20th Fighter Wing crew of the quarter competition

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- A 79th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load member, rushes to complete a few finishing touches while mounting an air intercept missile (AIM-120) during a weapons load competition here July 8, 2011. The 20th Fighter Wing weapons standardization held their quarterly weapons load crew of the quarter competition. The competition brings together weapons load crew members from all three fighter squadrons at Shaw to compete against each other to show who is the best. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston)(Released)

20th Fighter Wing crew of the quarter competition

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- A 77th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load member, quickly makes his way around the wing of an F-16 to continue helping his team load munitions onto the aircraft during a weapons load competition here July 8, 2011. The 20th Fighter Wing weapons standardization held their quarterly weapons load crew of the quarter competition. The competition brings together weapons load crew members from all three fighter squadrons at Shaw to compete against each other to show who is the best. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston)(Released)

20th Fighter Wing crew of the quarter competition

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - Airman 1st Class Joseph Myers (left), and Senior Airman Gerry Escalona, 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load members, work together to quickly mount munitions onto an F-16 during a weapons load competition here July 8, 2011. The 20th Fighter Wing weapons standardization held their quarterly weapons load crew of the quarter competition. The competition brings together weapons load crew members from all three fighter squadrons at Shaw to compete against each other to show who is the best. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston)(Released)

20th Fighter Wing crew of the quarter competition

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Senior Airman Gerry Escalona, 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load member, prepares an F-16 to have munitions loaded onto it during a weapons load competition here July 8, 2011. The 20th Fighter Wing weapons standardization held their quarterly weapons load crew of the quarter competition. The competition brings together weapons load crew members from all three fighter squadrons at Shaw to compete against each other to show who is the best. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kenny Holston)(Released)

Last Alert

110506-F-6838W-098 SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Captain Jared Burris, 77th Fighter Squadron assistant chief of training, takes flight for the last alert scramble here May 6, 2011. Shaw's 20th Fighter Wing alert facility has guarded our the East Coast since Sept. 11, 2001 through Nov. 15, 2003, and Aug. 1, 2006 through May 9, 2011 (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Neil D. Warner) (Released)

Heritage: 20th Fighter Wing first tactical nuclear unit in '50s

Aerial refueling in 1952, a Republic F-84G of the 77th Fighter Bomber Squadron takes on fuel from a propeller-driven Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker. The F-84, which the 20th Fighter Bomber Wing flew for years, was the first fighter capable of in-flight refueling and nuclear strike. (U.S. Air Force photo)