20th Bomb Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 20th Bomb Squadron


caption= 20th Bomb Squadron Patch
dates= 26 June 1917 - 28 February 1946
1 July 1947 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Strategic Bombing
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Combat Command
8th Air Force
2d Bomb Wing
2d Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Barksdale Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
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The 20th Bomb Squadron (20 BS) is part of the 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It operates B-52 Stratofortress aircraft providing strategic bombing capability.

Mission

Exceptional warriors ready now to provide responsive, flexible and accurate bomber combat power and expeditionary combat support to warfighting commanders… anytime… anywhere. [ [http://www.barksdale.af.mil/main/welcome.asp Barksdale Air Force Base - Welcome ] ]

History

The 20th flew combat missions as day bombardment unit with First Army from, 14 September 1918 – 5 November 1918. On 5 September 1923 the squadron participated in a demonstration of the effectiveness of aerial bombardment on warships. The squadron went on to conduct good-will flights to South America in 1938 and 1939.

Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor the 20th flew Antisubmarine patrols from, 8 December 1941-c. 28 October 1942 and saw combat in the European Theater of Operations and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations from, 28 April 1943-1 May 1945.

The 20th participated in electronic countermeasures testing and evaluation from, May 1950-May 1952. It deployed B-52s and aircrews for combat in Southeast Asia from, September 1969-March 1970. During the 1980s it conducted B-52 training missions over bombing range sites and supported wing primary mission of aerial bombardment.

From 1999-2000 the squadorn trained for global conventional bombardment missions and maintained nuclear operational readiness. After terrorist attack against the U.S. on 11 September 2001 the 20th deployed to the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and on 7 October 2001 flew attacks on targets in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. In February 2003 it deployed to Guam to deter North Korean aggression. Since 1994 it has supported worldwide conventional taskings and maintained nuclear readiness. On July 21, 2008, a squadron B-52 aircraft crashed near Guam during a training mission in support of Guam's Liberation Day festivities. All six crewmembers, three of whom were from the 20th, perished.

Operations

*World War I
*World War II
*Vietnam War
*Operation Enduring Freedom

Lineage

*20th Aero Squadron (1917 - 1923)
*20th Bombardment Squadron (1923 - 1939)
*20th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1939 - 1943)
*20th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1943 - 1946)
*20th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1946 - 1948)
*20th Bomberdment Squadron, Medium (1948 - 1963)
*20th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1963 - 1991)
*20th Bomb Squadron (1991 - Present)

Assignments

*1st Day Bombardment Group (1918)
*2d Bombardment Group (1919 – 1946)
*2d Bombardment Wing (1947 – 1965)
**Attached: 3d Air Division (6 August – 16 November 1948)
*7th Bomb Wing (1965 – 1992)
*2d Bomb Wing (1992 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Camp Kelly, Texas (1917)
*Wilbur Wright Field, Ohio (1918)
*Garden City, New York (1917 - 1918)
*Stamford, England (1918)
*RAF Waddington, England (1918)
*Delouze-Rosières, France (1918)
*Maulan, France (1918 - 1919)
*Colombey-les-Belles, France (1919)
*Guîtres, France (1919)
*Saint-Denis-de-Pile, France (1919)
*Libourne, France (1919)
*Mitchel Field, New York (1919)
*Ellington Field, New York (1919)
*Kelly Field, Texas (1919 - 1922)
*Langley Field, Virginia (1922 - 1942)
**Operated From: Mitchell Field, New York (8 December 1941 - 24 January 1942)
*Ephrata, Washington (1942)
*Great Falls Army Air Base, Montana (1942 - 1943)
*Navarin, Algeria (1943)
*Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel, Algeria (1943)
*Ain M'Lila, Algeria (1943)
*Massicault, Tunisia (1943)
*Amendola, Italy (1943 - 1945)
*Foggia, Italy (1945 - 1946)
*Andrews Field, Maryland (1947)
*Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona (1947 - 1949)
**Deployed: RAF Lakenheath, England (6 August - 16 November 1948)
*Chatham Air Force Base, Georgia (1949 - 1950)
*Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia (1950 - 1963)
**Deployed: RAF Wyton, England (4 May - 7 September 1951)
**Deployed: RAF Upper Heyford, England (6 September - 3 December 1952)
**Deployed: Sidi Slimane Air Base, French Morocco (5 August - 30 September 1954)
**Deployed: Sidi Slimane Air Base, French Morocco (3 - 7 November 1954)
**Deployed: Sidi Slimane Air Base, French Morocco (8 - 18 March 1956)
**Deployed: Sidi Slimane Air Base, French Morocco (6 July - 26 August 1956)
**Deployed: RAF Lakenheath, England (10 - 18 March 1958)
*Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana (1963 - 1965)
*Carswell Air Force Base, Texas (1965 - 1992)
*Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana (1992 - Present)

Aircraft operated

*DH-4 (1919 - 1927)
*MB-2 (1921 - 1927)
*XLB-1 (1927)
*XLB-5 (1927)
*LB-5 (1927 - 1929)
*LB-6 (1929 - )
*LB-7 (1929 - )
*B-3 (1931 - )
*B-5 (1931)
*B-6 (1932 - 1935)
*Y1B-9 (1932 - 1936)
*B-2 Condor (1935 - )
*YB-10 (1936 - 1937)
*B-10 (1936 - )
*YB-12 (1936 - 1937)
*YB-17 (1937 - 1941)
*B-17 Flying Fortress (1937 – 1945)
*B-18 Bolo (1938 - 1942)
*BC-1 (1938 - )
*B-23 Dragon (1939)
*A-17 Nomad (1939 - 1940)
*A-20 Havoc (1940 – )
*B-34 Lexington (1941 - )
*B-25 Mitchell (1941 - 1942)
*B-29 Superfortress (1947 - 1950)
*B-50 Superfortress (1949 - 1953)
*B-47 Stratojet (1954 - 1963)
*B-52 Stratofortress (1963 - Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0020bs.asp USAF 20th Bomb Squadron History]