18th Air Support Operations Group

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18th Air Support Operations Group
Active 1943–1944; 1945-1946; 1992–present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Air Operations Group
Part of Ninth Air Force
Garrison/HQ Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina
Engagements Mediterranean Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
18th Air Support Operations Group emblem (approved 15 February 1996)[1] USAF - 18th Air Support Operations Group.png

The 18th Air Support Operations Group is a combat support group of the United States Air Force. It is located at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina. The group was originally the 18th Air Support Communications Squadron and served in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operations during World War II air communications squadron.

The 18th provides tactical command and control of air power assets for the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps. In this role its subordinate squadrons provide tactical combat command and control to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Land Component Commander.

History

The organization was originally activated in April 1943 as the 18 Air Support Communication Squadron. The squadron trained in the southeastern United States under Third Air Force until February 1944, when it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and was assigned to XII Air Support Command. The unit was redesignated the 18 Tactical Air Communications Squadron and moved to Italy in April. It was disbanded in Italy in June 1944.[1]

The squadron was reconstituted and activated in Germany on 15 April 1945, where it became part of Ninth Air Force. It returned to the United States in July and was inactivated in the summer of 1946. The squadron was disbanded while inactive in October 1948[1]

In June 1992, the unit was reconstituted and redesignated as the 18th Air Support Group. It assumed much of the responsibilities of the inactivating 507th Air Control Wing. It was redesignated 18th Air Support Operations Group on 1 July 1994.[1]

Organization

In addition to group headquarters, the 18th includes a number of subordinate squadrons. These units are located at Pope Army Airfield except as indicated.[2]

14th Air Support Operations Squadron (supports 82d Airborne Division)
15th Air Support Operations Squadron
Fort Stewart, Georgia (supports 1st, 2nd & 4th Brigade Combat Teams, 3rd Infantry Division)
Fort Benning, Georgia (supports 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division)
18th Weather Squadron
Simmons Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Detachment 1, Fort Drum, New York
Detachment 3, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
Detachment 4, Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Operating Location B, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Operating Location C, Fort Rucker, Alabama
Operating Location D, Fort Polk, Louisiana
Operating Location Q, Fort Knox, Kentucky
19th Air Support Operations Squadron
Fort Campbell, Kentucky (supports 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault))
20th Air Support Operations Squadron
Fort Drum, New York (supports 1st, 2nd & 3rd Brigade Combat Teams, 10th Mountain Division)
Detachment. 1 Fort Polk, Louisiana (supports 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division)
682d Air Support Operations Squadron

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 18th Air Support Communication Squadron on 24 March 1943
Activated on 1 April 1943
  • Redesignated 18th Tactical Air Communications Squadron on 1 April 1944
  • Disbanded on 10 June 1944
  • Reconstituted on 19 March 1945
Activated on 15 April 1945
Inactivated on 12 August 1946
  • Disbanded on 8 October 1948
  • Reconstituted, redesignated 18th Air Support Group, and activated on 15 June 1992
  • Redesignated 18th Air Support Operations Group on 1 July 1994[1]

Assignments

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  • III Air Support Command (later III Reconnaissance Command): 1 April 1943
  • I Tactical Air Division: 3 November 1943
  • XII Air Support Command (later XII Tactical Air Command): c. 12 February 1944 - 10 June 1944
  • Ninth Air Force: 15 April 1945
  • XXIX Tactical Air Command (Provisional): 3 Jul 1945
  • Fourth Air Force: c. 24 August 1945
  • Third Air Force: 8 March 1946
  • Ninth Air Force: 28 March 1946 - 12 August 1946
  • 23d Wing: 15 June 1992
  • Ninth Air Force: 1 February 1994 – present[1]

Stations

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See also

References

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  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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