Shaw Air Force Base: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→‎20th Fighter Group: added section on 414th/415th Night Fighter Squadrons
Line 69: Line 69:


For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp. The first group of German POWs arrived on [[March 1]], [[1945]]. Eventually, 175 of them lived in an encampment near Shaw Field’s main entrance and worked on local farms. They departed in the early months of 1946.
For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp. The first group of German POWs arrived on [[March 1]], [[1945]]. Eventually, 175 of them lived in an encampment near Shaw Field’s main entrance and worked on local farms. They departed in the early months of 1946.

=== 414th/415th Night Fighter Squadrons===

From July 1946 until May 1947 Shaw was the home of the 415th and 416th Night Fighter Squadrons. The squadrons flew the [[P-61|P-61 Black Widow]] in Europe during World War II, and were deactivated at the end of hostilities. At Shaw, the reactivated squadrons flew the F-4 reconnaissance version of the [[P-38|P-38 Lightning]] and were initially directly under [[Tactical Air Command]]. They were transferred to [[Ninth Air Force]] in November 1946.

The 414th was transferred to [[Sixth Air Force]] at Rio Hato AB, [[Panama]] in March 1947. The 415th was inactivated due to budget reductions in in May 1947 at Shaw.


=== 20th Fighter Group===
=== 20th Fighter Group===

Revision as of 21:52, 29 July 2007

Template:Airport frame Template:Airport title Template:Airport image Template:Airport infobox Template:Runway title Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Airport end frame Shaw Air Force Base is the home of the United States Air Force 20th Fighter Wing. It is also headquarters, Ninth Air Force, and United States Central Command Air Forces (USCENTAF). The mission of the 20th FW is to provide, project, and sustain combat-ready air forces, and is the Air Force's largest combat F-16 wing

Shaw AFB is located about 10 miles northwest of Sumter, South Carolina.

20th Fighter Wing

Patch of the 20th Fighter Wing
Patch of the 20th Fighter Wing

The 20th Fighter Wing is the host unit at Shaw, arriving on January 1, 1994 from RAF Upper Heyford England, replacing the deactivating 363d Fighter Wing. It's operational squadrons are:

The 20th FW F-16CJ Fighting Falcons are tail coded "SW".

The 20th, as the host wing, also retains the responsibility for providing facilities, personnel, and material for the operation of Shaw. The wing staff includes: Inspector General, command post, judge advocate, safety, public affairs, historian, comptroller, manpower and organization, military equal opportunity office, and the chapel program.

The 20th Mission Support Group at Shaw supports more than 5,400 military and civilian employees and 11,000 family members. The 20th MSG is also responsible for thousands of acres of land, including the 24-acre outdoor recreation area located 37 miles northwest on Lake Wateree, and the approximately 12,000-acre Poinsett Electronic Combat Range located about 10 miles southwest of the base.

BRAC 2005

In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to relocate the Third US Army Headquarters support office from Ft. Gillem and Fort McPherson, GA to Shaw AFB. This was a portion of a larger recommendation that would close Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson.

DoD also recommended to realign Moody AFB by relocating base-level ALQ-184 intermediate maintenance to Shaw, establishing a Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) at Shaw for ALQ-184 pods. DoD also recommended to realign Shaw AFB by relocating base-level TF-34 engine intermediate maintenance to Bradley ANGB, Mass.

History

World War II

Construction began at Shaw Army Airfield on June 27, 1941. Major Burton M. Hovey became the first base commander on August 30, 1941. The base was named in honor of 1st Lt. Ervin David Shaw, one of the first Americans to fly combat missions in World War I. Shaw, a Sumter County native, died after three enemy aircraft attacked his Bristol while he was returning from a reconnaissance mission.

As one of the largest flying fields in the United States, Shaw Field’s first task was to train cadets to fly. The first group of cadets entered training December 15, 1941, and the last basic class graduated March 9, 1945. The basic flying school at Shaw Field had trained more than 8,600 service members to fly in AT-6s and AT-10s. When the mission changed, P-47 Thunderbolts arrived to replace the basic trainers, and pilots began coming to Shaw for fighter transition training until the end of the war.

Major USAAF tenant units at Shaw Army Airfield were:

  • 77th Air Base Squadron (Established 8 October 1941)
  • 454th School Squadron (3 November 1941)
  • 2142d Army Air Force Base Unit (1 May 1944)
  • 139th Army Air Force Base Unit (31 March 1945)
  • 67th Reconnaissance Group (Feburary - March 1946)

For a brief time, Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp. The first group of German POWs arrived on March 1, 1945. Eventually, 175 of them lived in an encampment near Shaw Field’s main entrance and worked on local farms. They departed in the early months of 1946.

414th/415th Night Fighter Squadrons

From July 1946 until May 1947 Shaw was the home of the 415th and 416th Night Fighter Squadrons. The squadrons flew the P-61 Black Widow in Europe during World War II, and were deactivated at the end of hostilities. At Shaw, the reactivated squadrons flew the F-4 reconnaissance version of the P-38 Lightning and were initially directly under Tactical Air Command. They were transferred to Ninth Air Force in November 1946.

The 414th was transferred to Sixth Air Force at Rio Hato AB, Panama in March 1947. The 415th was inactivated due to budget reductions in in May 1947 at Shaw.

20th Fighter Group

Following World War II, the 20th Fighter Group was transferred to Shaw Army Airfield on 20 October 1946 from Biggs AFB, Texas. The 20th FG had three operational fighter squadrons (55th, 77th and 79th). Initially the group flew the North American P-51D Mustang, upgrading to the Republic Aviation F-84B Thunderjet in 1948.

On 13 January, 1948, Shaw Army Airfield was renamed Shaw Air Force Base, and the 20th became the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing.

On 23 September 1949 the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was transferred to Shaw from the 363d TRW at Langley AFB Virginia. The 161st flew the Lockheed RF-80. A reduction in Air Force units in April 1949 led to a consolidation of units at fewer bases. With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the mission of the 161st was to train replacement reconnaissance aircraft pilots.

The 161st TFS became the nucleus on which the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing's mission at Shaw AFB when the wing transferred there in 1951.

363d Tactical Reconnaissance/Fighter Wing

On 1 April 1951, the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was transferred to Shaw from Langley Air Force Base Virginia and doubled the activity at Shaw AFB. On 1 December 1951, however, the 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing transferred to Langley AFB in preparation for a permanent overseas deployment to RAF Wethersfield England to support NATO.

In addition to the 363d TRW, Headquarters Ninth Air Force was transferred to Shaw from Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina on 1 September, 1954.

The 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing would remain at Shaw, under various designations, for the next 43 years. The wing's mission was to fly photographic, electronic and electronic intelligence missions to support both air and ground operations by American or Allied ground forces. In addition, the 363d provided combat crew training for reconnaissance aircrews.

During the tenure of the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB (1951 - 1993), the wing was the first USAF operational unit equipped with the following aircraft:

Over the next four decades, the squadrons under the 363d TRW changed frequently. Two Tactical Reconnaissance Wings were formed at Shaw AFB from 363d TRW assets and went on to have their own separate histories in Europe (66th TRW) and Southeast Asia (432d TRW). Nearly all tactical reconnaissance aircraft aircrews in the United States Air Force were trained or stationed at Shaw Air Force Base.

The initial operational squadrons and aircraft flown by the 363d TRW were:

  • 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Activated 2 April 1951) (RB-26)
  • 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Activated 2 April 1951) (RF-80A)
  • 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Assigned 2 April 1951. Redesignated from the 20th TFW 161st TRS when the wing transferred to Shaw.) (FP-80)
  • 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Activated 11 Nov 1953) (RB-26)
  • 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Activated 11 Nov 1953-April 1954) (RB-26)

RF-84F Era (1954 - 1957)

The RF-84F Thunderflash was the photographic reconnaissance version of the F-84F Thunderstreak. It had many components in common with the F-84F, but differed in having the jet engine fed by a pair of wing root air intakes, the nose being taken up by a bank of cameras.

Deliveries of the RF-84F Thunderflash began in March 1954, with the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing being the first USAF recipient. Squadrons equipped were:

363d TRW

  • 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Reequipped 1955 - 1957)
  • 17th Reconnaissance Squadron Squadron (Reequipped 1954 - 1957)
  • 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Reequipped 1955 - 1957)

432d TRW

  • 20th Reconnaissance Squadron Squadron (Activated 1954 - 1957)
  • 29th Reconnaissance Squadron Squadron (Activated 1954 - 1957)

The camera bay in the nose could accommodate up to six cameras in forward- facing, trimetrogen and individual oblique and vertical installations. The vertical camera bay had hydraulically-operated retractable doors, and behind these doors was an aperture for a vertical viewfinder with a periscope presentation on the cockpit panel. Photoflash ejectors could be carried in under-wing tanks for nighttime photographic reconnaissance missions

The service life of the RF-84F with the 363d/432d TRW was relatively short, and were replaced by the McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo aircraft in 1957/1958.

RB-57 Era (1954 - 1956)

The Martin RB-57A (Martin Model 272A) was a reconnaissance version of the B-57A bomber. The decision to develop a reconnaissance version of the B-57A was made in October of 1951, guided by experience in the Korean War, which had underscored USAF reconnaissance shortcomings in the face of increasingly effective enemy air defenses.

432d TRW

  • 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night-Photographic (18 Mar 1954 – 1956)
  • 43d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night-Photographic (18 Mar 1954 - 1956)

The first operational USAF unit to equip with the RB-57A was the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group. The 41st and 43d TRS reached initial operational capability in July 1954.

The 432d TRW's operational readiness with its RB-57s was short-lived. A problem soon appeared with the J65-BW-5 engines, which tended to burn oil and fill up the cockpit with smoke. Operationally, they were hampered by their high accident rate, which caused the RB-57As to be grounded for much of 1955.

The service of the RB-57A with the 363d was destined to be relatively brief. Beginning in 1956, the 41st and 43d TRS began to re-equip with the Douglas RB-66 Destroyer.

RB-66 Era (1956 - 1974)

The Douglas B-66 Destroyer was originally envisaged as a replacement for the World War II era piston-engined Douglas B-26 Invader in the tactical bombing role for both day and night operations. The aircraft was initially manufactured in two separate versions. A bomber version designated B-66B (Douglas Model 1327A), and a reconnaissance version designated RB-66B (Douglas Model 1329). In addition, the RB-66C was a seven-seat specialized electronic reconnaissance and electronic countermeasures aircraft.

All of these models were basically similar in overall configuration, differing primarily in the equipment carried.

The first USAF RB-66Bs were issued to the 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in January 1956. They replaced the obsolescent RB-26 Invader. Two more squadrons were equipped with RB-66Bs by the end of the year. The RB-66B very soon became the primary night photographic reconnaissance weapon system of the Tactical Air Command.

Operational squadrons of B-66s at Shaw were:

  • 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-66B) (1956-65)
    Reequipped 1956. Inactivated 1965. Deployed aircrew and aircraft PCS to 42d TEWS Takhli RTAFB Thailand.
  • 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron(RB-66C) (1966-67)
    19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (EB-66) (1967-69)
    Squadron arrived at Shaw from deactivated 25th TRW at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base, France
    Inactivated 1968 Deployed aircrew and aircraft PCS to Det 1, 18th TFW ltezuke AB, Japan on 31 December 1968
  • 39th Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron (JN RB-66C) (1968-69)
    39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron (JN EB-66C/E) (1969-74)
    Squadron formed from 19th TRS RB-66Cs after 19th TRS' equipment change to EB-66.
    Absorbed EB-66C assets of the deactivated 4417th CCTS

The 39th TEWS flew EB-66C/D/E Electronic Warfare aircraft absorbing the assets of the deactivated 4417th CCTS on 10 July 1969 until deactivating on 15 March 1974. Many B-66s were deployed on 90-day rotations to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base and Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War. In Southeast Asia, these aircraft retained the Shaw tail code "JN". In addition, the 39th TEWS operated a training and operational detachment at Spangdahlem Air Base West Germany training USAFE and NATO aircrews from 1969 to 1973.

  • 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-66B)
    432d TRW (1956-58) (Reequipped)
    363d TRW (1958-59) (aircraft reassigned to 1st TRS at RAF Alconbury, England)
    41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron (EB-66C) (1965)

On 1 October 1965 the 41st TRS was reactivated as the 41st TEWS, with former USAFE EB-66C aircraft coming from the 10th TRW at RAF Alconbury. Once activated, the 41st TEWS was immediately reassigned to the 355th Wing at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand.

  • 43d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-66B)
    432d TRW (1956-58) (Reequipped)
    363d TRW (1956-59) (Inactivated. aircraft reassigned to 19th TRS at Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany)
  • 4417th Combat Crew Training Squadron ("JN" RB/EB-66C, EB-66E) (1965-69)
    Activated with aircraft recieved from 25th TRW/42d ECS Chambley-Bussieres Air Base France
    Inactivated. Aircrft assigned to 39th TEWS

RF-101 Era (1957 - 1971)

In January 1953, the USAF had asked McDonnell to develop an unarmed photographic reconnaissance version of the F-101 Voodoo as a possible replacement for the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash. The first RF-101A was delivered to the 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 6 May 1957 as a replacement for the subsonic RF-84F.

In September 1957, the RF-101C began deliveries to Shaw. The RF-101Cs served for a brief time alongside the RF-101A, but quickly replaced them by May 1958. In April 1959, the RF-101Cs were put under the control of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.

In June 1959, the 4414th Combat Crew Training Squadron became operational with Shaw's 363rd TRW as the replacement training unit for Voodoo reconnaissance pilots.

Operational RF-101 squadrons at Shaw TRW were:

  • 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (6 May 1957 - 10 May 1959) (RF-101A/C)
    (Reassigned to 66th TRW)
  • 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RF-101C)
    363d TRW (1957 - March 1958)
    432d TRW (March 1958 - May 1959) (Reassigned to 66th TRW)
    363d TRW (January - November 1970) (Reassigned from 66th TRW.)
  • 20th Tactical Reconnaissance (RF-101C)
    432d TRW (1957-April 1959)
    363d TRW (April 1959-November 1965) (Reassigned to 67th TRW)
  • 29th Tactical Reconnaissance (RF-101C)
    432d TRW (1957-April 1959)
    363d TRW (April 1959-January 1971)
  • 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (8 Feb 1958 - 27 Oct 1965) (RF-101C)
  • 4414th Combat Crew Training Squadron (8 April 1959 - 15 Oct 1969) (JK, RF-101C)
  • 4415th Combat Crew Training Squadron (8 April 1959 - 15 Oct 1969) (JL, RF-101C)
  • 31st Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron (15 Oct 1969 - 16 Feb 1971) (JK, RF-101C)

The 17th and 18th TRS transferred to 66th TRW Laon-Couvron Air Base France 1959. 18th TRS transferred back to 363d TRW after 66th TRW deactivated at RAF Upper Heyford England 30 Jan 1970.

20th TRS transferred to 67th TRW Kadena AFB, Okinawa 1965 then to Udon RTAFB Thailand, 18 Sep 1966. 4415th TRS formed at Shaw with RF-101C aircraft transferred back to Shaw from 20th TRS at Udon RTAFB.

29th TRS deactivated 24 Jan 1971. RF-101Cs sent to Michigan ANG.

Squadron Tail Codes were added to TAC aircraft beginning in 1966.

Along with the jet age came the opportunity for the pilots of the 363d to set a new world speed record. On November 27, 1957, four RF-101 Voodoos assigned to Shaw lifted off the runway from Ontario County Airport in California. The planes headed for New York and a place in history. The flight, known as Operation Sun Run, successfully broke the transcontinental flight record. The trip took three hours and seven minutes at a record speed of 781.74 mph.

In the autumn of 1962, the pilots of the 363d played a major part in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Utilizing their RF-101s for low-altitude photo-reconnaissance missions, they helped identify and track activities at Cuban missile sites, airfields, and port facilities. In awarding the wing the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its achievements, President John F. Kennedy said, "You gentlemen have contributed as much to the security of the United States as any group of men in our history."

The last USAF RF-101C was phased out of the 31st TRTS, a replacement training unit at Shaw AFB, on 16 February 1971 and turned over to the Air National Guard.

RF-4C Era (1964 - 1989)

The McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II (Model 98DF) was the unarmed photographic reconnaissance version of the USAF's F-4C. The first production RF-4Cs went in September 1964 to the 363d TRW's 33rd Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron. The first operational unit to receive the RF-4C was the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 363rd TRW, achieving initial combat-readiness in August of 1965.

Operational RF-4C squadrons of the 363d TRW were:

  • 33d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (September 1964 - 1 October 1982) (RF-4C) (Tail Code: JL/JO)
    (Activated September 1964. Inactivated October 1982)
  • 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Reequipped Feburary 1965 - October 1965) (Feburary 1971 - December 1989) (RF-4C)
    Reassigned to 6250th Combat Support Group, Tan Son Nhut Air Base South Vietnam October 1965.
    Reassiged from 475th ABW, Misawa AB Japan, February 1971. Inactivated December 1989)
    16th TRS tail code changed to "SW" in 1982 along with F-16 squadrons.
  • 4415th Combat Crew Training Squadron (1 Feb 1967 - 15 Oct 1969) (JL, white fin cap)
    (Reequipped Feburary 1967. Inactivated October 1969. RF-4Cs transferred to 33d TRTS)
    33d Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron (JL/JO, white fin cap) (15 Oct 1969 - 1 Oct 1982)
    4411 Combat Crew Training Group (1 Feb 1967 - 15 June 1969)
    Assigned to 363d TRW (15 June - 15 October 1969).
  • 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (30 Nov 1970 - 30 Sep 1979) (JP/JO, blue fin cap)
    (Activated November 1970 Deactivated September 1979 with aircraft being distributed to 33d, 16th and 62d TRSs.)
  • 22d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (15 Jul 1971 - 15 Oct 1971) (JO, red fin cap)
    Reassigned from 67th TRW, Bergstrom AFB Texas. Inactivated October 1971, personnel and aircraft reassigned to 62d TRS.
    62d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (15 Oct 1971 - 1 July 1982) (JO, red fin cap)
    Activated October 1971. Inactivated July 1982

363d TRW tail codes standardized in 1972 to "JO".

The armament and radar of the fighter version was removed and replaced with equipment specialized for photographic reconnaissance. Perhaps the most readily-noticeable difference between the F-4C and the RF-4C was the presence of a new, longer, and more pointed nose in which the fire control radar of the fighter was replaced by cameras, mapping radar, and infrared imaging equipment for the reconnaissance role.

EB-57E Canberra

On 15 July 1971, two EB-57Es were transferred along with the RF-4Cs of the 22d TRS from Bergstrom AFB, Texas, then transferred to the 16th TRS when the 22d TRS was deactivated. These aircraft were highly adapted to carry electronic countermeasures and were frequently deployed to Europe to support USAFE fighter activities. The 363d operated these aircraft until September 1974 then transferring them to the Air National Guard. They were the last B-57s operated by the active-duty USAF.

RF-4C Phaseout and 363d TRW Deactivation

The aging and phaseout of the RF-4C aircraft fleet and the utility of the Lockheed TR-1 in Europe for tactical reconnaissance led to the decision by the USAF to realign the mission of the 363d TRW. The reconnaissance training mission of the wing was terminated in 1981 and beginning in 1982, the wing would become a tactical fighter organization, being equipped with General Dynamics F-16 aircraft.

With the arrival of the F-16 squadrons, the 33d TRS was deactivated. The 62d TRS was reassigned to Bergstrom AFB Texas as the 62d Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron. The 16th TRS continued to fly the RF-4C until December 1989, then deactivated.

F-16 Era (1982 - 1994)

On October 1, 1981, the 363rd TRW was re-designated as the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing. The wing received its first F-16 on March 26, 1982. Operational squadrons of the 363d TFW were:

  • 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Activated 1 July 1982, white tail stripe, "Owls"/"Hooters")
  • 19th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Activated 1 April 1982, yellow tail stripe, "Gamecocks")
  • 33d Tactical Fighter Squadron (Reequipped 8 March 1985 - 15 November 1993, blue tail stripe, "Falcons")
  • 21st Tactical Fighter Squadron (Activated 1 April 1992, black tail stripe,"Gamblers") (OA-10A)
  • 309th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Reassigned from 31st FW, Homestead AFB Florida 1 October 1992)

The 363d TFW flew F-16A/B Block 10 aircraft until 1984 then converted to Block 15s; F-16C/D Block 25s in autumn 1985 and Block 42s in late 1991. All aircraft carried the "SW" Tail Code.

With the closure of Myrtle Beach Air Force Base South Carolina and the deactivation of the 354th Fighter Wing, the 21st Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated at Shaw and received 30 Republic A/OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the deactivating 355th Fighter Squadron on 1 April 1992. All A-10 aircraft with the 21st TFS were designated as OA-10A.

As a result of the August 1992 destruction of Homestead AFB Florida by Hurricane Andrew in September 1992, the 31st Fighter Wing's 309th Fighter Squadron was initially evacuated to Shaw AFB prior to the hurricane making landfall. With Homstead unusable for an extended period after the hurricane, on 1 October 1992 the squadron was permanently assigned to the 20th FW.

The 33d TRS was deactivated on 15 November 1993. Its F-16C/D aircraft were transferred to the Air National Guard.

Desert Shield/Desert Storm

On August 9, 1990, the 17th and 33rd TFS of 363rd TFW became the first F-16 squadrons to deploy to the United Arab Emirates in Operation Desert Shield. Operating from Al Dhafra Air Base as the 363rd Provisional Wing (along with the 10th TFS from the 50th TFW, Hahn Air Base, Germany), the wing flew combat missions to Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm between January 17 and February 28, 1991.

Following Desert Storm, the 19th and 33rd Tactical Fighter Squadrons deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, a coalition effort to enforce the Iraqi "No Fly Zone" south of the 32nd parallel. The 33rd TFS made history when one of its pilots downed an Iraqi aircraft with an AIM-120 missile. The incident marked the first time an AIM-120 missile was fired in combat and was the first U.S. F-16 air-to-air kill.

363d TFW Inactivation

As a result of the end of the Cold War, the Air Force made several dramatic changes with the inactivation and re-designation of wings and their units. The 363rd FW and all of its squadrons were inactivated on 1 January 1994, being repelaced by the 20th Fighter Wing, being reassigned to Shaw from RAF Upper Heyford, England. On the same day the 363d TRW was re-designated as the 20th Fighter Wing. Squadrons were re-designated as follows:

  • 17th Fighter Squadron -> 77th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
  • 19th Fighter Squadron -> 78th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)
  • 21st Fighter Squadron -> 55th Fighter Squadron (OA-10A)
  • 309th Fighter Squadron -> 79th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D)

66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

On 1 January 1953 the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was activated at Shaw, replacing the 118th TRW the title of which reverted to the Tennessee Air National Guard after World War II, where the 66th Fighter Group served in the European theater as part of Eighth Air Force.

The 66th Reconnaissance (later, Strategic Reconnaissance) Group, was a part of Strategic Air Command from July 1947 - May 1951, at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana as an Air Force Reserve corollary unit under the guidance of active duty units in order to train and maintain currency in reconnaissance operations for its reserve personnel.

The 66th TRW was formed at Shaw AFB from the RB-26 assets of 18th TRS and RF-80s transferred from South Korea. Wing and squadrons trained at Shaw prior to deployment to NATO. The squadrons formed and activated were:

  • 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photo) (RB-26)
  • 302nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Jet Photo) (RF-80A)
  • 303rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RF-51D, RF-80A)

On 25 June 1953 the 66th TRW departed Shaw, being reassigned to Sembach Air Base West Germany. Just prior to the wing's deployment to NATO, the 303d TRS was reequipped with RF-80As.

432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group/Wing

On 23 March 1953, the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was activated at Shaw. The 432d was a former World War II reconnaissance training unit that served briefly in 1943 as the operational unit of the to USAAF School of Applied Tactics at Keystone AAF, Florida.

The 432d's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d TRW. When elevated to the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 8 February 1958, the wing operated the USAF Advanced Flying Training School, Tactical Reconnaissance. The 432d TRW and 363d TRW both were under the 837th Air Division, headquartered at Shaw.

The initial operational squadrons of the 432d TRG were:

  • 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (March 1954 - Feburary 1958) (RF-84F 1954-57, RF-101C 1957-58)
    (Activated March 1954, assigned to 432d TRW March 1958)
  • 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (March 1954 - Feburary 1958) (RF-84F 1954-57, RF-101C 1957-58)
    (Activated March 1954, assigned to 432d TRW March 1958)
  • 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (March 1954 - Feburary 1958) (RB-57A, 1954-56, EB-66C 1956-58)
    (Activated March 1954, transfered to 363d TRW Feburary 1958)
  • 43d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (March 1954 - Feburary 1958) (RB-57A, 1954-56, EB-66C 1956-58)
    (Activated March 1954, transfered to 363d TRW Feburary 1958)

The group initially conducted training with two squadrons (20th, 29th) flying the Republic RF-84F "Thunderflash" and two squadrons (41st, 43d, flying the Martin RB-57A "Canberra". In 1957, the group upgraded the 20th and 29th to the McDonnell RF-101C "Voodo", and the 41st and 43d transitioned to the electronic warfare EB-66C Destroyer.

With the elevation to wing status, the 432d TFW was realigned to a four squadron RF-101C wing as follows:

  • Added two additonal RF-101C training squadrons:
    17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (March 1958 - May 1959) (RF-101A/C)
    (Transfered from 363d TRW)
    18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (March 1958 - May 1959) (RF-101A/C)
    (Transfered from 363d TRW)
  • The 20th and 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons continued their training missions under the 432d TRW as RF-101C squadrons.

In a budgetary move, the 432d TRW was deactivated on 8 April 1959. The RF-101C equipped 17th and 18th TRSs were deployed to NATO, being reassigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France.

The Shaw training mission taken over by the 4411 Combat Crew Training Group, consisting of the

  • 20th and 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons (RF-101C)
  • 41st and 43d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons (EB-66C)

The 4411th CCTG became an operational group under the 363d TRW. The 4411th CCTG continued the training mission at Shaw for reconnaissance training until both it and the 837th Air Division were inactivated on 1 February 1963. All assets from these organizations were then transferred to the 363d TFW.

The 432d TRW was reactivated on 18 September 1966 as the host unit at Udon RTAFB Thailand. At Udon, it became one of the most diversified unit of its size in the Air Force.

Shaw Air Force Base Aircraft

See also

References

This article includes content from Shaw AFB Website's history page.

  • Donald, David (2004). Century Jets: USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War. AIRtime. ISBN 1880588684
  • Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
  • Menard, David W. (1993). USAF Plus Fifteen - A Photo History 1947 - 1962. Schiffer Pub Ltd. ISBN 0887404839
  • Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0887405134.
  • Mueller, Robert (1989). Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
  • Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
  • USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present
  • [1] Joe Baugher's Encyclopedia Of Military Aircraft
  • [2] Early Photo Jet Recon, Colonel Jean K. Woodyard, USAF Retired

External links

Template:Wikimapia

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shaw_Air_Force_Base&oldid=147929635"