18th Wing, US Air Force

18TH WING, US AIR FORCE

History: Established as 18 Fighter Wing on 10 August 1948. Activated on 14 August 1948. Redesignated as: 18 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 20 January 1950; 18 Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 July 1958; 18 Wing on 1 October 1991. From 1 December 1948 to 16 May 1949, wing was the major Far East Air Forces organization in the Philippines. Conducted aerial mapping, 1948-1950. In late Jul 1950, the group and two squadrons deployed to Korea for combat, converting to F-51s, while the wing continued air defense of the Philippines. Wing rejoined the group in Korea on 1 December 1950 and resumed operational control. Combat operations included armed reconnaissance, strategic bombing, close ground support, aerial combat and interdiction. Converted to F-86s in early 1953 and continued counterair and ground attack missions until July 1953 armistice. Moved to Okinawa on 1 November 1954, supporting tactical operations there and in Korea, Japan, Formosa (later Taiwan), and the Philippines. Deployed at Yonton Auxiliary AB, Okinawa, 10 November-11 December 1954. Deployed at Chia-Yi, Formosa, 1-16 February 1955. Performed reconnaissance, 1960-1989. Supported combat operations in Southeast Asia from 1961 with deployed reconnaissance forces, and from 1964 with deployed tactical fighter forces until the end of that conflict. Deployed at Osan AB, South Korea, 28 January-c. 13 June 1968, following North Korean seizure of USS Pueblo. Maintained air defense alert capability in South Korea, 1978-. Converted from F-4 to F-15 aircraft, 1979-1980. Continued to maintain assigned aircraft, crews, and supporting personnel in a high state of readiness for tactical air requirements of Fifth Air Force and the Pacific Air Forces. Beginning October 1991, the mission of the wing expanded to include aerial refueling and surveillance, warning, command and control, and communications. Added airlift mission in June 1992, transported mission critical personnel, high-priority cargo and distinguished visitors. In February 1993, gained responsibility for coordinating rescue operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Involved in Indian Ocean Tsunami humanitarian relief effort, 2004; supported Global War on Terrorism; personnel deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq, 2004-. Awarded the Mackay Trophy for 2009. Performed search and rescue operations after earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, March 2011.

Official blazon

English

blazon wanted

Origin/meaning

The Emblem was approved for 18 Pursuit (later, Fighter) Group on 21 February 1931 and for 18 Wing on 17 April 1953; slightly modified on 5 March 1998. Literature: Image from Wikimedia Commons

. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/