20th Troop Carrier Squadron

  July 1942 to October 1949

  United States of America

TYPE: USAAF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Howard Field, Panama Canal Zone (1942-1943), Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone (1943-1948), Bergstrom AFB, TX (1948-1949)

FORMER NAME: 20^th Transport Squadron

SUBSEQUENT NAME: 20^th Tactical Air Support Squadron (consolidated 1985)

The 20^th Troop Carrier Squadron was formed in July 1942 from the 20^th Transport Squadron, which had been operating six Douglas C-49s since 1941 in the Panama Canal Zone. A motley fleet of aircraft was assigned to it, including Stinsons, a Savoia Italian airliner and the XB-15 prototype converted for cargo.

As Howard Field became more crowded with bomber units, the squadron moved in June 1943 to Albrook Field. Only from November 1944 did the unit start receiving widespread transport types, including Douglas C-47s and Commandos. After the end of the war, the squadron continued to provide transport for Caribbean Air Command with Douglas C-54 Skymasters from 1946, attached to the 314^th Troop Carrier Group. Several aircraft were deployed to Germany to assist with the Berlin Airlift.

The 20^th moved from Panama to Bergstrom AFB, TX in September 1948, where it received brand new Fairchild C-82 Packets. The squadron was inactivated on 20 October 1949 and most of its remaining resources were absorbed by the 316^th Troop Carrier Group.

1945* to 1947*

• Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando: 43-47194, 43-47195, 43-47196, 43-47197