20th Airlift Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 20th Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the 60th Operations Group
, Air Mobility Command
, stationed at Travis Air Force Base
, California. It was inactivated on 31 December 1997.
, and assigned to the Air Corps Ferrying Command. The unit was reassigned to the 23rd AAF Ferrying Wing (later, North Atlantic Wing, ATC), on 19 June 1942. The squadron was redesignated as the 20th Transport Squadron on 19 March 1943. Before the disbanding of the squadron on 1 September 1943, the 20th was tasked with ferrying aircraft to the United Kingdom
along the North Atlantic route.
The squadron was reconstituted and redesignated as the 20th Air Transport Squadron, Medium, on 20 June 1952. It was reactivated at Westover AFB, MA, on 20 July 1952 and assigned to the 1600th Air Transport Group
while flying the C-54. The mission of the squadron was to provide inter-theater and strategic airlift to Europe
, North Africa
, and Canada
.
The squadron was redesignated as the 20th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 18 April 1954. That same year, the squadron transitioned to the C-124. The 20th was reassigned to the 1607th Air Transport Group, on 15 May 1955 and moved to Dover AFB, DE.
Reassigned to the 1607th Air Transport Wing
, on 18 January 1963, the squadron transitioned the following year to the C-141 Starlifter
. Redesignated as the 20th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 1 January 1965, the unit changed its designation again to the 20th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 1 July 1965. Its mission changed as well to that of providing worldwide airlift, including support of operations in Southeast Asia
, from 1965–1973.
Reassigned to the 436th Military Airlift Wing, on 8 January 1966, the squadron was redesignated as the 20th Military Airlift Squadron on 15 January.
The next changes to the 20th would not take place until 1973, when the squadron was reassigned to the 437th Military Airlift Wing, on 1 August and moved to Charleston AFB, SC. The squadron provided support of the evacuation of South Vietnam
, in April 1975.
The 20th took an active part in operations in Grenada
from October–December 1983; Panama
, 18–27 December 1989; and Southwest Asia, from August 1990–December 1991.
On 1 October 1991, the squadron was redesignated as the 20 Airlift Squadron and reassigned to the 437th Operations Group. As a result of this, the 20th AS relocated to Travis AFB, CA. The squadron was reassigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing
on 1 October 1993.
The inactivation of the 20th Airlift squadron marked the end of the C-141 Starlifter era at Travis AFB on 16 December, 1997.
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 was assigned to the 60th Operations Group
60th Operations Group
The 60th Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing. It is stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California....
, Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
, stationed at Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command , located three miles east of the central business district of Fairfield, in Solano County, California, United States. The base is named for Brigadier General Robert F...
, California. It was inactivated on 31 December 1997.
History
The 20th Airlift Squadron was constituted as the 20th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron on 18 February 1942. Activated on 1 March 1942 at Houlton Army Airbase, MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, and assigned to the Air Corps Ferrying Command. The unit was reassigned to the 23rd AAF Ferrying Wing (later, North Atlantic Wing, ATC), on 19 June 1942. The squadron was redesignated as the 20th Transport Squadron on 19 March 1943. Before the disbanding of the squadron on 1 September 1943, the 20th was tasked with ferrying aircraft to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
along the North Atlantic route.
The squadron was reconstituted and redesignated as the 20th Air Transport Squadron, Medium, on 20 June 1952. It was reactivated at Westover AFB, MA, on 20 July 1952 and assigned to the 1600th Air Transport Group
1600th Air Transport Group
The 1600th Air Transport Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Atlantic Division, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
while flying the C-54. The mission of the squadron was to provide inter-theater and strategic airlift to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The squadron was redesignated as the 20th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 18 April 1954. That same year, the squadron transitioned to the C-124. The 20th was reassigned to the 1607th Air Transport Group, on 15 May 1955 and moved to Dover AFB, DE.
Reassigned to the 1607th Air Transport Wing
1607th Air Transport Wing
The 1607th Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Eastern Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware...
, on 18 January 1963, the squadron transitioned the following year to the C-141 Starlifter
C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
. Redesignated as the 20th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 1 January 1965, the unit changed its designation again to the 20th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 1 July 1965. Its mission changed as well to that of providing worldwide airlift, including support of operations in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, from 1965–1973.
Reassigned to the 436th Military Airlift Wing, on 8 January 1966, the squadron was redesignated as the 20th Military Airlift Squadron on 15 January.
The next changes to the 20th would not take place until 1973, when the squadron was reassigned to the 437th Military Airlift Wing, on 1 August and moved to Charleston AFB, SC. The squadron provided support of the evacuation of South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South 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...
, in April 1975.
The 20th took an active part in operations in Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
from October–December 1983; Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, 18–27 December 1989; and Southwest Asia, from August 1990–December 1991.
On 1 October 1991, the squadron was redesignated as the 20 Airlift Squadron and reassigned to the 437th Operations Group. As a result of this, the 20th AS relocated to Travis AFB, CA. The squadron was reassigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing
60th Air Mobility Wing
The 60th Air Mobility Wing is the host unit at Travis Air Force Base in California. It is the largest air mobility organization in the United States Air Force and is responsible for strategic airlift and aerial refueling missions around the world...
on 1 October 1993.
The inactivation of the 20th Airlift squadron marked the end of the C-141 Starlifter era at Travis AFB on 16 December, 1997.
Lineage
- Constituted as 20th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron on 18 February 1942
- Activated on 1 March 1942
- Redesignated as: 20th Transport Squadron on 19 March 1943
- Disbanded on 1 September 1943
- Reconstituted and redesignated as 20th Air Transport Squadron, Medium, on 20 June 1952
- Activated on 20 July 1952
- Redesignated as: 20th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 18 April 1954
- Redesignated as: 20th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 1 January 1965
- Redesignated as: 20th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 1 July 1965
- Redesignated as: 20th Military Airlift Squadron on 15 January 1966
- Redesignated as: 20 Airlift Squadron 1 Oct 1991
- Inactivated on 16 December, 1997.
Assignments
- Air Corps Ferrying Command, 1 Mar 1942
- 23rd AAF Ferrying Wing, (later, North Atlantic Wing, ATC), on 19 June 1942
- 1600th Air Transport Group1600th Air Transport GroupThe 1600th Air Transport Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Atlantic Division, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts...
, 20 July 1952 - 436th Military Airlift Wing, on 8 January 1966
- 437th Military Airlift Wing, 1 August 1973
- 437th Operations Group437th Operations GroupThe 437th Operations Group is an active United States Air Force unit. It is the flying component of the Twenty-First Air Force 437th Airlift Wing, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 1 Oct 1991 - 60th Operations Group60th Operations GroupThe 60th Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing. It is stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California....
, 1 October 1993-31 December 1997.
Stations
- Houlton Army Airbase, Maine, 1 Mar 1942-1 September 1943
- Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 20 July 1952
- Dover AFB, Delaware, 15 May 1955
- Charleston AFB, South Carolina, 1 Aug 1973
- Travis AFB, California, 1 Oct 1993-31 December 1997
Aircraft
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, 1952-1954 - C-124 Globemaster IIC-124 Globemaster IIThe Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
, 1954-1965 - C-141 StarlifterC-141 StarlifterThe Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
, 1965-1997