Summary
The 20th Bombardment Wing is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Eighth Air Force at MacDill Field, Florida, where it was inactivated on 10 November 1946. It was later disbanded in October 1948
| 20th Bombardment Wing | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1940–1941; 1942–1946 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Army United States Air Force |
| Role | Command of Bombardment units |
| Engagements | European Theater of World War II[1] |
History edit
The 20th Bombardment Wing was activated in December 1940 at Fort Douglas, Utah and assigned to Second Air Force.[1] The following month, it was assigned its combat elements, the 7th and 42d Bombardment Groups. In September 1941, the wing was inactivated and its personnel used to form the 2nd Air Support Command.[2]
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 Boeing 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 edit
- Constituted as the 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)' on 20 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[1]
Assignments edit
- Second Air Force, 18 December 1940 – 1 December 1941
- Third Air Force, November 1942 – 8 May 1943
- VIII Bomber Command (later 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 edit
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Stations edit
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References edit
Notes edit
Bibliography edit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Futrell, Robert F. (September 1956). "Command of Observation Aviation: A Study in Control of Tactical Airpower, USAF Historical Study No. 24" (PDF). Research Studies Institute, USAF Historical Division, Air University. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.