Lineage. Constituted as 18 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 18 Special Operations Squadron, which was constituted on 18 Jan 1969. Activated on 25 Jan 1969. Inactivated on 31 Dec 1972. Redesignated as 18 Test Squadron on 1 Jul 1991. Activated on 15 Jul 1991. Redesignated as 18 Flight Test Squadron on 23 Mar 1994. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1994. Activated on 1 Apr 1994. Redesignated as 18 Special Operations Test and Evaluation Squadron on 26 Jul 2019.
Assignments. 34 Bombardment Group, 15 Jan 1941–28 Aug 1945. 1 Special Operations Wing, 25 Jan 1969; 4410 Combat Crew Training Wing, 15 Jul 1969; 14 Special Operations Wing, 1 Oct 1969; 56 Special Operations Wing, 25 Aug 1971–31 Dec 1972. Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center, 15 Jul 1991–1 Apr 1994. Air Force Special Operations Command, 1 Apr 1994; Twenty-Third Air Force (Air Forces Special Operations Forces), 1 Jan 2008; Air Force Special Operations Training Center, 31 Jul 2012; Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center, 11 Feb 2013; 492 Special Operations Training Group, 10 May 2017-.
Stations. Langley Field, VA, 15 Jan 1941; Westover Field, MA, 29 May 1941; Pendleton Field, OR, 27 Jan 1942; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 13 May 1942; Geiger Field, WA, 4 Jul 1942; Ephrata AAB, WA, 1 Dec 1942; Blythe AAFld, CA, 7 Dec 1942; Salinas AAB, CA, c. 29 May 1943 (operated from Kern Co Aprt, Bakersfield, CA, 22 Jun–13 Jul 1943); Blythe AAFld, CA, 13 Jul 1943–c. 2 Apr 1944; Mendlesham, England, 23 Apr 1944–24 Jul 1945; Sioux Falls AAFld, SD, c. 13–28 Aug 1945. Lockbourne AFB, OH, 25 Jan–1 Oct 1969; Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, Oct 1969; Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, 25 Aug 1971–31 Dec 1972. Edwards AFB, CA, 15 Jul 1991–1 Apr 1994. Hurlburt Field, FL, 1 Apr 1994–.
Commanders. Maj Torgils G. Wold, 15 Jan 1941; Lt Col Ralph E. Koon, by 7 Dec 1941; Capt Allen Lindberg, c. 13 Feb 1942; Maj Theodore A. Milton, 21 Jul 1942; Maj Charles Lancaster, 28 Oct 1942; Maj Harold M. Harmon, 19 Feb 1943; Maj Wesley A. Anderson, 21 Apr 1943; Capt Winston O. Defieux, 12 May 1943; Capt Robert Wilcox, 11 Jul 1943; Maj James H. Keenan, 26 Jul 1943; Lt Col William S. Boyd, 13 Nov 1943; Lt Col Frank R. Crabtree, 8 Aug 1944; Maj Charles Cook, Jun-28 Aug 1945. Lt Col Ellwood E. Johnson, 29 Jan 1969; Lt Col Hugh M. Matheson, 1 May 1970; Lt Col Charles F. Apgar, 1 Sep 1970; Lt Col Leroy A. Bruflat, 15 Feb 1971; Lt Col Thomas L. Kelsey, 14 Jul 1971; Lt Col Fritz F. Hugger, 18 Dec 1971; Lt Col Robert G. Matthews, 1 Jan 1972; Lt Col Lawrence R. Hileman, by Oct-31 Dec 1972. Unkn, 15 Jul 1991; Col Jon T. Huinker, 5 Aug 1994; Col Clark P. Lee, 17 Jun 1996; Col James A. Sills, 29 Jun 1998; Col Joseph W. Arvai, 1 Jul 1999; Lt Col Count B. Tye Jr., 22 Nov 2000; Lt Col Jeff D. White, 20 May 2002; Lt Col Joseph B. Maguire, 18 Jun 2004; Lt Col David Haupt, 23 Jun 2006-.
Aircraft. PT–17, 1941; LB–30, 1941; B–18, 1941; B–17, 1941–1943, 1944–1945; B–24, 1943–1944. AC–119, 1969–1972. AC-130, 1991-1994. AC-130, 1994-; MC-130, 1994-; MH-53, 1994-.
Operations. Antisubmarine patrols, Dec 1941–Oct 1942. Combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 23 May 1944–20 Apr 1945. Combat in Southeast Asia, 13 Nov 1969–2 Nov 1972. Tested development of the AC–130U, Jul 1991–1994. Tested and evaluated all assigned Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft and associated equipment, 1994-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Vietnam: Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Presidential Unit Citation: Southeast Asia, 1 Apr–31 Dec 1972. Air Force
Outstanding Unit Awards With Combat “V” Device: 1 Jul 1970–30 Jun 1971; 25 Aug–30 Nov 1971; 1 Dec 1971–29 Feb 1972; 8 Apr–13 May 1972. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1995-31 Aug 1996; 1 Sep 1996-31 Aug 1997; 1 Sep 1999-31 Aug 2001; 1 Sep 2001-31 Aug 2003; 1 Sep 2003-30 Sep 2004; 1 Oct 2004-30 Sep 2005; 1 Oct 2005-30 Sep 2006; 1 Oct 2006-30 Sep 2008; 1 Oct 2008-30 Sep 2009; [1 Oct 2009]-30 Sep 2010; 1 Oct 2010-30 Sep 2011; 1 Oct 2011-30 Sep 2013; 1 Oct 2013-30 Sep 2014; 1 Oct 2014-30 Sep 2015; 1 Oct 2015-30 Sep 2016; 1 Oct 2017-30 Sep 2018. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: [Oct] 1969–31 Dec 1972.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 15 Sep 2020.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Dec 2006.
Supersedes statement prepared on 4 Apr 2008.
Emblem. Approved on 13 Jul 1992; latest rendering, 21 Oct 2019.
Prepared by Margaret Ream.