Designated the Provisional Pursuit Group on 5 January 1927. Organized on 11 January 1927. Redesignated: 18th Pursuit Group on 19 January 1927; 18th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 6 December 1939; 18th Fighter Group on 15 May 1942. Established as 18th Fighter Wing on 10 August 1948. Redesignated: 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 20 January 1950; 18th Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 July 1958; 18th Wing on 1 October 1991.
The bird on the 18th Wing patch is a fighting cock, symbolizing courage, aggressiveness, and confidence. Gamecocks have long held a reputation for being tenacious creatures. The sport of cockfighting dates back to 500 B.C., when men wagered entire inheritances on the inflamed birds, known to fight to the death. The fierce cockfights were outlawed in many countries due to the barbaric nature of the event. Read full story
Tail Code Story
The two-letter codes prominently displayed on the tails of U.S. Air Force aircraft today represent the owning wing. Dating back to 1968, the Pacific Air Forces randomly assigned a single letter to each of its 24 wings. Read full story
Lineage of the 18th Wing 
The bird on the 18th Wing patch is a fighting cock, symbolizing courage, aggressiveness, and confidence. Gamecocks have long held a reputation for being tenacious creatures. The sport of cockfighting dates back to 500 B.C., when men wagered entire inheritances on the inflamed birds, known to fight to the death. The fierce cockfights were outlawed in many countries due to the barbaric nature of the event. 
The two-letter codes prominently displayed on the tails of U.S. Air Force aircraft today represent the owning wing. Dating back to 1968, the Pacific Air Forces randomly assigned a single letter to each of its 24 wings. 
