| 18th Air Support Operations Group | |
|---|---|
 18th Air Support Operations Group emblem[1] | |
| Active | 1943–1944; 1945-1946; 1992–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Air Operations Group |
| Part of | Ninth Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Pope Field, North Carolina |
| Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations European Theater of Operations |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
The18th Air Support Operations Group is a combat support group of theUnited States Air Force. It is located atPope Field, North Carolina. The group was originally the18th Air Support Communications Squadron and served in theMediterranean andEuropean Theaters of Operations duringWorld War II as an air communications squadron.
The 18th ASOG provides tactical command and control of air power assets for the U.S. Army'sXVIII Airborne Corps. In this role its subordinate squadrons provide tactical combatcommand and control to theJoint Forces Air Component Commander andJoint Forces Land Component Commander.
The organization was originally activated in April 1943 as the 18th Air Support Communication Squadron. The squadron trained in the southeastern United States underThird Air Force until February 1944, when it deployed to theMediterranean Theater of Operations and was assigned toXII Air Support Command. The unit was redesignated the 18th Tactical Air Communications Squadron and moved to Italy in April. It was disbanded in Italy in June 1944.[1]
The squadron was reconstituted and activated in Germany on 15 April 1945, where it became part ofNinth 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.[1]
In June 1992, the unit was reconstituted and redesignated as the18th Air Support Group. It assumed much of the responsibilities of the inactivating507th Air Control Wing. It was redesignated18th Air Support Operations Group on 1 July 1994.[1]
In addition to group headquarters, the 18th ASOG includes a number of subordinate squadrons. These units are located at Pope Field except as indicated and include the following.[2]
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