18th Fighter-Bomber Wing
| 18th Wing | |
|---|---|
18th Wing Insignia
|
|
| Active | August 1948-present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter / Command & Control / Airlift / Rescue |
| Part of |
Fifth Air Force Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Kadena Air Base |
| Motto(s) | “Unguibus Et Rostro” With Talons and Beak |
| Engagements |
  
|
| Decorations |
 AFOUA.svg){kind=small} ROK PUC RVGC w/ Palm
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Barry R. Cornish, Brigadier General, USAF |
| Notable commanders |
Patrick K. Gamble Richard E. Hawley William T. Hobbins Lauris Norstad George B. Simler |
The United States Air Force's 18th Wing is the host wing for Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan and is the Air Force’s largest combat wing. It is the largest and principal organization in the Pacific Air Forces Fifth Air Force.
The Wing's 18th Operations Group is a successor organization of the 18th Pursuit Group, one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the Army before World War II.
The 18th Wing's mission is to defend U.S. and Japanese' mutual interests by providing a responsive staging and operational airbase with integrated, deployable, forward-based airpower. The focus of the unit's operations is directed to accomplishing this mission. Strategy used to employ this mission centers around a composite force of combat-ready fighter, air refueling, airborne warning and control and rescue aircraft as well as medical aircrews tasked with transporting patients by air.
The 18th Wing is composed of five groups each with specific functions. The Operations Group controls all flying and airfield operations. The Maintenance Group performs Aircraft and Aircraft support equipment maintenance. The Mission Support Group has a wide range of responsibilities but a few of its functions are Security, Communications, Personnel Management, Logistics, Services and Contracting support. The Civil Engineer Group provides facilities management, while the Medical Group provides medical and dental care.
Team Kadena includes associate units from five other Air Force major commands, the Navy, and numerous other Department of Defense agencies and direct reporting units. In addition to the 61 aircraft of the 18th Wing, associate units operate more than 20 permanently assigned, forward-based or deployed aircraft from the base on a daily basis.
The fighting cock emblem, approved in 1931, symbolizes the courage and aggressiveness of a combat organization.
On 10 August 1948 the 18th Fighter Wing was established. On January 20, 1950, the wing was re-designated the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing.
The 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing was reassigned to Korea in July 1950 and entered combat. Its organization was as follows:
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Wikipedia