20th Fighter Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 20th Fighter Squadron (20 FS) was most recently part of the 49th Fighter Wing
at Holloman Air Force Base
, New Mexico
. It operated the F-4 Phantom II
aircraft conducting air superiority missions. Deactivated 20 Dec 2004.
from, 8 December 1941–c. 1 May 1942. The ground echelon fought as infantry unit in Bataan
from, 18 January–c. 8 April 1942. It was carried as an active unit but was not operational from the fall of the Philippines until 2 April 1946.
The squadron trained German Air Force aircrews in the F–4 from, September 1973–June 1992.
On 20 Dec 2004, the unit was deactivated at Holloman AFB, NM.
49th Fighter Wing
The 49th Wing is an air combat unit of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 49 WG is part of the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force....
at Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located six miles southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, a city in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The base was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. It operated the F-4 Phantom II
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
aircraft conducting air superiority missions. Deactivated 20 Dec 2004.
Mission
During the final years of operation, the 20th Fighter Squadron trained German Air Force pilots and weapon system operators (WSO) in support of a US/German Air Force Foreign Military Sales agreement. The 20th Fighter Squadron also hosted the German Air Force Weapons School, and the leadership consisted of both a US and German Lieutenant Colonel. In its final year, the squadron was composed of just 13 US military officers, who brought their prior collective experience in the F-15C, F-16 and F-4 to the German students arriving from pilot training for tactical training in the F-4F.History
The 20th flew combat missions in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
from, 8 December 1941–c. 1 May 1942. The ground echelon fought as infantry unit in Bataan
Bataan
Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of the Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. The province is part of the Central Luzon region. The capital of Bataan is Balanga City and it is bordered by the provinces of Zambales and Pampanga to the north...
from, 18 January–c. 8 April 1942. It was carried as an active unit but was not operational from the fall of the Philippines until 2 April 1946.
The squadron trained German Air Force aircrews in the F–4 from, September 1973–June 1992.
On 20 Dec 2004, the unit was deactivated at Holloman AFB, NM.
Lineage
- Constituted 20th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939
- Activated on 1 February 1940
- Inactivated on 2 April 1946.
- Re-designated: 20th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron and activated, 1 December 1972
- Re-designated: 20th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 5 October 1989
- Re-designated: 20th Fighter Squadron, 1 November 1991
- Inactivated on 5 June 1992
- Reactivated on 1 July 1993
- Inactivated 20 December 2004
Assignments
- 35th Pursuit Group, 1 February 1940
- 4th Composite Group, 14 December 1940
- 24th Pursuit Group24th Pursuit GroupThe 24th Pursuit Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was wiped out in the Battle of the Philippines . The survivors fought as infantry during Battle of Bataan and after their surrender, were subjected to the Bataan Death March, although some did escape to Australia. The unit was...
, 1 October 1941-2 April 1946 - 35th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, 1 December 1992
- 35th Tactical Fighter Wing, 5 October 1989
- 35th Fighter Wing35th Fighter WingThe 35th Fighter Wing is an air combat unit of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Misawa Air Base, Japan. The 35 FW is part of Pacific Air Forces Fifth Air Force.-Mission:...
, 1 November 1991-5 June 1992 - 49th Fighter Wing49th Fighter WingThe 49th Wing is an air combat unit of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 49 WG is part of the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force....
, 1 July 1993-20 December 2004
Stations
- Moffett Field, Calif, 1 February 1940
- Hamilton FieldHamilton FieldHamilton Field may refer to:* Hamilton Air Force Base, a former U.S. Air Force Base located on San Francisco Bay, California, United States.* Hamilton Field , an airport located in Derby, Kansas, United States....
, Calif, 10 September-30 October1940 - Nichols FieldNichols FieldNichols Field was a U.S. military airfield located south of Manila in Pasay City and Parañaque City, Metro Manila, Luzon, the Philippines. During the World War II era, it was the location of the Far East Air Force's U.S. 20th Air Base Group. Also, based here was Troop F of the U.S. 26th Cavalry...
, Luzon, Philippines, c. 18 November 1940 - Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, Ju1y 1941
- Bataan AirfieldBataan AirfieldBataan Airfield was a former wartime United States Army Air Forces airfield on Luzon in the Philippines. It was overrun by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Battle of the Philippines...
, Luzon, Philippines, 25 December 1941-April 1942
- Operated from Lubao, Luzon, Philippines, 25-31 Dec 1941
- Operated from Del Monte FieldDel Monte FieldDel Monte Field was a heavy bomber capable airfield located on Mindanao in the Philippines. The airfield was located in a meadow of a Del Monte Corporation pineapple plantation.-Overview:...
, Mindanao, Philippines, c. 8 April-May 1942- George AFB, California, 1 November 1972-5 June 1992
- Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 1 July 1993-20 December 2004
Aircraft Operated
- P-36 HawkP-36 HawkThe Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, was an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of both the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation of combat aircraft—a sleek monoplane design...
(1940) - P-26 PeashooterP-26 PeashooterThe American Boeing P-26 Peashooter, was the first all-metal production fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane used by the United States Army Air Corps...
(1940–1941) - P-35Seversky P-35The Seversky P-35 was a fighter aircraft built in the United States by the Seversky Aircraft Company in the late 1930s. A contemporary of the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, the P-35 was the first single-seat fighter in U.S...
(1941) - P-40 WarhawkCurtiss P-40The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
(1941–1942) - F-4 Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
(1972–1992)