Twentieth Air Force
to take the B-29 Superfortress into combat
First Comdr Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold
First Flight XB-29 21 Sep 42
Led by Combat Air Commander Gen. Curtis E. LeMay
Unflinchingly tough, ingenious, daring, effective
5 Jun 44 58th Bomb Wing (BW) began the air assault
against Japanese targets, from India and China
Main Air Offensive the Marianas
24 Nov 44 73rd BW Saipan
4 Feb 45 313th BW Tinian
25 Feb 45 314th BW Guam
Apr 45 58th BW Relocated
5 May 45 58th BW Tinian
26 Jun 45 315th BW Guam
1 Aug 45 853 B-29's in commission
& flown of 1,000 available (85%)
6 Aug 45 Hiroshima
9 Aug 45 Nagasaki
14 Aug 45 Surrender! Victory!
2 Sep 45 Peace! VJ Day
Combat Reflections:
Sorties Flown 29,153
Hours Flown 442,459
Average Duration: 15 hours 11 minutes
Miles Flown 100,000,000+
In remembrance of the
2,982 Killed or Missing in Action
Postwar, 20th AF became part of
Far East Air Force (FEAF)
16 May 49 Moved to Okinawa
25 Jun 50 Korean Conflict B-29's involved
1 Mar 55 20th AF deactivated at Okinawa
4 Sep 91 20th AF reactivated at
Vandenberg AFB CA
New Global 20th
this page online
six strategic missile wings (SMW)
44 SMW Ellsworth AFB SD
90 SMW F E Warren AFB WY
91 SMW Minot AFB ND
321 SMW Grand Forks AFB ND
341 SMW Malmstrom AFB MT
351 SMW Whiteman AFB MO
310th Training & Test Wing Vandenberg AFB CA
1 Oct 93 20th AF HQ relocated
to F E Warren AFB WY
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. A significant day of the year for for this entry is May 31.
Location. 39° 0.926′ N, 104° 51.31′ W. Marker is in United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in El Paso County. Marker is in the United States Air Force Academy Cemetery, on Parade Loop west of Stadium Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: USAF Academy CO 80840, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 20th Air Force (here, next to this marker); 18th Fighter Group 318th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); Seventh Fighter Command (here, next to this marker); 499th Bombardment Group (VH) (here, next to this marker); 497th Bombardment Group (VH) (here, next to this marker); 414th Fighter Group 506th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); 15th Fighter Group 21st Fighter Group
More about this marker. Must have a valid ID to enter the USAF Academy grounds.
Also see . . .
1. 20th Air Force in World War II. (Submitted on November 29, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Air War Korea, 1950-53 (Air Force Magazine, 2000). (Submitted on November 29, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. 20th Air Force, Okinawa-B-29 "Superforts" of FEAF Bomber Command (photo). (Submitted on November 29, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. 20th Air Force (USAF). (Submitted on November 29, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 258 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 29, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
