18th Strategic Aerospace Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 18th Strategic Aerospace Division


caption= 18th Strategic Aerospace Division emblem
dates= 8 May 1929–29 January 1942
17 June 1942–11 April 1944
20 May 1959–2 July 1968
country= United States
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History

The 18th Wing served as part of the defense force for the Hawaiian Islands from 1 May 1931–29 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.

Background of name

Mission

Operations

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.

Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

World War II: American Theater

Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

World War II: Central Pacific.

Armed forces expeditionary streamers

none

Decorations

This unit earned the following unit decorations:

none

Awards

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)

Assignments

Hawaiian Department, 1 May 1931;Hawaiian Air Force (later, Seventh Air Force), 1 November 1940–29 January 1942.

Second Air Force, 23 June 1942–11 April 1944.

Fifteenth Air Force, 1 July 1959–2 July 1968.

Components

Wings:
* 6 Strategic: 25 March 1967–2 July 1968.
* 91 Bombardment: 1 July 1963–1 September 1964.
* 92 Bombardment (later, 92 Strategic Aerospace): 1 July 1959–2 July 1968.
* 320 Bombardment: 1 July 1965–2 July 1966.
* 341 Strategic Missile: 2 July 1966–2 July 1968.
* 462 Strategic Aerospace: 1 February 1963–25 June 1966.
* 4157 Strategic Wing: 1 July 1965–25 March 1967.
* 4158 Strategic: 1 July 1965–25 June 1966.
* 4170 Strategic: 1 July 1959–1 February 1963.

Groups:
* 5 (Composite) (later, 5 Bombardment): 1 May 1931–29 January 1942.
* 11 Bombardment: 1 February 1940–29 January 1942.
* 18 Pursuit: 1 May 1931–1 November 1940.

Stations

Fort Shafter, Territory of Hawaii, 1 May 1931;Hickam Field (later, Hickam Air Force Base, Territory of Hawaii, 30 October 1937–29 January 1942.

Salt Lake City, Utah, 23 June 1942–11 April 1944.

Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 1 July 1959–2 July 1968.

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.

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 1942–29 January 1942.

*Colonel Henry W. Harms, 23 June 1942;
*Colonel Frank W. Wright, 30 January 1944;
*Colonel Henry W. Harms, 27 March 1944–11 April 1944.

*Colonel Lester F. Miller (temporary), 1 July 1959;
*Brigadier General Harold W. Ohlke, 16 July 1959;
*Major General William C. Kingsbury, 19 July 1963;
*Brigadier General Francis W. Nye, 1 April 1966;
*Brigadier General Arthur W. Holderness Jr., 23 October 1967–2 July 1968.

References

External links

* [http://www.au.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0018sad.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 18th Strategic Aerospace Division]