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18th Wing

18th Wing
USAF - 18th Wing.png
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
World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg
  • World War II
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (1941–1945)
  • Korean Service (1950–1953)
Decorations Outstanding Unit ribbon.svg AFOUA
Presidential Unit Citation (Korea).svg ROK PUC
Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg 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.

The 18th Fighter Wing was established on 10 August 1948, and activated four days later at Clark Air Force Base. On January 20, 1950, the wing was re-designated the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing.


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Wikipedia

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