Air Force Base

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Shaw Field was activated on 30 August 1941 under the U.S. Army Air Corps Southeast Air Corps Training Center. Its mission was a basic flying school to instruct air cadets. Flying activities began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee BT-13 Valiants. The first group of cadets entered training on 15 December 1941, and the first class completed training in February 1942. In October 1942, training changed to advanced flying using AT-6 Texan and Beech AT-10 trainers. During World War II, the USAAF Pilot School trained more than 8,600 pilots. On 1 April 1945, jurisdiction transferred to the First Air Force, and pilots received fighter transition training in Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. Shaw Field also served as a prisoner-of-war camp: the first group of German POWs arrived on 1 March 1945, and 175 lived in an encampment off Peach Orchard Road, working on local farms. They departed in early 1946 for the rebuilding of European cities.

In Their Own Story

After the war, Shaw Army Airfield was designated a permanent USAAF installation, transferred to Continental Air Forces on 16 April 1945. Jurisdiction shifted to Air Defense Command on 1 March 1946. From July 1946 until May 1947, Shaw housed the 414th and 415th Night Fighter Squadrons, flying P-61 Black Widows. The 414th transferred to Caribbean Air Force in March 1947, and the 415th to Alaska Air Command in May 1947. On 23 March 1946, jurisdiction returned to Tactical Air Command. The 20th Fighter Group arrived on 20 October 1946 from Biggs Army Airfield. After the USAF became a separate branch in September 1947, Shaw Army Airfield was renamed Shaw Air Force Base on 13 January 1948. The 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing activated on 15 August 1947 under the Hobson Plan. The 20th Fighter Group first flew P-51Ds, then exchanged them for F-84B Thunderjets in February 1948—the first TAC group to receive operational F-84s. Nine were lost in accidents before the remainder were returned in May 1949 for F-84D models.

Reader's Guide

On 1 April 1951, the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing transferred to Shaw from Langley Air Force Base, remaining for 43 years. The wing flew photographic, electronic, and electronic intelligence missions. Headquarters Ninth Air Force transferred to Shaw from Pope Air Force Base on 1 September 1954. The 363d TRW was the first USAF operational unit equipped with Martin RB-57A Canberras, Douglas RB-66 Destroyers, McDonnell RF-101 Voodoos, and McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom IIs. On 23 March 1953, the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group reactivated at Shaw, assuming the reconnaissance training mission. It became the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 8 February 1958, operating the USAF Advanced Flying Training School, Tactical Reconnaissance. The 432d TRW and 363d TRW both fell under the 837th Air Division at Shaw. The 432d TRW was inactivated on 8 April 1959. The training mission was taken over by the 4411th Combat Crew Training Group, which continued until both it and the 837th Air Division were inactivated on 1 February 1963. On 1 January 1953, the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing activated at Shaw, formed from RB-26 assets of the 18th TRS and RF-80s from South Korea, with three squadrons: the 30th, 302d, and 303d TRS.

Did You Know?

• Shaw Field was activated on 30 August 1941 and its first flying activities began on 22 October 1941 using Vultee BT-13 Valiants.
• During World War II, the USAAF Pilot School at Shaw trained more than 8,600 pilots.
• Shaw Field served as a prisoner-of-war camp: 175 German POWs arrived on 1 March 1945 and worked on local farms.
• The 27th Fighter Group was the first TAC group to receive operational F-84B Thunderjets, beginning in 1947.
• The 20th Fighter Group was assigned to Shaw AFB in 1951.

Honoring a Local Hero

Shaw Air Force Base derives its name from First Lieutenant Ervin David Shaw, a native of Sumter County who became one of the earliest American combat aviators in World War I. Serving with No. 48 Squadron of the Royal Air Force as part of the Royal Canadian Flying Corps, Shaw flew reconnaissance missions before his tragic death on July 9, 1918. During an attack by three enemy aircraft while returning from a mission, he managed to down one attacker before being killed in action. His sacrifice and local roots made him a fitting namesake for this massive installation located just west-northwest of downtown Sumter. Today, the base stands as a enduring tribute to his bravery, linking the modern United States Air Force's combat heritage directly back to the pioneering days of aerial warfare.

World War II Training Ground

Activated in August 1941 under the U.S. Army Air Corps, Shaw Field initially served as a critical Phase II basic flying school for air cadets. The facility featured three main runways and several auxiliary fields, including Burnt Gin, Rembert, Monaghan, and Sumter airfields, to support extensive training operations. By October 1942, the curriculum shifted to advanced flight training utilizing AT-6 Texans and Beech AT-10s. Throughout the war, the Southeast Training Center graduated over 8,600 pilots who were subsequently sent for specialized instruction in single or multi-engine aircraft. In a unique twist of history, the base also briefly functioned as a prisoner-of-war camp starting in March 1945, housing German soldiers who worked on local farms before being repatriated to Europe.

Jet Age Transition

Following World War II, Shaw evolved into a pivotal hub for the United States Air Force's transition from propeller-driven aircraft to jet propulsion. In late 1946, the 20th Fighter Group arrived and became the first Tactical Air Command unit to receive operational F-84B Thunderjets in early 1948. This marked a significant technological leap for the base as it moved away from P-51 Mustangs. The wing also incorporated reconnaissance capabilities with the arrival of the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, which operated RF-80A Shooting Stars. Although the group eventually deployed overseas to support NATO in England by late 1951, Shaw's role during these years was instrumental in establishing the U.S. military's jet fighter doctrine and operational readiness during the early Cold War era.

Strategic Reconnaissance Hub

In April 1951, the base underwent a major strategic shift with the arrival of the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. This transfer established Shaw as a central location for tactical reconnaissance operations during the height of the Korean War and the subsequent Cold War tensions. The wing's presence solidified the base's reputation beyond fighter training, focusing on intelligence gathering and surveillance missions critical to national defense. Under various command structures, including the First Air Force and later Tactical Air Command, Shaw maintained its status as one of the largest military installations in the United States. This era cemented its long-term identity as a key component of USAF Air Combat Command, continuing its legacy of adapting to changing global security needs.

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