20th Bombardment Wing

20th Bombardment Wing
Active	1940–1941; 1942–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Force
Role	Bombardment (Command & Control)
Part of	Eighth Air Force

The 20th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Eighth Air Force, based at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 10 November 1946.

History

Prewar bombardment wing in the northwest. Moved to England, May–June 1943, for duty with Eighth Air Force. Received its first groups in November 1943 and served in combat in the European theater from December 1943 until April 1945.

Returned to the US in August 1945 and prepared for B-29 Superfortress operations, although had no combat components assigned. Reassigned to Strategic Air Command postwar Eighth Air Force in May 1946 and elevated to VIII Bombardment Command. Inactivated before becoming operational in November 1946.

Lineage

• Constituted as 20th Bombardment Wing on 19 October 1940

Activated on 18 December 1940

Inactivated on 1 September 1941

• Activated on 1 November 1942

Redesignated 20th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in February 1943

Redesignated 20th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in August 1943

Redesignated 20th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in June 1945

Redesignated 20th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) in August 1945

Redesignated VIII Bomber Command (Very Heavy) in October 1945

Inactivated on 10 November 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948.

Assignments

• Second Air Force, 18 December 1940 – 1 December 1941
• Third Air Force, November 1942-8 May 1943
• Eighth Air Force, 1 July 1943 – 6 August 1945
• Continental Air Forces, 15 August 1945
• Eighth Air Force, 14 May – 10 November 1946

Units assigned

• 7th Bombardment Group: 16 January-5 September 1941
• 34th Bombardment Group: 18 June-28 August 1945
• 42d Bombardment Group: 16 January – 1 September 1941
• 93d Bombardment Group: 13 September 1943 – 12 June 1945
• 385th Bombardment Group: 18 June-4 August 1945

• 388th Bombardment Group: 18 June-13 August 1945
• 446th Bombardment Group: November 1943-1 June 1945
• 448th Bombardment Group: 30 November 1943 – 6 July 1945
• 452d Bombardment Group: 18 June-12 August 1945
• 489th Bombardment Group: 14 August-29 November 1944

Stations

• Fort Douglas, Utah, 18 December 1940 – 1 September 1941
• MacDill Field, Florida, November 1942-c. 8 May 1943
• Camp Lynn (AAF-101), England, c. 9 June 1943
• RAF Cheddington (AAF-113), England, c. 1 July 1943
• RAF Horsham St Faith (AAF-123), England, c. 14 September 1943
• RAF Hethel (AAF-114), England, 24 September 1943

• RAF Hardwick (AAF-104), England, c. 7 November 1943
• RAF Snetterton Heath (AAF-138), England, c. 13 June – 6 August 1945
• Sioux Falls Army Airfield, South Dakota, c. 15 August 1945
• Peterson Field, Colorado, 17 August 1945
• MacDill Field, Florida, 14 May – 10 November 1946.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.