20th Combat Mapping Squadron

These pages are a tribute to the men of the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron--to the hundreds of ground support personnel and to the air crews who flew the missions.

Squadron Mission

• Long range aerial mapping and reconnaissance using F-7A and F-7B aircraft (B-24's converted for aerial photography)
• Radar intelligence gathering with B-24J ferrets

Lineage

• 20th Photographic Mapping Squadron
  - Activated 23 August 1942, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• 20th Photographic Squadron (Heavy)
  - Redesignated 6 February 1943, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• 20th Combat Mapping Squadron
  - Redesignated 11 August 1943, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, Long Range, Photographic-RCM
  - Redesignated 15 June 1945, Manila, Luzon, Philippine Islands

Overseas Designation, from April 1944 to 15 June 1945

• Far East Air Forces
• Fifth Air Force
• 91st Photographic Wing, Reconnaissance
• 6th Photographic Group, Reconnaissance
• 20th Combat Mapping Squadron

Oveseas Designation, from 15 June 1945

• Far East Air Forces
• Fifth Air Force
• 91st Reconnaissance Wing
• 6th Reconnaissance Group
• 20th Reconnaissance Squadron, Long Range, Photographic-RCM

Overseas Stations

• Sydney, Australia (ground echelon only)
  - from October 1943
• Brisbane, Australia (ground echelon only)
  - from November 1943
• Port Moresby, New Guinea (ground echelon only)
  - from December 1943
• Nadzab, New Guinea
  - from February 1944 (ground echelon) and from March 1944 ( air echelon)
• Biak Island
  - from September 1944
• Dulag, Leyte
  - from November 1944 (ground echelon)
• Tacloban, Leyte
  - from January 1945 (based at Dulag, but air operations from Tacloban)
• San Jose, Mindoro
  - from February 1945 (air echelon only
• Clark Field, Luzon
  - from May 1945
• Okinawa
  - from August 1945

Campaigns

• Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater
• Air Offensive, Japan
• Bismark Archipelago
• China Defensive
• China Offensive
• Leyte
• Luzon
• New Guinea
• Ryukyus
• Southern Philippines
• Western Pacific

Service Streamers

• American Theater

Decorations

• Distinguished Unit Citation: Philippine Islands, 18-25 September 1944
• Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

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