18th Strategic Aerospace Division

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

18th Strategic Aerospace Division

Official crest of the 18th Strategic Aerospace Division
Active 8 May 192929 January 1942
17 June 194211 April 1944
20 May 19592 July 1968
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Garrison/HQ see "Stations" section below
Equipment see "Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles" section below
Decorations see "Lineage and honors" section below


Contents

[edit] History

The 18th Wing served as part of the defense force for the Hawaiian Islands from 1 May 193129 January 1942. It inactivated after suffering disastrous losses in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (7 December 1941). From June 1942–April 1944, it operated as a Replacement Wing, processing personnel entering Second Air Force. Redesignated an Air Division on 1 July 1959, it assured that assigned wings were organized, manned, trained, and equipped to conduct long-range bombardment operations using either nuclear or conventional weapons. The division also developed and maintained a strategic missile operational capability. Between 1965 and 1968, subordinate units of the 18th loaned aircraft and aircrews to SAC organizations in Southeast Asia for combat operations.


[edit] Background of name

[edit] Mission

[edit] Operations

[edit] Lineage and honors

Established as 18 Composite Wing on 8 May 1929. Activated on 1 May 1931. Redesignated: 18 Wing on 1 September 1937; 18 Bombardment Wing on 19 October 1940. Inactivated on 29 January 1942.

Redesignated 18 Replacement Wing on 17 June 1942. Activated on 23 June 1942. Disestablished on 11 April 1944.

Reestablished, and redesignated 18 Air Division, on 20 May 1959. Activated on 1 July 1959. Redesignated 18 Strategic Aerospace Division on 15 February 1962. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 2 July 1968.

[edit] Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

World War II: American Theater

[edit] Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

World War II: Central Pacific.

[edit] Armed forces expeditionary streamers

none

[edit] Decorations

This unit earned the following unit decorations:

none

[edit] Awards

[edit] Emblem

On a sky proper, two cloud formations, one issuant from sinister chief, the other from dexter base fesswise argent, surmounted by an olive branch originating in dexter base and extending to chief in pale or, overall a bend diminished to chief sable fimbriated of the second and charged with three lightning flashes radiant from dexter chief bendwise gules, each flash terminating in sinister base near a mullet one and two bendwise of the second and all within a diminished border of the third. (Approved 14 June 1960)


[edit] Assignments

Hawaiian Department, 1 May 1931; Hawaiian Air Force (later, Seventh Air Force), 1 November 194029 January 1942.

Second Air Force, 23 June 194211 April 1944.

Fifteenth Air Force, 1 July 19592 July 1968.


[edit] Components

Wings:

Groups:


[edit] Stations

Fort Shafter, Territory of Hawaii, 1 May 1931; Hickam Field (later, Hickam Air Force Base, Territory of Hawaii, 30 October 193729 January 1942.

Salt Lake City, Utah, 23 June 194211 April 1944.

Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 1 July 19592 July 1968.


[edit] Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles

A-3, 1931-1938; Keystone B-4, 1931-1937; Keystone B-5, 1931-1937; Keystone LB-6, 1931-1937; 0-19, 1931-1937; OA-1, 1931-1937; Boeing P-12, 1931-1940; Boeing PW-9, 1931-1938; Martin B-12, 1934-1941; A-12 Shrike, 1936-1941; OA-3, c. 1936-1941; B-18 Bolo, 1938-1942; BT-2, 1938-1940; BT-9, 1938-1940; OA-9, 1939-1940; P-26 Peashooter, 1938-1940; P-36 Hawk, 1938-1940; P-40 Warhawk, 1940; B-17 Flying Fortress, 1941-1942.

B-52 Stratofortress, 1959-1968; KC-135 Stratotanker, 1959-1968; Atlas, 1961-1965; Titan I, 1963-1965; Minuteman I, 1966-1968; Minuteman II, 1967-1968; RC-135, 1967-1968.


[edit] Commanders

  • Lieutenant Colonel Gerald C. Brant, May 1931;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Delos C. Emmons, August 1934;
  • Lieutenant Colonel John C. McDonnell, July 1936;
  • Lieutenant Colonel Hume Peabody, July 1936;
  • Lieutenant Colonel John C. McDonnell, July 1936;
  • Brigadier General Barton K. Yount, September 1936;
  • Colonel Millard F. Harmon, July 1937;
  • Brigadier General Barton K. Yount, July 1937;
  • Brig General Walter H. Frank, September 1938;
  • Colonel Shepler W. FitzGerald, July 1940;
  • Colonel Howard C. Davidson, October 1940;
  • Brigadier General Jacob H. Rudolph, 25 November 1940;
  • Brigadier General Willis H. Hale, 20 January 194229 January 1942.

[edit] References


    [edit] External links