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 organizedRedesignated
66th Service Squadron on 25 January 1923Redesignated
Base Headquarters & 20th Air Base Squadron on 1 September 1936 and inactivatedConsolidated with
Squadron A, Eberts Field on 16 October 1936 (remained inactive)Consolidated with
Station Complement, Nichols Field (an active unit) on 25 May 1938Redesignated
Base Headquarters & 20th Air Base Squadron (1 Group) on 6 December 1939Redesignated
Base Headquarters & 20th Air Base Squadron (Single) on 1 February 1940Redesignated
20th Air Base Group (Reinforced) on 1 September 1940Inactivated on 2 April 1946
Disbanded on 27 September 1984Squadron A, Eberts Field
Organized on 26 April 1918 as 66th Aero SquadronRedesignated
Squadron A, Eberts Field ca. 1 July 1918
Demobilized 15 November 1918Reconstituted 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 FieldConsolidated 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 19181st Group (later 4th Composite Group), 2 June 1921Philippine Department, 1 September 1936Philippine Department Air Force (later Far East Air Force, Fifth Air Force), 20 September 1941-2 Apr 1946Kelly Field, Texas, 26 April 1918Eberts Field, Arkansas, ca. 1 May 1918 - 15 November 1918Clark Field, Commonwealth of the Philippines, 2 June 1921Nichols Field, Commonwealth of the Philippines, 21 December 1921 – 1942Air Base Squadron, 20th Air Base Group (later 19th Air Base Squadron), 1 September 1940 - 2 April 19461st Materiel Squadron, 20th Air Base Group (later 27th Material Squadron), 1 September 1940 - 2 April 19462d Materiel Squadron, 20th Air Base Group (later 28th Material Squadron), 1 September 1940 - 2 April 1946Presidential Unit Citation w/2 OLC'sWD 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 Citation7 December 1941 - 10 May 1942, 17 October 1944 - 4 July 1945
Southwest Pacific TheaterCampaigns: Philippine Islands, Leyte