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Shaw Air Force Base

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Article Genealogy
Parent: Third United States Army Hop 4
Expansion Funnel Raw 57 → Dedup 26 → NER 22 → Enqueued 19
1. Extracted57
2. After dedup26 (None)
3. After NER22 (None)
Rejected: 4 (not NE: 4)
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Shaw Air Force Base
NameShaw Air Force Base
CaptionAerial view of the installation.
LocationSumter, South Carolina
TypeUnited States Air Force base
Coordinates33, 58, 23, N...
Pushpin labelShaw AFB
OwnershipUnited States Department of Defense
OperatorUnited States Air Force
ControlledbyAir Combat Command
Site area3,300 acres
Used1941–present
Current commanderColonel James "Riggs" Knotts
Garrison9th Air Force
Occupants20th Fighter Wing

Shaw Air Force Base. It is a major installation of the United States Air Force located near Sumter, South Carolina. The base serves as the headquarters for the 9th Air Force and is home to the host 20th Fighter Wing, operating the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Its strategic location and combat-ready units make it a pivotal hub for Air Combat Command and United States Central Command.

History

The facility was established in 1941 as Shaw Field, named in honor of World War I aviator Ervin David Shaw. Initially used as a training base for Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Corps pilots during World War II, it transitioned to jet aircraft training in the post-war era. It was redesignated as Shaw Air Force Base in 1948 following the creation of the United States Air Force. Throughout the Cold War, it hosted various tactical fighter wings and reconnaissance units, including the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, which flew aircraft like the RF-101 Voodoo and RF-4C Phantom II. The base played significant roles during the Vietnam War and the Gulf War, with its units deploying frequently to theaters of operation.

Units

The primary operational unit at the installation is the 20th Fighter Wing, which falls under the 9th Air Force of Air Combat Command. The wing comprises several groups, including the 20th Operations Group, which directly controls the flying squadrons. These squadrons are the 55th Fighter Squadron, the 77th Fighter Squadron, and the 79th Fighter Squadron, all equipped with the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon. The 20th Maintenance Group provides critical aircraft generation and sustainment, while the 20th Mission Support Group and 20th Medical Group handle base infrastructure and personnel health. The 9th Air Force headquarters, also located here, is the United States Air Forces Central component for United States Central Command.

Based units

Notable flying units based at the facility include the aforementioned fighter squadrons of the 20th Fighter Wing. The headquarters of the 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a key tenant, providing command and control for air operations in the Central Command area of responsibility. Other supported units include detachments from the South Carolina Air National Guard and various Defense Logistics Agency elements. The base also hosts a geographically separated unit of the 18th Air Support Operations Group, which provides tactical air control parties for the United States Army.

Role and operations

The installation's primary mission is to organize, train, and equip combat-ready F-16 Fighting Falcon units for rapid deployment and employment worldwide. As the home of 9th Air Force (AFCENT), it serves as the air component headquarters for United States Central Command, planning and executing air operations in the Middle East. The 20th Fighter Wing regularly participates in major exercises like Red Flag and deploys to locations such as Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. Its mission encompasses air superiority, close air support, and precision strike in support of joint and coalition forces.

Geography and infrastructure

The base encompasses approximately 3,300 acres in Sumter County, South Carolina, adjacent to the city of Sumter, South Carolina. It features a single primary runway (13/31) measuring 10,000 feet, capable of handling heavy military aircraft. Key facilities include the Pohakuloa Training Area-simulating weapons ranges, the Combat Readiness Training Center, and extensive maintenance hangars for the F-16 fleet. The installation also contains the Sumter Civic Center, family housing areas, the Shaw Air Force Base exchange, and medical facilities operated by the 20th Medical Group.

Accidents and incidents

The base has experienced several notable aviation accidents throughout its history. In 1959, a North American F-100 Super Sabre crashed near the facility, killing the pilot. A major incident occurred in 1981 when a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II from the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing crashed during a training mission, resulting in fatalities. In 2015, an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 77th Fighter Squadron crashed during a routine training flight over Lake Marion in South Carolina; the pilot ejected safely. Another F-16 from the 55th Fighter Squadron crashed in a field near Sumter, South Carolina in 2020, with the pilot successfully ejecting.

Category:United States Air Force bases Category:Buildings and structures in Sumter County, South Carolina