918th Air Refueling Squadron

F-5 Lightning

B-24 Liberator of a US based unit

The squadron was first activated in July 1943 as the 18th Photographic Mapping Squadron at Colorado Springs Army Air Base, one of the original squadrons of the 4th Photographic Group, and equipped with Lockheed F-5 Lighting reconnaissance aircraft. It trained in photographic reconnaissance under Second Air Force.[1] In late 1942, the 4th group deployed to the South Pacific, where it flew combat missions with Thirteenth Air Force.[2] However, only a portion of the squadron's air echelon deployed with the group. This part of the squadron re-equipped with North American B-25 Mitchells.[1]

Reconnaissance version of the B-25 Mitchell

The bulk of the air echelon equipped with Consolidated B-24 Liberators and remained in the United States.[1] The deployed elements of the squadron flew missions over enemy-held territory in Guadalcanal, New Guinea, the northern Solomon Islands, and the Bismarck Archipelago. The unit became the 18th Combat Mapping Squadron and produced maps of Allied and enemy held territory and prepared navigational charts for American units.[2] After October 1943, the unit was attached to the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group in the China Burma India Theater and operated under that group's control until January 1944.[3] Simultaneously with the attachment of the deployed air echelon to the 8th group, the element remaining behind in the United States moved to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma.[1]

The United States echelon was inactivated on 15 January 1944 and the overseas echelon on 20 February 1944.[1]

The squadron was redesignated the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron[lower-alpha 1] and again activated in 1947 as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) at Newark Army Air Base, New Jersey. Its training was supervised by the 114th AAF Base Unit (later the 2231st Air Force Reserve Training Center).[4][5] It does not appear that the unit was fully manned or equipped.[6]

In 1948 Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve units from ADC.[7] The 18th was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system in June 1949.[1] President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget also required elimination of a number of units in the Air Force, and the 18th was not replaced as reserve flying operations at Newark ceased.[8]

The 918th Air Refueling Squadron was one of two air refueling squadrons activated in 1960 at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma[9] for movement to other bases to provide Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker support to dispersed Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers. Cadre and aircraft for the squadron was drawn from the 96th Air Refueling Squadron, which was inactivated[10] The decision to organize squadrons at Altus for movement elsewhere was reversed shortly after the 918th was organized, and the squadron was inactivated and its personnel and aircraft were returned to the 96th, which was reactivated.[10][11]

In September 1985, the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 918th Air Refueling Squadron were consolidated into a single unit under the name 918th Air Refueling Squadron.[12]

• 4th Photographic Group (later Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, Photographic Group), 23 July 1942 – 20 February 1944

Air echelon assigned to the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, 9 October 1943 – 15 January 1944

• 66th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, 6 November 1947 – 27 June 1949[1]
• 11th Bombardment Wing, 1 October 1960 – 15 December 1950[13]

• Colorado Springs Army Air Base, Colorado, 23 July 1942 – 12 December 1942 (the bulk of air echelon remained at Colorado Springs until 12 October 1943, then moved to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, where it was inactivated on 15 January 1944)
• Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield, New Caledonia, 20 January 1943 – 25 January 1943
• Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, 2 February 1943 – 20 February 1944 (a detachment of the air echelon was at Luganville after 4 April 1943)
• Newark Army Air Base, New Jersey, 6 November 1947 – 27 June 1949[1]
• Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 1 October 1960 – 15 December 1960[9]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Knaack, Marcelle Size (1988). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems. Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.