Shaw Air Force Base

An F-16CJ Fighting Falcon deployed from Shaw AFB taking off to enforce the northern "no fly" zone in Iraq.

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

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:

• 55th Fighter Squadron
• 77th Fighter Squadron
• 79th Fighter Squadron

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.

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 tennant 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)

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.

20th Fighter Group

North American P-51D-30-NA Mustang Serial 44-74558 of the 20th Fighter Group at Shaw AAF. Note the postwar "Buzz Number" on the fuselage, and "20th Fighter Group" written on the tail cap.

Republic P/F-84B-36-RE Thunderjet Serial 46-645 of the 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw AFB.

Douglas A/RB-26C-45-DT Invader Serial 44-35663 of the 41st Night Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron.

Formation of four Block 15-LO Lockheed RF-80As of the 432d Tactical Recon Group. Serials visible are 44-85242, 44-85019, 44-85448, and 44-85386.

Republic RF-84F-10-RE Thunderflash Serial 51-11875 from the 432d Tactical Recon Group.

Martin RB-57A-MA Serial 52-1457 of the 43d Night Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. This aircraft is currently on static display at the Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Georgia.

File:Rb-66-363dtrw-shaw.jpg

Douglas RB-66C-DT Destroyer Serial 54-0469 of the 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron in Southeast Asia camouflage schema. This aircraft was scrapped in 1973 at Kadena AB, Okinawa after extensive service in Southeast Asia.

McDonnell RF-101C-65-MC Voodoo Serial 56-0068 of the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. This aircraft is currently on static display at the Keesler AFB, Mississippi Air Park.

McDonnell RF-4C-30-MC Phantom Serial 66-0427 of the 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in early 1970's Southeast Asia camouflage schema. This aircraft was sent to AMARC on 5 September 1991.

Following World War II, the 20th Fighter Group was transferred to Shaw Army Airfield on 28 July 1947 from Biggs AFB, Texas. Operational squadrons were:

• 55th Fighter Group
• 77th Fighter Group
• 79th Fighter Group

Initally 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.

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 and the 363rd became the parent wing at Shaw. The 363d would remain at Shaw, under various designations, for the next 43 years.

The mission of the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was to fly photographic, electronic and electroinic 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.

The initial operational squadrons of the 363d TRW were:

• 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (2 April 1951 - 23 March 1958) (RB-25, (RF-80A, RF-84F, RF-101A/C)
• 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (2 April 1951 - 23 March 1958) (RB-26, RF-80, RF-101C)

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.

66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

On 1 January 1953 the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing was established at Shaw. The 66th was formed from RB-26 assets of 18th TRS and RF-80s transferred from South Korea. Wing and squadrons trained at Shaw prior to deployment to NATO. Squadrons formed at Shaw were:

• 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-26)
• 302nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RF-80A)
• 303rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RF-80A)

66th TRW pilots trained at Shaw using RF-51Ds. On 25 June 1953 the 66th departed Shaw, being permanently assigned to Sembach Air Base West Germany.

432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group/Wing

On 23 March 1953, the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was activated at Shaw. Upgraded to 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 8 February 1958. Group assumed reconnaissance mission under 363d TRW. As 432d TFW, operated USAF Advanced Flying Training School, Tactical Reconnaissance.

Squadrons of the 432d TRG/TRW were: (Squadrons under 4411th Combat Crew Training Group (1958 - 1959))

• 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (18 March 1954 - 18 May 1959) (RF-80A, RF-84F, RF-101C)
• 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (18 March 1954 - 8 Apr 1959) (RF-80A, RF-101C)

• 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (1956 - 18 May 1959) (RB-66)
• 43d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (1956 - 18 May 1959) (RB-66)

• 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (23 March 1958 - 10 May 1959) (RF-80A, RF-84F, RF-101A/C)
• 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (23 March 1958 - 10 May 1959) (RF-80A, RF-101A/C)

The 432d TRW and 363d TRW both were under the 837th Air Division, heqdquartered at Shaw.

On 8 April 1959 the 432d TRW was deactivated and the Shaw training mission taken over by the 4411 Combat Crew Training Group.

The 17th and 18th TRS were transferred to 66th TRW on 10 May 1959 at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France. The 41st, 43d, 20th and 29th TRS were transferred to the 363d TRW, although still under the 4411th CCTG.

With the deactivation of the 432d TRW, the 4411th CCTG continued the training mission at Shaw for B-66 training until both it and the 837th Air Division were inactivated on 1 February 1963. All assets from these organizations were transferred to the 363d TFW.

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 Reconnaisance Wing being the first USAF receipient. Squadrons equipped were:

• 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (1954 - 1957)
• 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (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 underwing tanks for nighttime photograpic 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.

• 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night-Photographic (363d TRW, 18 Mar 1954 – 1956) (RB-57A, RB-66)
• 43d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night-Photographic (363d TRW, 18 Mar 1954 - 1956) (RB-57A, RB-66)

The first operational USAF unit to equip with the RB-57A was the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. The 41st and 43d TRS reached initial operational capability in July 1954.

The 363d 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 and were transferred to the 432d TRW.

RB-66 Era (1956 - 1974)

• 6th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-66B)
  • 1956 - 1958 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Group
  • 1958 - 1965 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

Squadron formed at Shaw in 1956 and deployed aircraft and personnel TDY to MacDill AFB Florida 22 October - 30 November 1962 in support of Cuban Missle Crisis. Deactivated 1965.

• 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-66BB/C, WB-66D)
  • 1953 - 1958 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
  • 1958 - 1963 4411th Combat Crew Training Group
  • 1963 - 1965 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

Squadron formed from RB-25 assets of 17th TRS in 1953 after 17th TRS xfred to 432d TRG. Flew RB-25s from 11 Nov 1953 until equiped with B-66s in 1956. Deployed aircrew and aircraft PCS to Takhli RTAFB Thailand, 1965.

• 4417th Combat Crew Training Squadron (RB/EB-66C, EB-66E)
  • 1965 - 1969 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

Squadron formed from 6th and 9th TRS assets in 1965. Inactivated 1969 - assets to 39th TEWTS

• 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-66)
  • 1956 - 1958 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
  • 1958 - 1959 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

• 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron (EB-66C)
  • 1 October 1965 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

• 43d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-66B)
  • 1956 - 1958 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
  • 1958 - 1959 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

41st and 43d TRS were activated at Shaw in 1954 with RB-57As. Converted to RB-66s in 1956. Squadrons were deactivated on 18 May 1959 with RB-66s being transferred to 19th TRS at Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany and 1st TRS at RAF Alconbury, England.

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 immediatley reassigned to the 355th TFW at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand.

• 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (RB-66C)
  • 1966 - 1967 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
  • 1967 - 1967 4402d Tactical Training Group

Squadron arrived at Shaw from deactivated 25th TRW at Chambley-Bussieres Air Base France on 1 May 1966. Redesignated as Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron, 1967 with change to EB-66.

• 19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (EB-66)
  • 1967 - 1968 4402d Tactical Training Group

Deployed aircrew and aircraft PCS to Det 1, 18th TFW ltezuke AB, Japan on 31 December 1968.

• 39th Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron (RB-66C)
  • 1967 - 1968 4402d Tactical Training Group
  • 1968 - 1969 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

Squadron formed from 19th TRS' RB-66Cs after 19th TRS' equipment change to EB-66. Redesignated as Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1969 with change to EB-66.

• 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron (JN, EB-66C/E)
  • 1969 - 1974 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

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".

4402d Tactical Training Group

• 19th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron
• 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron

The 4402d Tactical Training Group was formed with the 19th and 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadrons on 1 Feb 1967 to perform replacement training unit for RB-66 aircrews. On 20 Jan 1968 the 4402d Tactical Training Group was disbanded and the B-66 squadrons reassigned back to the 363d TRW.

RF-101 Era (1957 - 1971)

In January 1953, the USAF had asked McDonnell to develop an unarmed photographic reconnaissance version of the F-101A as a possible replacement for the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash. The first RF-101A was delivered to the 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 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 1958, the RF-101Cs were put under the control of the 363rd TRW.

In June 1958, the 4414th Combat Crew Training Squadron became operational with Shaw's 363rd TRW as the replacement training unit for Voodoo reconnaissance pilots.

Operataional RF-101 squadrons at Shaw TRW were:

• 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (1957 - 10 May 1959) (RF-101A/C)

• 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (1957 - 10 May 1959) (RF-101A/C)
• 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (JP, 30 Jan 1970 - 13 Nov 1970) (RF-101C)

• 20th Tactical Reconnaissance (18 May 1959 - 12 Nov 1965) (RF-101C)
• 29th Tactical Reconnaissance (JO, 8 Apr 1959 - 24 Jan 1971) (RF-101C)

• 4414th Combat Crew Training Squadron (JK, June 1958 - 19 Apr 1959 - 15 Oct 1969) (RF-101C)
• 31st Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron (JK, 15 Oct 1969 - 18 Feb 1971) (RF-101C)

• 4415th Combat Crew Training Squadron (JL, 1 Feb 1967 - 15 Oct 1969) (RF-101C)
• 33d Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron (JL, 15 Oct 1969 - 1972) (RF-101C)

• 4416th Combat Crew Training Squadron (JM, 1 Jul 1967 - 15 Feb 1971) (RF-101C)
• 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (JM, 15 Feb 1971 - 1972) (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.

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 photoreconnaissance 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 (1966 - 1983)

The first McDonnell Douglas RF-4C aircraft arrived at Shaw AFB in 1966. Operataional RF-4C squadrons of the 363d TRW were:

• 4415th Combat Crew Training Squadron (JL, white fin cap) (1 Feb 1967 - 15 Oct 1969)
• 33d Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron (JL/JO, white fin cap) (15 Oct 1969 - 1 Oct 1982)

• 4416th Test and Evaluation Squadron (JM, yellow fin cap) (1 Jul 1966 - 15 Feb 1971)
• 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (JM/JO, yellow fin cap) (15 Feb 1971 - 3 Feb 1983)

• 62d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (JO, red fin cap) (15 Oct 1971 - 1 July 1982)
• 18th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (JP/JO, blue fin cap) (30 Nov 1970 - 30 Sep 1979)

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

With the arrival of the F-16 squadrons, the 33d and 16th TRS were deactivated. The 62d TRS was reassigned to Bergstrom AFB Texas as the 62d Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron.

F-16 Era (1982 - 1994)

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

• 17th Tactical Fighter (Activated 1 July 1982, white tail stripe, "Owls"/"Hooters")
• 19th Tactical Fighter (Activated 1 April 1982, yellow tail stripe, "Gamecocks")
• 33d Tactical Fighter (Activated 8 March 1985, blue tail stripe, "Falcons")

The 363d TFW flew F-16A/B aircraft until 1985, then upgraded to the F-16C/D models. All aircraft carried the "SW" Tail Code.

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 (inactivated July 1993) 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.

With the closure of Myrtle Beach Air Force Base South Carolina, the 17th Fighter Squadron recieved 30 Republic A/OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the former 354th TFW in the fall of 1992.

Post Cold War

As a result of the end of the Cold War, the Air Force made several dramatic changes with the inactivation and redesignation of wings and their units. The 363rd FW and its squadrons - 17th, 19th and 33d Fighter Squadrons, were inactivated on 1 January 1994. On the same day the wing and its units were redesignated as the 20th Fighter Wing and the 55th, 77th, and 79th Fighter Squadrons.

The 78th Fighter Squadron was also activated on that day to join the 20th Fighter Wing, after having last been assigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Bentwaters, England.

The redesignation was a return home of sorts by the 20th Fighter Wing, which the 363d had replaced at Shaw in 1951. During most of the Cold War, the 20th was stationed at RAF Wethersfield and RAF Upper Heyford in the United Kingdom.

In July 1996, the 55th Fighter Squadron transferred it's OA/A-10A aircraft to Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina and stood down. In July 1997, the 55th stood up as an F-16 squadron.

The 78th Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 30 June 2003, as part of the Air Force’s FY 2003 force structure changes, leaving Shaw with three F-16CJ squadrons.

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.

See Also

• Tactical Air Command
• Air Combat Command
• Ninth Air Force

References

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

• Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 USAF Reference Series, Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force, Washington, D.C., 1989

• Donald, David, "Century Jets - USAF Frontline Fighters of the Cold War".

• Endicott, Judy G., USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Office of Air Force History

• Maurer Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, 1983

• Menard, David W., USAF Plus Fifteen - A Photo History 1947 - 1962, 1993

• Martin, Patrick, Tail Code: The Complete History Of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings, 1994

• Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History, 1984

• USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to present

External links

• Shaw AFB, SC Public Website
• Ninth Air Force web site