The 20th Air Base Group is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force. It was part of the Far East Air Force, during World War II. The 20th ABG was based at Nichols Field, in the Philippines. It surrendered to the Japanese in the spring of 1942, but was kept on the rolls as an active unit until April 1946. It was disbanded in 1984.
20th Air Base Group
Authorized on 2 June 1921 as Air Park No. 11 and organized
Redesignated
66th Service Squadron on 25 January 1923
Redesignated
Base Headquarters & 20th Air Base Squadron on 1 September 1936 and inactivated
Consolidated with
Squadron A, Eberts Field on 16 October 1936 (remained inactive)
Consolidated with
Station Complement, Nichols Field (an active unit) on 25 May 1938
Redesignated
Base Headquarters & 20th Air Base Squadron (1 Group) on 6 December 1939
Redesignated
Base Headquarters & 20th Air Base Squadron (Single) on 1 February 1940
Redesignated
20th Air Base Group (Reinforced) on 1 September 1940
Inactivated on 2 April 1946
Disbanded on 27 September 1984
Squadron A, Eberts Field
Organized on 26 April 1918 as 66th Aero Squadron
Redesignated
Squadron A, Eberts Field ca. 1 July 1918
Demobilized 15 November 1918
Reconstituted and consolidated with
66th Service Squadron as
Base Headquarters & 20th Air Base Squadron on 16 October 1936
Station Complement, Nichols Field
Activated ca. 1 March 1935 as Station Complement, Nichols Field
Consolidated with
Base Headquarters & 20th Air Base Squadron as
Base Headquarters & 20th Air Base Squadron on 25 May 1938
Primary Flying School, 26 April 1918 - 15 November 1918
1st Group (later 4th Composite Group), 2 June 1921
Philippine Department, 1 September 1936
Philippine Department Air Force (later Far East Air Force, Fifth Air Force), 20 September 1941-2 Apr 1946
Kelly Field, Texas, 26 April 1918
Eberts Field, Arkansas, ca. 1 May 1918 - 15 November 1918
Clark Field, Commonwealth of the Philippines, 2 June 1921
Nichols Field, Commonwealth of the Philippines, 21 December 1921 – 1942
Air Base Squadron, 20th Air Base Group (later 19th Air Base Squadron), 1 September 1940 - 2 April 1946
1st Materiel Squadron, 20th Air Base Group (later 27th Material Squadron), 1 September 1940 - 2 April 1946
2d Materiel Squadron, 20th Air Base Group (later 28th Material Squadron), 1 September 1940 - 2 April 1946
Presidential Unit Citation w/2 OLC's
WD GO 22-42 amended by DA GO 46-48 7 December 1941 - 10 May 1942,
WD GO 14-42 8–22 December 1941
WD GO 43-42 6 Jan - 8 Mar 1942 amended by WD GO 40 -43, dated 17 Jul 43
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
7 December 1941 - 10 May 1942, 17 October 1944 - 4 July 1945
Southwest Pacific Theater
Campaigns: Philippine Islands, Leyte
