18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2012) |
18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1940–1946; 1952–1971; 1977–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Interceptor |
Part of | Pacific Air Forces |
Garrison/HQ | Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska |
Nickname(s) | Blue Foxes |
Engagements | World War II – Asiatic–Pacific Theater
|
Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Insignia | |
18th Aggressor Squadron emblem[1] | |
18th Fighter Squadron emblem[2][note 2] |
The 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (18th FIS) is a subordinate unit of the
Mission
The 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron provides aerospace control for homeland defense missions in the Alaska Theater of Operations.[3]
History
Activated in 1940 as a
Air Defense Command
Reactivated in 1952 as part of
Reassigned to
Modern era
On 1 October 1977 the squadron was reactivated under the
From 1981 to 1991 the squadron conducted air-to-ground operations with the A-10, assigned to the
In 1991, the squadron converted to the
The squadron's next deployment was to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base from December 2001 to March 2002 to support simultaneous combat operations for Operations
The squadron deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in support of Operation Noble Eagle during March 2003. The unit also participated in Exercise Commando Sling in October 2003.
Red Flag – Alaska
As part of the change from COPE THUNDER to
In 2013, the Air Force, responding to the
Lineage
- Constituted 18th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939
- Activated on 1 February 1940
- Redesignated 18th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
- Redesignated 18th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943
- Redesignated 18th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine on 6 March 1945
- Inactivated on 15 August 1946
- Redesignated 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 10 October 1952
- Activated on 1 December 1952
- Inactivated on 15 April 1971
- Redesignated 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 19 September 1977
- Activated on 1 October 1977
- Redesignated 18th Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1991[2]
- Redesignated 18th Aggressor Squadron on 1 October 2007[8]
- Redesignated 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron on 2 February 2024 [3][9]
Assignments
- 35th Pursuit Group, 1 February 1940
- 28th Composite Group, c. 24 February 1941
- XI Fighter Command, 7 June 1942
- 343d Fighter Group, 11 September 1942 – 15 August 1946
- 31st Air Division, 1 December 1952
- 514th Air Defense Group, 16 February 1953
- 11th Air Division, 1 September 1954
- 5001st Air Defense Group, 20 September 1954
- 11th Air Division, 1 October 1955
- 412th Fighter Group, 20 August 1957
- 30th Air Division, 1 April 1960
- 478th Fighter Group, 1 May 1960
- 478th Fighter Wing, 1 February 1961
- Grand Forks Air Defense Sector, 1 July 1963
- Duluth Air Defense Sector, 4 September 1963
- 29th Air Division, 1 April 1966
- 28th Air Division, 15 September 1969
- 24th Air Division, 19 November 1969 – 15 April 1971
- 21st Composite Wing, 1 October 1977
- 343d Tactical Fighter Group, 15 November 1977
- 21st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 January 1980
- 343d Composite Wing(later 343d Tactical Fighter Wing), 1 January 1982
- 343d Operations Group, 1 July 1991
- 354th Operations Group, 20 August 1993 – Present[2]
Stations
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Aircraft
- Curtiss P-36 Hawk, 1940–1941
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1941–1945
- Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1943
- Lockheed P-38 Lightning, 1943–1946
- North American P-51 Mustang, 1946
- North American F-51D Mustang, 1952–1953
- North American F-86A Sabre, 1953–1954
- Northrop F-89D Scorpion, 1954–1957
- Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, 1957–1960
- McDonnell F-101B Voodoo, 1960–1971
- McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, 1977–1981
- Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, 1982–1991
- General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon, since 1991[2]
Operations
- Combat in Northern Pacific, and defense of Alaska, during World War II
- Air Defense of US, 1952–1971 and 1977–1982
- Close air support for Alaskan/PACAF areas of responsibility, since 1982
Decorations
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 June 1962 – 31 May 1964; 7 June 1966 – 8 June 1968; 1 January – 31 December 1978; 1 January 1983 – 30 June 1984; 1 July 1985 – 30 June 1987; 1 January 1988 – 31 December 1989; 1 July 1990 – 30 June 1992.
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- Citations
- ^ "Factsheet 18th Aggressor Squadron". Eielson Air Force Base Public Affairs. 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Factsheet 18 Fighter Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 4 January 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ a b Hanson, Spencer. "18th AGRS redesignates to 18th FIS". DVIDS. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Pacific Wrecks - P-40K Warhawk pilot Levy". Pacific Wrecks.
- ^ Richmond, Allen (May 2013). "Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Proposal to Relocate the 18th Aggressor Squadron (18 AGRS) from Eielson Air Force Base (EAFB), Alaska to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska and to Right-Size the Remaining Wing Overhead/Base Operating Support at EAFB, Alaska" (PDF). Air Force Civil Engineer Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ Buxton, Matt (16 July 2013). "Eielson's F-16 Aggressor squadron returns to the skies". newsminer.com The Voice of Interior Alaska. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ Friedman, Sam (2 October 2013). "Alaska delegation: F-16s to remain at Eielson Air Force Base". newsminer.com The Voice of Interior Alaska. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ Air Force Organizational Status Change Report, October 2007 Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL
- ^ Rogoway, Tyler (3 April 2024). "F-16 Aggressor Squadron In Alaska Becomes Unique Air Defense Unit". The War Zone. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.
External links
Media related to 18th Aggressor Squadron (United States Air Force) at Wikimedia Commons
- "18th Aggressor Squadron (USAF PACAF)". F-16.net. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- Deano. "USAF Aggressor Squadrons". Aces Flying High (Blog). Retrieved 25 March 2015.