TWENTIETH AIR FORCE FACT SHEET

Twentieth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force with headquarters at F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, in the Cheyenne community.  Twentieth Air Force is responsible for the Nation's three intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) wings, one nuclear operations support wing and one geographically separated unit (GSU).

As the missile numbered air force for Air Force Global Strike Command, Twentieth Air Force is responsible for operating, maintaining, securing and supporting the Air Force's ICBM force. Twentieth Air Force provides on-alert, combat ready ICBMs to the President. 

20 AF Mission
Defend the United States with combat ready nuclear forces; on order, conduct global strike.

20 AF Vision
The world's most respected and feared global strike team, always ready to strike.

20 AF Priorities
Build integrated lethality

Develop and care for Airmen and families

Lead nuclear surety and weapon system safety

Personnel
More than 12,000 professionals are assigned to Twentieth Air Force.

Organization
Twentieth Air Force oversees three ICBM wings and one nuclear operations support wing:

- 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
- 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, N.D.
- 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
- 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland AFB, N.M.  

Geographically Separated Unit
- 582d Helicopter Group at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.

ICBM Capabilities
America's ICBM team fulfills a critical role in maintaining global stability and ensuring the nation's safety and security. As the nation's "Unwavering Sentinel," the Airmen of Twentieth Air Force and their ICBM predecessors have remained on continuous, around-the-clock alert since 1959.  

The Minuteman III missiles are deployed over 33,600 square-miles of central Montana, western North Dakota, eastern Wyoming, western Nebraska and northern Colorado. They are dispersed in hardened silos to protect against attack and connected to 15 underground missile alert facilities through a system of hardened cables. Launch crews consisting of two officers perform around-the-clock alert in launch control centers. A variety of communication systems provide the President of the United States with highly reliable, virtually instantaneous and direct contact with each launch crew.

AFGSC is the Air Force's lead command for and largest operator of UH-1N Iroquois helicopters.  The UH-1N supports ICBM operations in missile fields controlled by F. E. Warren AFB, Malmstrom AFB and Minot AFB. 

History

Twentieth Air Force has a proud and enduring legacy as America's long-range strategic force.

Apr. 4, 1944 - Twentieth Air Force activated. The organization was responsible for the major B-29 bomber commands operating in the Pacific Theater. Less than 17 months after its activation, Twentieth Air Force crews directly contributed to the end of World War II with continuous bombing raids on the Japanese mainland, including the deployment of two atomic bombs on the island nation days before the enemy’s surrender. Twentieth Air Force units also supported United Nations' forces during the Korean War.

Mar. 1, 1955 - Twentieth Air Force inactivated as a result of reorganization of Far East Air Forces.

Sept. 1, 1991 - Twentieth Air Force reactivated as a component of the Strategic Air Command and was located at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Operationally responsible for all land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, Twentieth Air Force's rebirth came at a time when America's nuclear forces entered a decade of unprecedented force reductions and changes, specifically with the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. These global changes reshaped the basic fabric of the US’s nuclear deterrent forces. Over the course of the decade, the ICBM force structure was reduced from six to three missile wings. The number of alert ICBMs also shrunk from 1,000 to 550. For the men and women of America's ICBM Team, it proved to be a period of sustained, dramatic change, one that posed significant leadership challenges for Airmen at all levels of command.

June 1, 1992 - Strategic Air Command inactivated and the majority of SAC's assets, including Twentieth Air Force, transferred to the newly created Air Combat Command. The new U.S. Strategic Command assumed combatant command of Twentieth Air Force's ICBMs.

Jul. 1, 1993 - Twentieth Air Force transferred to Air Force Space Command and moved from Vandenberg AFB to F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo., on 1 October 1993.

2004-2008 - Deactivation of both the 400th Missile Squadron at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. and the 564th Missile Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. 

Dec. 1, 2009 - Air Force Global Strike Command assumed control of Twentieth Air Force and the Air Force's Minuteman III ICBM mission.

Oct. 1, 2015 - The 377th Air Base Wing at Kirtland AFB, N.M. transferred to Twentieth Air Force.


(Current as of October 2021)