18th Wing: Difference between revisions
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=== World War II === |
=== World War II === |
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The [[Empire of Japan|Imperial Japanese]] attack on [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|December 7, 1941]], severely hurt the group — its only two [[P-40 Warhawk]]s to get airborne were immediately shot down, and the rest of the group’s aircraft were heavily damaged. |
The [[Empire of Japan|Imperial Japanese]] attack on [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|December 7, 1941]], severely hurt the group — its only two [[P-40 Warhawk]]s to get airborne were immediately shot down, and the rest of the group’s aircraft were heavily damaged. |
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The group, assigned to Seventh AF in Feb 1942, had to be re-equipped before it could resume training and begin patrol missions. |
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During March 1943, the group moved to the [[Pacific Ocean Areas|South Pacific]] Theater and rejoined the war effort as part of Thirteenth Air Force. During the war, the group participated in the island hopping campaign operating from bases in the [[New Hebrides]], [[Guadalcanal]] , [[New Guinea]] and the [[Philippine Islands]]. |
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During March 1943, the group moved to the [[Pacific Ocean Areas|South Pacific]] Theater and rejoined the war effort as part of Thirteenth Air Force and began operations from Guadalcanal. Flew protective patrols over US bases in the Solomons; later, escorted bombers to the Bismarcks, supported ground forces on Bougainville, and attacked enemy airfields and installations in the northern Solomons and New Britain. Used P-38, P-39, P-61, and P-70 aircraft. |
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Moved to New Guinea in Aug 1944. Equipped with P-38's. Escorted bombers to targets in the southern Philippines and Borneo, and attacked enemy airfields and installations in the Netherlands Indies. Received a DUC for actions at Ormoc Bay: on 10 Nov 1944 the group withstood intense flak and vigorous opposition from enemy interceptors to attack a Japanese convoy that was attempting to bring in additional troops for use against American forces that had landed on Leyte; on the following day a few of the group's planes returned to the same area, engaged a large force of enemy fighters, and destroyed a number of them. |
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Moved to the Philippines in Jan 1945. Supported ground forces on Luzon and Borneo, attacked shipping in the central Philippines, covered landings on Palawan, attacked airfields and railways on Formosa, and escorted bombers to such widely-scattered targets as Borneo, French Indochina, and Formosa. |
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At the end of the war, the group moved to [[Clark Field]] on [[Luzon]] and bceame part of Far East Air Forces after the war. Flew patrols and trained with F-80's, with the distinction of being the first overseas fighter unit to be jet-equipped. Lost all personnel in Mar 1947 but was remanned in Sep 1947. Equipped first with F-47's, later with F-51's, and still later (1949) with F-80's. |
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=== Korean War === |
=== Korean War === |
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Revision as of 02:32, 6 July 2007
| 18th Wing | |
|---|---|
| File:18thWingPatch.jpg 18th Wing Insignia | |
| Active | January 21, 1927 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter / Command & Control / Airlift |
| Part of | Fifth Air Force Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Kadena Air Base |
| Motto(s) | “Unguibus Et Rostro” With Talons and Beak |
| Engagements | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm |
The United States Air Force's 18th Wing is the host wing for Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan and is the Air Force’s largest combat wing. It is the largest and principal organization in the Pacific Air Forces Fifth Air Force.
Mission
The 18th Wing's mission is to defend U.S. and Japanese' mutual interests by providing a responsive staging and operational airbase with integrated, deployable, forward-based airpower. The focus of the unit's operations is directed to accomplishing this mission. Strategy used to employ this mission centers around a composite force of combat-ready fighter, air refueling, airborne warning and control and rescue aircraft.
Units
The 18th Wing is composed of five groups each with specific functions. The Operations Group controls all flying and airfield operations. The Maintenance Group performs Aircraft and Aircraft support equipment maintenance. The Mission Support Group has a wide range of responsibilities but a few of its functions are Security, Civil Engineering, Communications, Personnel Management, Logistics, Services and Contracting support. The Civil Engineer Group provides facilities management, while the Medical Group provides medical and dental care.
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Team Kadena includes associate units from five other Air Force major commands, the Navy, and numerous other Department of Defense agencies and direct reporting units. In addition to the 81 aircraft of the 18th Wing, associate units operate more than 20 permanently assigned, forward-based or deployed aircraft from the base on a daily basis.
History
Lineage
- 18th Pursuit Group, (1927 - 1939)
- 18th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), (1939 - 1942)
- 18th Fighter Group, (1942 - 1944)
- 18th Fighter Group (Single Engine), (1944)
- 18th Fighter Group, (Two Engine), (1944)
- 18th Fighter Group, (1944 - 1948)
- 18th Fighter Wing, (1948 - 1950)
- 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, (1950 - 1958)***
- 18th Tactical Fighter Wing (1958 - 1991)
- 18th Wing, (1991 - Present)
Note:***, Honors, lineage and history of USAAF 18th Fighter Group bestowed on USAF 18th Fighter Wing, 1952.
Bases Assigned
- Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii (1927 - 1943)
- Southwest Pacific (Various) (1943 - 1944)
- Phillipine Islands (Various) (1944 - 1950)
- Korea (Various) (1950 - 1954)
- Kadena AB, Okinawa (1954 - Present)
Origns
The 18th Wing has the unique distinction of being the only wing never stationed in the United States. 18th Wing heritage began on 21 January 1927, when the War Department activated a provisional pursuit group at Wheeler Field, Hawaii. Shortly thereafter the group was re-designated the 18th Pursuit Group.
Before World War II the group engaged in routine flying and gunnery training and participated in joint Army-Navy maneuvers, using DH-4, PW-9, P-12, P-26, P-36, and other aircraft.
World War II
The Imperial Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, severely hurt the group — its only two P-40 Warhawks to get airborne were immediately shot down, and the rest of the group’s aircraft were heavily damaged.
The group, assigned to Seventh AF in Feb 1942, had to be re-equipped before it could resume training and begin patrol missions.
During March 1943, the group moved to the South Pacific Theater and rejoined the war effort as part of Thirteenth Air Force and began operations from Guadalcanal. Flew protective patrols over US bases in the Solomons; later, escorted bombers to the Bismarcks, supported ground forces on Bougainville, and attacked enemy airfields and installations in the northern Solomons and New Britain. Used P-38, P-39, P-61, and P-70 aircraft.
Moved to New Guinea in Aug 1944. Equipped with P-38's. Escorted bombers to targets in the southern Philippines and Borneo, and attacked enemy airfields and installations in the Netherlands Indies. Received a DUC for actions at Ormoc Bay: on 10 Nov 1944 the group withstood intense flak and vigorous opposition from enemy interceptors to attack a Japanese convoy that was attempting to bring in additional troops for use against American forces that had landed on Leyte; on the following day a few of the group's planes returned to the same area, engaged a large force of enemy fighters, and destroyed a number of them.
Moved to the Philippines in Jan 1945. Supported ground forces on Luzon and Borneo, attacked shipping in the central Philippines, covered landings on Palawan, attacked airfields and railways on Formosa, and escorted bombers to such widely-scattered targets as Borneo, French Indochina, and Formosa.
At the end of the war, the group moved to Clark Field on Luzon and bceame part of Far East Air Forces after the war. Flew patrols and trained with F-80's, with the distinction of being the first overseas fighter unit to be jet-equipped. Lost all personnel in Mar 1947 but was remanned in Sep 1947. Equipped first with F-47's, later with F-51's, and still later (1949) with F-80's.
In August 1948, it became a subordinate unit to the newly activated 18th Fighter Wing. On 20 January 1950, the wing was re-designated the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing.
Korean War
Two of the wing’s three fighter squadrons (12th and 67th) flying P-51 Mustangs deployed to Korea in June 1950, where Major Louis J. Sebille because the first wing Airman to receive the Medal of Honor (posthumously). The 44th Fighter Squadron, with its F-80 Shooting Stars, remained on Clark to provide air defense for the Philippines .
Cold War
The wing moved to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa , Japan , in November 1954. In 1957, the wing converted to the F-100 Super Sabre. In July 1958, the wing was re-designated as the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing. The 18 TFW converted to F-4 Phantoms in 1971, and received F-15 Eagles in 1979. In November of that same year, the wing became part of the 313th Air Division.
Post Cold War
In October 1991, as part of an Air Force-wide reorganization, the 313th Air Division inactivated and the newly re-designated 18th Wing absorbed its assets. The wing gained several new units with the reorganization, including the 961st Airborne Warning and Control Squadron; 81st Air Control Squadron; 623d Air Control Flight; 909th Air Refueling Squadron; and Kadena’s support, logistics and medical units.
In 1999, the 18th Wing underwent another change as one of its three F-15 units, the 12th Fighter Squadron, moved under the 3d Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.
The 18th Wing has earned many honors over the years, including 17 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.
See Also
References