18th Flight Test Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 18th Flight Test Squadron


caption=
dates=
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Special Operations
role=
size=
command_structure= U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
United States Special Operations Command
garrison=
garrison_label=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
march=
mascot=
equipment=
equipment_label=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 18th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) is an independent field test agency of the Air Force Special Operations Command located at Hurlburt Field, Florida with one detachment at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The 18th FLTS evaluates aircraft, equipment and tactics in realistic battlespace environments to provide decision makers accurate, timely and complete assessments of mission capability. From concept development to system fielding, the unit's mission improves the survivability and combat capability of special operations forces worldwide.

History

The 18th FLTS lineage traces back to the 18th Bombardment Squadron activated Jan. 15, 1941. Flying the PT-17 Stearman, B-18 Bolo and B-17 Flying Fortress, the squadron supported Allied actions in Europe during World War II. Following victory in Europe, the unit was deactivated Aug. 18, 1945.

The 18th returned to action as the 18th Special Operations Squadron Jan. 25, 1969. Activated at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, and deployed to Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam, the 18th SOS flew the AC-119K gunship. The squadron's primary mission was the interdiction of enemy supply lines, close air support, and air base defense. Following the transfer of the aircraft to the South Vietnamese Air Force, the 18th SOS was inactivated Dec. 31, 1972.

On Oct. 1, 1983, the Special Missions Operations Test and Evaluation Center (SMOTEC) was activated at Hurlburt Field by order of the Secretary of the Air Force as a direct reporting unit of Headquarters Military Airlift Command at Scott Air Force Base. SMOTEC was formed through the consolidation of the test and evaluation function previously assigned to the 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing, located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, which was responsible for combat rescue and related test. It was also responsible for the informal test and evaluation staffs of the 2nd Air Division and the 1st Special Operations Wing, at Hurlburt Field. Though testing was reassigned to SMOTEC in October 1983, most of the testing continued at Kirtland for the reminder of that year. [cite web
url=http://www2.afsoc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=219
title=18th FTS Fact Sheet
accessdate=2008-01-21]

Units

The 18th FLTS is composed of approximately 96 people. The squadron consists of seven flights: fixed wing, vertical lift, operations analysis, combat applications, special missions, instrumentation and mission support.

The one detachment at Edwards Air Force Base, which is responsible for operational test and evaluation and tactics development and evaluation of the MV/CV-22 Osprey and supports Headquarters Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center in conducting joint tests with the Navy and Marine Corps.

SMOTEC filled a unique role by exploring new frontiers in special operations capabilities and developed better equipment and tactics to support Air Force special operations forces located throughout the world. It provided AFSOC with the centralized expertise needed for development and operational testing of new systems and tactics, proposed changes in doctrine, and recommended new requirements. The unit's co-location with the 1st SOW made it ideally suited to perform the mission of improving the worldwide Air Force aim of special operations forces.

On 1 October, 1993 the 1st SOW was redesignated as the 16th SOW. SMOTEC remained a direct reporting unit to Headquarters AFSOC until March 31, 1994. On April 1, 1994, massive Air Force organizational changes dictated the unit's deactivation and realignment under the 18th Flight Test Squadron, also a direct reporting unit to HQ AFSOC.

Notes

References

Much of this text in this article was taken from [http://www2.afsoc.af.mil/ USAFSOC] which as a work of the U.S. Government is presumed to be a public domain resource.

* [http://www2.afsoc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=219 18th Flight Test Squadron Fact Sheet]