20th Attack Squadron

"20th Transport Squadron" redirects here. For the 20th Transport Squadron of 1943, see 20th Airlift Squadron.
"20th Troop Carrier Squadron (Special)" redirects here. For the 20th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, see 20th Airlift Squadron.

20th Attack Squadron
U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper
Active1940–1949; 1965–1973; 1973–1984; 1990–1991; 2011–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAttack
SizeSquadron
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQWhiteman Air Force Base
Motto(s)First on Target
EngagementsWorld War II
Vietnam[1]
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Insignia
20th Attack Squadron emblem
20th Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (Approved 24 June 1974)[1]
Patch with 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron emblem (Unapproved, used during Vietnam War)
Patch with 20th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem (Approved 13 January 1943)[2]

The 20th Attack Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. It currently flies the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper and is assigned to the 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.

It was originally activated as the 20th Transport Squadron in 1940 and served as a troop carrier unit in Panama during and after World War II, until it was inactivated in 1949.

Activated in 1965 as the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, it served notably for seven and a half years of combat duty during the Vietnam War, and was inactivated in 1973. While in inactive status, the two squadrons were consolidated into a single unit. The 20th TASS was reactivated at Shaw Air Force Base in 1990, and again inactivated on 31 December 1991.

The unit was redesignated as the 20th Reconnaissance Squadron and its reactivation at Whiteman took place on 14 January 2011. In May 2016, it was redesignated the 20th Attack Squadron

  1. ^ a b c Bailey, Carl E. (8 August 2017). "Factsheet 20 Attack Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 109–110