18th SOS
(Special Operations Squadron)
Chronology

The AC-119K Stinger Gunship served combat duty for the United States Air Force in Southeast Asia for three (3) years, two (2) months starting November 13, 1969 and ending December 31, 1972. All AC-119k Stinger gunships were turned-over to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF). None made it back to the United States after the war.   

Additional Lineage Information

Operations
The 18th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) was constituted on 20 Nov 1940 and activated on 15 Jan 1941. Using PT-17, B-18 and B-17 aircraft, trained and participated in maneuvers until 7 Dec 1941. Transferred to the western United States in Jan 1942 to bolster defense forces and serve as training unit. Served as replacement training unit from mid-1942 until the end of 1943 and then began preparing for overseas duty in B-24s. Moved to England in Apr 1944 for operations with Eighth AF. Entered combat in May 1944. Helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by bombing airfields in France and Germany, and supported the landing in Jun by attacking coastal defenses and communications. Continued to take part in the campaign in France by supporting ground forces at St. Lo, 24-25 Jul, and by striking V-weapon sites, gun emplacements, and supply lines throughout the summer of 1944.
Converted to B-17s and engaged primarily in bombardment of strategic objectives from Oct 1944 to Feb 1945. Targets included marshalling yards in Ludwigshaven, Hamm, Osnabruck, and Darmstadt; oil centers in Bielefeld , Merseburg, Hamburg, and Misburg: factories in Berlin, Dalteln, and Hannover; and airfields in Munster, Neumunster, and Frankfurt. In March 1945, with few industrial targets remaining and with Allied armies advancing across Germany, the squadron turned almost solely to interdicting enemy communications and supporting Allied ground forces.
After V-E Day it carried food to flooded areas of Holland and transported prisoners of war from German camps to Allied centers. Returned to the US in the summer of 1945. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945.

Activated at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, on 25 Jan 1969, the 18th Special Operations Squadron was the first USAF combat squadron to fly the AC-119K gunship, equipped for operations in heavy weather or darkness. They received first aircraft on 5 Mar 1969 and trained over local ranges for the next six months. Deployed to Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, in Oct 1969-Jan 1970 and flew first combat mission on 13 Nov 1969.
Between 1969 and 1972 maintained forward operating locations for varying intervals at Da Nang AB, Phu Cat AB, in South Vietnam; and Udorn RTAFB and Nakhon Phanom RTAFB in Thailand. Squadron relocated to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, in Aug 1971, and maintained a detachment at Da Nang AB, South Vietnam, and a forward operating location at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam.

The primary mission for most of the SEA tour was interdiction of enemy supply lines in Laos but they flew ground support and site defense missions as needed. Through close air support and drop zone illumination, the squadron helped to raise the 45-day of the Dak Seang and Dak Pek Special Forces Camps, South Vietnam, in Apr-May 1970. They began daylight interdiction missions over Cambodia in Aug 1970.

Intensified antiaircraft defenses along the Laotian truck routes, a shortage of fighter escorts and the North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam forced the 18th Special Operations Squadron to increase support of ground forces in South Vietnam from Mar 1972 on. Squadron aircraft transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force on 2 Nov 1972 and squadron began training VNAF pilots. Unit inactivated on 31 Dec 1972.

(Redesignated 18th Test Squadron on 1 Jul 1991 and activated on 15 Jul 1991. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1994. Redesignated the 18th Flight Test Squadron (18th FTS) on 23 Mar 1994 and Activated on 1 Mar 1994. The 18th FTS is now located at Hurlburt Field Florida.)

Assignments
34th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (later, 34th Bombardment Group, Heavy), 15 Jan 1941; 28 Aug 1945. 1st Special Operations Wing, 25 Jan 1969; 4410th Combat Crew Training Wing, 15 Jul 1969; 14th Special Operations Wing, 1 Oct 1969; 56th Special Operations Wing, 25 Aug 1971-31 Dec 1972. Special Missions Operational Test and Evaluation Center, 15 Jul 1991.

Detachments
Det 1 (Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand): 31 Mar-25 Aug 1971.
Det 1 ( Da Nang AB, South Vietnam): 30 Sep 1971-31 Dec 1972.

Stations
Langley Field, Va, 15 Jan 1941;
Westover Field, Mass, 29 May 1941;
Pendleton Field, Ore, 27 Jan 1942;
Davis-Monthan Field, Ariz, 13 May 1942;
Geiger Field, Wash, 4 Jul 1942;
Ephrata AAB, Wash, 1 Dec 1942;
Blythe AAFld, Calif, 7 Dec 1942:
Salinas AAB, Calif, c. 29 May 1943, (operated from Kern Co Aprt, Bakersfield, Calif, 22 Jun-13 Jul 1943);
Blythe AAFld, Calif, 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, Ohio, 25 Jan-1 Oct 1969;
Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, Oct 1969;
Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, 25 Aug 1971­31 Dec 1972. Edwards AFB, Calif, 15 Jul 1991-.

Commanders
Capt (later, May) Torgils G. Wold, 15 Jan 1941;
Maj (later, Lt Col) Ralph E. Koon, (by 7 Dec) 1941;
1st Lt (later, Capt) Allen Lindberg, c. 13 Feb 1942;
Capt (later, May) 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 0. Defieux, 12 May 1943;
Capt Robert Wilcox, 11 Jul 1943;
Capt (later, May) James H. Keenan, 26 Jul 1943;
Maj (later, Lt Col) William S. Boyd, 13 Nov 1943;
Capt (later, Lt Col) Frank R. Crabtree, 8 Aug 1944;
Maj Charles Cook, Jun-28 Aug 1945.
Lt Col. Ellwood E. Johnson, 29 Jan1969;
Lt Col Hugh M. Matheson, 1 May, 1970;
Lt Col Charles F. Apgar, 1 Sep1970;
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.

Aircraft
PT-17, 1941; LB-30, 1941; B-18, 1941; B-17, 1941-1943, 1944-1945; B-24, 1943-1944. AC-119, 1969-1972.