Country United States Part of Ninth Air Force | Role Air Operations Group | |
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Active 1943–1944; 1945-1946; 1992–present Branch United States Air Force Garrison/HQ Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina | ||
The 18th Air Support Operations Group is a combat support group of the United States Air Force. It is located at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina. The group was originally the 18th Air Support Communications Squadron and served in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operations during World War II air communications squadron.
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The 18th provides tactical command and control of air power assets for the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps. In this role its subordinate squadrons provide tactical combat command and control to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Land Component Commander.
History
The organization was originally activated in April 1943 as the 18 Air Support Communication Squadron. The squadron trained in the southeastern United States under Third Air Force until February 1944, when it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and was assigned to XII Air Support Command. The unit was redesignated the 18 Tactical Air Communications Squadron and moved to Italy in April. It was disbanded in Italy in June 1944.
The squadron was reconstituted and activated in Germany on 15 April 1945, where it became part of Ninth Air Force. It returned to the United States in July and was inactivated in the summer of 1946. The squadron was disbanded while inactive in October 1948
In June 1992, the unit was reconstituted and redesignated as the 18th Air Support Group. It assumed much of the responsibilities of the inactivating 507th Air Control Wing. It was redesignated 18th Air Support Operations Group on 1 July 1994.
Organization
In addition to group headquarters, the 18th includes a number of subordinate squadrons. These units are located at Pope Army Airfield except as indicated.
14th Air Support Operations Squadron (supports 82d Airborne Division) 15th Air Support Operations Squadron 18th Weather Squadron 19th Air Support Operations Squadron