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Constituted as 20th Bombardment Wing on 19 Oct 1940. Activated on 18 Dec 1940. Inactivated on 1 Sep 1941.
Activated on 1 Nov 1942. Redesignated 20th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in Feb 1943. Moved to England, May-Jun 1943, for duty with Eighth AF. Redesignated 20th Combat Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in Aug 1943. Received its first groups in Nov 1943 and served in combat in the European theater from Dec 1 1943 until Apr 1945. Redesignated 10th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in Jun 1945. Returned to the US in Aug 1945. Redesignated 20th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) in Aug, and VIII Bomber Command (Very Heavy) in Oct 1945. Apparently had no combat components assigned after Aug 1945. Inactivated on 10 Nov 1946. Disbanded on 8 Oct 1948.
Groups. 7th: 1940-1941. 34th: 1945. 42d: 1941. 93d: 1943-1945. 385th: 1945. 388th: 1945. 446th: 1943-1945. 448th: 1943-1945. 452d: 1945. 489th: 1944.
Stations. Ft Douglas, Utah, 18 Dec 1940-1 Sep 1941. MacDill Field, Fla, 1 Nov 1942-c. 8 May 1943; Camp Lynn, England, c. 9 Jun 1943; Cheddington, England, c. 1 Jul 1943; Horsham St Faith, England, c. 14 Sep 1943; Hethel, England, 24 Sep 1943; Hardwick, England, c. 7 Nov 1943; Snetterton Heath, England, c. 13 June Aug 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, c. 15 Aug 1945; Peterson Field, Colo, 17 Aug 1945; MacDill Field, Fla, 14 May-10 Nov 1946.
Commanders. Col Shepler W FitzGerald, 16 Jan 1941; Brig Gen Walter H Frank, 6 Feb 1941; Brig Gen Ralph Royce, 2 Mar 1941; Col Lowell H Smith, 6 May-c. 1 Sep 1941. Col John H Hayden, c. 30 Oct 1943; Col Jack W Wood, 29 Dec 1943; Brig Gen Edward Timberlake Jr, 25 Sep 1944; Col Leland G Fiegel, 17 May 1945; Brig Gen Archie Old Jr, 18 Jun 1945-unkn; Col Broake E Allen, c. 18 Aug 1945; Col John W Warren, 22 Aug 1945; Brig Gen Hugo P Rush, 2 Nov 1945-unkn; Col Neil B Harding, 14 May 1946; Maj Gene A Nelson, 16 Aug 1946; Maj Leroy S English, 10 Sep 1946; Lt Col Ermanno D Grana, 3-c. 10 Nov 1946.
Campaigns. American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Decorations. None.
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
Most of these documents have been transcribed from official unit documents without corrections. Some material was difficult to read and transcribe, sometimes this is noted in the transcription. Spelling was not corrected. Documents are not meant to be a complete record, they are only what has been reasonbly-readable. Only document formatting may have been altered to enable better viewing on a web page with multiple devices.
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