HISTORY OF THE 20th FIGHTER WING - Shaw Air Force Base

The 20 th Fighter Wing Name Returns
The 20 th Tactical Fighter Wing, along with the associated 55 th , 77 th , and 79 th Tactical Fighter Squadrons were officially
redesignated the 20 th Fighter Wing and 55 th , 77 th , and 79 th Fighter Squadrons on 1 October 1991. Also on
that date, Detachment 17, 28 th Weather Squadron was inactivated from the Air Weather Service and reactivated
as the Weather Flight of the 20 FW.
During October 1991, wing air and ground crews competed in Gunsmoke 91 at Nellis AFB, Nevada. On 23 October,
the Gunsmoke team returned home with top honors and the F-111 Bombing trophy.
Finally, the 2130 th Communications Group, RAF Croughton, and the 2118 th Communications Squadron, RAF
Uxbridge, were realigned from direct reporting units of HQ Third Air Force to become units assigned to the 20 th
Fighter Wing on 1 November 1991.
20 th Fighter Wing aircrews participated in Green Flag 92 from 27 February to 13 April. This gave most of the
wing’s aircrew the opportunity to deliver GBU-12 laser guided
bombs in a near combat environment.
In May 1992, the 55 th Fighter Squadron deployed to Aviano,
Italy for Dragon Hammer 92.
Wing aircrews competed in Excalibur 92, with the 55 FS finishing
eighth out of 23 squadrons entered.
Approximately a year and a half after regaining the 42 ECS,
the wing lost it again when the 42 nd was inactivated on 10 July
1992. The last EF-111A departed Upper Heyford in August
1992.
75th Anniversaries
The wing celebrated the 75 th anniversary of the 55 th Fighter Squadron from 7 to 9 August, 1992. Then, from 4
to 7 February, additional celebrations were held for the 79 th Fighter Squadron and, in early March, for the 77 th
Fighter Squadron.
The wing team deployed to Green Flag 93 at Nellis AFB, Nevada from 2 March, 1993 to 2 April 1993. The first
day night Green Flag incorporated night low level operations and live weapons delivery.
The 79 th Fighter Squadron inactivated on 23 April 1993, with the last aircraft departing RAF Upper Heyford on
10 May.
On 4 June 1993, the 77 th Fighter Squadron participated in Excalibur 93 taking first place by beating all other
USAFE units, including F-15Es and F-16s.
The 55 th Fighter Squadron participated in the Aalborg Air show, Netherlands, from 4 to 7 June 1993.
On 9 July, 1993, the 77 th Fighter Squadron inactivated. The last aircraft departed in August.
The 55 th Fighter Squadron deployed six aircraft to Incirlik AB, Turkey, for Dynamic Guard 93, from 20 September
to 8 October 1993. This was the last operational deployment for the 20 th Fighter Wing while at RAF Upper
Heyford.
The last of the fighter squadrons, the 55 th , inactivated on 15 October 1993.
20 th Fighter Wing History --- Page Number 2 .
Last photo of the four squadrons together. USAF Photo