318th Operations Support Squadron

The United States Air Force's 318th Operations Support Squadron is an operations support squadron located at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

318th Operations Support Squadron
Active1942–1944; 2011-present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeInformation operations support
Part ofAir Force Space Command
Garrison/HQLackland Air Force Base, Texas
Nickname(s)Nighthawks
Motto(s)"Swoop, Strike, Kill."
ColorsBlue, Black, White
Mascot(s)Knighthawk
Insignia
318th Operations Support Squadron emblem

Mission

The mission of the 318th Squadron is to "Deliver relevant, validated, tactics, intelligence, and synchronized capabilities to cyberspace warfighters while providing mission support throughout the 688th Cyberspace Wing."

History

The squadron was first activated at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina on 1 May 1943 as the 318th Airdrome Squadron.[1] The squadron provided support to the 309th Bombardment Group, a Replacement Training Unit that trained replacement aircrews using B-25 Mitchell aircraft.[2] However, the AAF was finding that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to performing the training and support missions. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[3] As a result, in 1944, the squadron was disbanded and merged into the 329th Army Air Force Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Medium, Bombardment).[4]

The squadron was reactivated in 2011, replacing the 23d Information Operations Squadron as the support organization for the 318th Information Operations Group.[5]

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 318th Airdrome Squadron (Special) c. 13 April 1943
  • Activated on 1 May 1943[1]
  • Disbanded on 1 May 1944[5]
  • Reconstituted on 10 November 2011 and redesignated 318th Operations Support Squadron[5]
  • Activated on 7 December 2011[5]

Assignments
  • Probably Third Air Force, 1 May 1943 – 1 May 1944
  • 318th Information Operations Group (later 318th Cyberspace Operations Group), 7 December 2011 – present[5][6]

Stations

Campaigns
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription1 May 1943 – 1 May 1944318th Airdrome Squadron[7]

See also

References

Notes
  1. "Abstract, History 318 Airdrome Squadron May-Sep 1943". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  2. Maurer, p. 184
  3. Goss, p. 75
  4. "Abstract, History of Columbia AAB Apr-Jun 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
  5. Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, December 2011, Maxwell AFB, AL
  6. "Factsheet 688th Cyberspace Wing". 688th Cyberspace Wing Commander's Action Group. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  7. Awarded for one year service in the Continental United States

Bibliography

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

  • Goss, William A (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158.
  • 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.
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