18th Wing
| 18th Wing | |
|---|---|
18th Wing emblem | |
| Active | August 1948–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter / Command & Control / Airlift / Search and rescue |
| Part of | Fifth Air Force Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Kadena Air Base |
| Mottos | Unguibus Et Rostro (Latin for 'With Talons and Beak') |
| Engagements | Korean War |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brig Gen John B. Gallemore |
| Notable commanders | Robert L. Rutherford Patrick K. Gamble Richard E. Hawley William T. Hobbins Lauris Norstad George B. Simler Robert F. Titus Bud Anderson |
The United States Air Force's 18th Wing is the host wing for Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan and is the Air Force's largest combat wing. It is the largest and principal organization in the Pacific Air Forces Fifth Air Force.
The Wing's 18th Operations Group is a successor organization of the 18th Pursuit Group, one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the Army before World War II.