a good ground view. However, the PAVN and VC antiaircraft defenses were increasingly dangerous, and the slow unarmored O-1 was vulnerable. Its operational times were limited by its unsophisticated instrumentation and navigational equipment, which made flying in bad weather or at night difficult (night missions were particularly challenging and dangerous). Its lack of weaponry was also frustrating, as FACs could watch the enemy disappear while the strike aircraft were still en route. Frustrated FACs sometimes resorted to strafing the enemy with M-16 rifles fired out of the plane's windows.
O-2 Skymaster
The O-2 Skymaster is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster utilized as an observation and forward air control aircraft...
s in 1967. The O-2 was a temporary solution, meant to serve until the OV-10 Bronco
OV-10 Bronco
The North American Aviation Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is a turboprop light attack and observation aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for counter-insurgency combat, and one of its primary missions was as a forward air control aircraft...
came on line. The O-2 was a modified Cessna 337 civilian plane. It was dual engined, with one engine at either end of the fuselage. The 20th was the first FAC squadron in Vietnam to receive it. The aircraft carried more ordinance, was capable of longer loiter times, had more power, and featured improved conventional navigation aids and in-flight instrumentation. Nevertheless, it had its own limitations. During this period, the squadron continued to fly 0-1s.
In January, 1969, the squadron began the transition from O-1s to the OV-10 Bronco. By July, the last O-1 was history, though the squadron continued to fly 0-2s. As of October 1969, 20th TASS aircraft, pilots and ground crews were assigned to 11 forward locations, five supporting the U. S. Army and six supporting the ARVN. Its headquarters remained at Da Nang.
As the war wound down from 1970 through 1972, the squadron withdrew from its forward locations. The Easter Offensive by the People's Army of Vietnam in April 1972 made the 20th TASS return to FAC support from forward locations. It also temporarily tripled the squadron's sortie rate. When the North Vietnamese began to rocket Da Nang, the pilots of the 20th used their armed OV-10s to retaliate directly with rockets, strafing, and small bombs in addition to calling in air strikes.
In January, 1973, the squadron ceased combat. It turned over its O-2s to the Vietnamese Air Force
Vietnam Air Force
The Vietnam Air Force began with a few hand-picked men chosen to fly alongside French pilots during the State of Vietnam era. It eventually grew into the world’s sixth largest air force at the height of its power, in 1974...
(VNAF
Vietnam Air Force
The Vietnam Air Force began with a few hand-picked men chosen to fly alongside French pilots during the State of Vietnam era. It eventually grew into the world’s sixth largest air force at the height of its power, in 1974...
) and passed its Broncos along to other USAF units. On 15 January, the 20th was transferred as a paper unit to George AFB, California. On 1 April 1973, it was officially inactivated. Its service in Vietnam was over. In its nearly eight years in Vietnam, it had earned five Presidential Unit Citations, four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards (with Combat 'V' Device), and three Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm. In addition, its pilots and crews earned many personal decorations.
Losses and Awards for Gallantry in Action
The 20th TASS lost more than 70 pilots during the Vietnam War with a large number of aircraft destroyed or damaged. It's pilots and other personnel also earned many awards, citations, and distinctions.On 19 August 1967, Captain Donald D. Stevens, flying an 0-2, risked heavy ground fire, which damaged his aircraft, for eight hours during the medical evacuation of a wounded American soldier and the extraction of a ground team sent in to help him. His gallantry won him the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United States)
The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. The Air Force Cross is the Air Force decoration equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross .The Air Force Cross is awarded for extraordinary heroism...
.
Four months later, on Christmas Day, Major Jerry Allan Sellers was killed when his 0-2 was shot down during a night mission in which he saved a ground patrol from being overrun by illuminating ground targets with his landing lights so that gunships could direct accurate fire at the enemy. His lights drew heavy anti-aircraft fire, and he was shot down. He also earned an Air Force Cross.
On 29 June 1972, Captain Steven L. Bennett
Steven L. Bennett
Steven Logan Bennett of Palestine, Texas was a United States Air Force pilot who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Vietnam War on August 8, 1974.-Military service:Prior to entering the U.S...
's OV-10 was hit by a surface to air missile. Rather than leave his observer to his fate, Bennett crash landed in the Tonkin Gulf. The observer escaped the sinking plane, but Bennett drowned. He was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, one of only two awarded to FACs in the war.
On July 11, 1972 Major John Leonard Carroll a 20th TASS pilot on temporary duty with the 56th Special Operations Wing
56th Fighter Wing
The 56th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command's Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona where it also is the host unit....
at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base and flying an O-1G Bird Dog as a Raven FAC
Raven FACs
The Raven Forward Air Controllers, also known as The Ravens, were fighter pilots used in a covert operation in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States in Laos during America's Vietnam War...
, earned the squadron's third Air Force Cross. His aircraft was shot down over the Plaine des Jarres, Xiangkhoang Province Laos, and he was killed on the ground shooting it out with two PAVN companies attempting to capture him.
Post Vietnam Operations
Activated again on 1 April 1990 at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, as part of the 507th Tactical Air Control Wing, it was inactivated 31 December 1991.
Reactivation 2011
On 14 Jan 2011 the USAF reactivated the 20th TASS at Creech Air Force BaseCreech Air Force Base
Creech Air Force Base , formerly known as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, is a United States Air Force base located one mile north of the central business district of Indian Springs, in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is about northwest of Las Vegas and northwest of Nellis Air...
, Nevada, and redesignated it as the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron
20th Tactical Air Support Squadron
The 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron is the former name of the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, a unit of the United States Air Force. It is currently assigned to the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. Its original term of service overlapped World War II, and it was inactivated in 1949...
, under the command of Lt. Col. Travis "Flare" Burdine. The squadron belongs to the 432d Operations Group
432d Operations Group
The 432d Operations Group is the flying component of the United States Air Force 432d Wing, stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.-Overview:...
, part of the 432d Wing
432d Wing
The 432d Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command, stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. The group operates unmanned reconnaissance aircraft which provide real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision attack against fixed and time-critical targets...
at Creech. The new 20th RS flies General Atomics MQ-1 Predator|MQ-1B Predator remotely piloted aircraft on missions that include route reconnaissance, target marking, on-scene commander, intelligence-surveillance-and-reconnaissance, close air support and generally providing eyes, ears, and voice above the battlefield. The reactivation ceremony was attended by Ms. Angela Engele-Bennett, daughter of 20th TASS Medal of Honor recipient Steven Bennett, and her family.
Lineage
- Constituted 20th Transport Squadron on 22 November 1940.
- Activated on 15 December 1940.
- Redesignated: 20th Troop Carrier Squadron on 5 July 1942;
- Redesignated: 20th Troop Carrier Squadron (Special) on 13 November 1943;
- Redesignated: 20th Troop Carrier Squadron on 12 April 1944;
- Redesignated: 20th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 17 June 1948;
- Redesignated: 20th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 4 October 1948.
- Inactivated on 20 October 1949.
- Consolidated (19 September 1965) with the unit constituted 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light), and activated, on 26 April 1965.
- * Organized on 8 May 1965.
- Inactivated on 1 April 1973.
- Redesignated 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, and activated on 1 October 1973.
- Inactivated on 30 September 1984.
- Activated on 1 April 1990
- Inactivated 31 December 1991
- Activated and Redesignated 20th Reconnaissance Squadron on 14 Jan 2011.
Assignments
- Panama Canal Department, 15 December 1940
- Panama Air Depot, 1 February 1941
- 6th Air Force Base (later, 6th Air Force Service; VI Air Force Service) Command, 5 June 1942
- Panama Air Depot, 1 December 1944
- Sixth Air Force (later, Caribbean Air Command), 5 May 1945
- Attached to 314th Troop Carrier Group [later, 314th Troop Carrier Group, Heavy; 314th Troop Carrier Group, Medium314th Airlift WingThe 314th Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Little Rock Air Force Base in Little Rock, Arkansas.-World War 2 and aftermath:...
], c. November 1946-16 June 1948- 314th Troop Carrier Group, Medium314th Airlift WingThe 314th Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Little Rock Air Force Base in Little Rock, Arkansas.-World War 2 and aftermath:...
, 17 June 1948-20 October 1949
- 314th Troop Carrier Group, Medium
- Detachment attached to: United States Air Forces in Europe, 1–29 July 1948
- Detachment attached to: Airlift Task Force [Provisional], 29 July-19 October 1948
- Pacific Air Forces, 26 April 1965
- 2d Air Division, 8 May 1965
- Attached to 6250th Tactical Air Support Group Provisional, 1 August-7 November 1965
- 505th Tactical Control Group505th Command and Control WingThe United States Air Force's 505th Command and Control Wing is organized under the USAF Warfare Center. The 505th CCW is dedicated to improving warfighter readiness through integrated training, tactics development and testing for operational-level command and control of air, space and cyberspace...
, 8 November 1965
- 505th Tactical Control Group
- Attached to: 6250th Tactical Air Support Group Provisional, 1–8 September 1966
- Attached to: 6253d Tactical Air Support Group Provisional, 9 September-7 December 1966
- 504th Tactical Air Support Group, 8 December 1966
- 366th Tactical Fighter Wing366th Fighter WingThe 366th Fighter Wing is a Fighter Wing of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho...
, 15 March 1972 - 6498th Air Base Wing, 27 June 1972
- 71st Tactical Air Support Group, 15 January-1 April 1973
- 601st Tactical Air Support Group, 1 October 1973
- 601st Tactical Control Wing, 1 November 1975
- 601st Tactical Air Support Group, 1 May 1977-30 September 1984
- 507th Tactical Air Control Wing, 1 April 1990-31 December 1991
- 432d Wing432d WingThe 432d Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command, stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. The group operates unmanned reconnaissance aircraft which provide real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision attack against fixed and time-critical targets...
, 14 Jan 2011
Stations
- France FieldEnrique Adolfo Jiménez AirportEnrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport is a commercial airport located in Colón, Panama, offering scheduled airline flights to the national capital, Panama City, and to other destinations....
, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 15 December 1940 - Howard Field, Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 19 February 1942; - Albrook Field (later, Albrook AFB) Canal ZonePanama Canal ZoneThe Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
, 9 June 1943-20 September 1948 - Bergstrom AFB, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, 4 October 1948 - Da Nang AB, South VietnamSouth VietnamSouth Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, 8 May 1965-15 January 1973 - George AFB, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 15 January-1 April 1973. - Wiesbaden AB, West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, 1 October 1973 - Sembach AB, West GermanyWest GermanyWest Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, 8 January 1976-30 September 1984 - Shaw AFB, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, 1 April 1990-31 December 1991 - Whiteman Air Force BaseWhiteman Air Force BaseWhiteman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south of Knob Noster, Missouri; east-southeast of Kansas City, Missouri....
, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, 14 Jan 2011