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The 18th Combat Mapping Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 66th Strategic Reconnaissance Group and stationed at Newark Army Air Base, New Jersey.

History

Established in early 1943 at Colorado Springs AAB. Trained in photo-reconnaissance under Second Air Force in Colorado and at Oklahoma City. Equipped with very-long range F-5 (P-38 Lightning) reconnaissance aircraft.

Deployed to the South Pacific Area, assigned to Thirteenth Air Force. Flew hazardous unarmed reconnaissance missions over enemy-held territory in Guadalcanal; New Guinea; Northern Solomon Islands; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines. Returned to the United States and was inactivated at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma on 15 Jan 1944.

Activated in the reserves in 1947 at Newark Airport, New Jersey. Undetermined if unit was manned or equipped, inactivated in 1949 due to budget reductions.

Lineage

• Constituted 18th Photographic Mapping Squadron on 14 Jul 1942

Activated on 23 Ju1 1942

Re-designated: 18th Photographic Squadron (Heavy) on 6 Feb 1943

Re-designated: 18th Combat Mapping Squadron on 9 Oct 1943

Inactivated on 20 Feb 1944

• Re-designated 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic) on 8 Oct 1947

Activated in the reserve on 6 Nov 1947

Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.

Assignments

• 4th Photographic (later Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping; Photographic) Group, 23 Jul 1942-20 Feb 1944

Air echelon assigned 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, 9 Oct 1943-15 Jan 1944)

• 66th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, 6 Nov 1947-27 Jun 1949

Stations

• Colorado Springs Army Air Base, Colo, 23 Jul-12 Dec 1942

Bulk of air echelon at: Colorado Springs Army Air Base, Colo, to 12 Oct 1943

Bulk of air echelon at: Will Rogers Field, Okla, 14 Oct 1943-15 Jan 1944

• Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield, New Caledonia, 20-25 Jan 1943
• Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, 2 Feb 1943-20 Feb 1944

Detachment of air echelon at Luganville Airfield after 4 Apr 1943

• Newark Army Airfield, NJ, 6 Nov 1947-27 Jun 1949.

Aircraft

• P-38 Lightning, 1942
• In addition to B-25 Mitchell, 1943-1944
• Included B-24 Liberator (used by air echelon in Oklahoma) in 1943.

References

	Military of the United States portal
	United States Air Force portal
	World War II portal

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

External links