18th Strategic Aerospace Division

{{Use American English|date=December 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox military unit |unit_name= 18th Strategic Aerospace Division |image= Shield Strategic Air Command.png |caption= |dates=1929–1942; 1942–1944; 1959–1968 |country={{flag|United States|23px}} |allegiance= |branch={{air force|USA}} |type= |role= |size= |command_structure= |garrison= |garrison_label= |equipment= |equipment_label= |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours=  |current_commander= |current_commander_label= |ceremonial_chief= |ceremonial_chief_label= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |colonel_of_the_regiment_label= |notable_commanders=  |identification_symbol=[[File:18th Strategic Aerospace Division crest.jpg|165px]] |identification_symbol_label=18th Strategic Aerospace Division emblem <small>(approved)</small><ref name=18SADfacts>{{cite web |url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10071 |title=Factsheet 18 Strategic Aerospace Division |publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121030115716/http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10071 |date=4 October 2007|archive-date=30 October 2012|access-date=6 April 2014}}</ref> |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= }} The '''18th Strategic Aerospace Division''' is an inactive [[United States Air Force]] unit. Its last assignment was with the [[Fifteenth Air Force]] at [[Fairchild Air Force Base]], Washington, where it was inactivated on 2 July 1968.

==History== The '''18th Composite 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).<ref name=18SADfacts/>

From June 1942 until 1944, it operated as the '''18th Replacement Wing''', processing personnel entering Second Air Force.<ref name=18SADfacts/>

Redesignated as the '''18th Air Division''' on 1 July 1959, it assured that assigned wings were organized, crewed, trained, and equipped to conduct long-range bombardment operations using either nuclear or conventional weapons.<ref name=18SADfacts/>

The division was redesignated as '''18 Strategic Aerospace Division''' on 15 February 1962, and 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 for combat during the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name=18SADfacts/>

The division was inactivated on 2 July 1968 due to budget constraints.<ref name=18SADfacts/>

==Lineage== * Established as the '''18th Composite Wing''' on 8 May 1929 : Activated on 1 May 1931 : Redesignated '''18th Wing''' on 1 September 1937 : Redesignated '''18th Bombardment Wing''' on 19 October 1940 : Inactivated on 29 January 1942 * Redesignated '''18th Replacement Wing''' on 17 June 1942 : Activated on 23 June 1942 : Disestablished on 11 April 1944 * Reestablished and redesignated '''18th Air Division''' on 20 May 1959 : Activated on 1 July 1959 : Redesignated '''18th Strategic Aerospace Division''' on 15 February 1962 : Discontinued and inactivated on 2 July 1968<ref name=18SADfacts/>

===Assignments=== * Hawaiian Department, 1 May 1931 * [[Hawaiian 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<ref name=18SADfacts/>

===Components=== '''Wings''' * [[6th Strategic Wing]]: 25 March 1967 – 2 July 1968 * [[91st Bombardment Wing]]: 1 July 1963 – 1 September 1964 * [[92d Bombardment Wing]] (later 92 Strategic Aerospace Wing): 1 July 1959 – 2 July 1968 * [[320th Bombardment Wing]]: 1 July 1965 – 2 July 1966 * [[341st Strategic Missile Wing]]: 2 July 1966 – 2 July 1968 * [[462d Strategic Aerospace Wing]]: 1 February 1963 – 25 June 1966 * [[4157th Strategic Wing]]: 1 July 1965 – 25 March 1967 * [[4158th Strategic Wing]]: 1 July 1965 – 25 June 1966 * 4170th Strategic Wing: 1 July 1959 – 1 February 1963<ref name=18SADfacts/>

'''Groups''' * [[5th Composite Group]] (later, 5 Bombardment Group): 1 May 1931 – 29 January 1942 * [[11th Bombardment Group]]: 1 February 1940 – 29 January 1942 * [[18th Pursuit Group]]: 1 May 1931 – 1 November 1940

===Stations=== * [[Fort Shafter]], Hawaii, 1 May 1931 * [[Hickam Field]], Hawaii Territory, 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<ref name=18SADfacts/>

===Campaigns=== {| class="wikitable" ! Campaign Streamer ! Campaign ! Dates ! Notes |- |[[File:Streamer APC.PNG|200px]]||Central Pacific||7 December 1941 – 19 January 1942||18th Bombardment Wing<ref name=18SADfacts/> |- |[[File:Streamer AC.PNG|200px]] ||American Theater without inscription||23 June 1942 – 11 April 1944 ||18th Replacement Wing<ref name=18SADfacts/> |}

==See also== * [[List of United States Air Force air divisions]] {{Clear}}

==References==

===Notes=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}} * {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210115181723/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 15 January 2021 |edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}} * {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|url-access=registration}}

[[Category:Strategic Aerospace divisions of the United States Air Force|018]] [[Category:1931 establishments in Hawaii]] [[Category:1944 disestablishments in Utah]] [[Category:1959 establishments in Washington (state)]] [[Category:1968 disestablishments in Washington (state)]]