118th Air Support Operations Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 118th Air Support Operations Squadron (118 ASOS) is a combat support unit located in Badin, North Carolina
. The 118th ASOS provides Tactical Command and Control of air power assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander
and Joint Forces Land Component Commander
for combat operations.
was originally formed as the 118th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, of Charlotte, North Carolina. The Detachment of the squadron that would become the 118th ASOS was initially formed in Wadesboro, North Carolina
and designated Detachment A. While designated the 118th ACWS the unit was ordered to active duty during the Korean War
with three squadrons of the Georgia Air National Guard
on January 8, 1951. On January 2, 1952 the 118th ACWS arrived in French Morocco, North Africa, and set up operations about twenty miles from the city of Casablanca. Unit personnel calibrated numerous early warning radar sites for the Strategic Air Command in the Sahara, and in the Atlas mountains in Morocco. From October 8, 1952 until 1999 the unit functioned as a separate state of the art Communications Squadron. In 1999 the Air Force realizing a shortfall, chose to re-role the 118th Combat Communications Squadron into the 118th Air Support Operations Squadron. With this new mission the unit has gone from a front line communications unit to a unit in direct support of the Army war fighter. The 118th ASOS currently is tasked with supporting both the North and South Carolina Army National Guard units.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 118th Air Support Operations Squadron (118 ASOS) is a combat support unit located in Badin, North Carolina
Badin, North Carolina
Badin is a town located in Stanly County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,154.-Geography:Badin is located at 35°24'17" North, 80°6'57" West ....
. The 118th ASOS provides Tactical Command and Control of air power assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander
Joint Forces Air Component Commander
Joint Force Air Component Commander , is a United States Department of Defense doctrinal term.It refers to an individual of general officer rank that is responsible for air forces within a joint operations environment. The term "air forces" encompasses aircraft of Air Force and Naval variants, not...
and Joint Forces Land Component Commander
Joint Forces Land Component Commander
Joint Force Land Component Commander , is a United States Department of Defense doctrinal term. It is pronounced "Jay-Flick".It refers to an individual of general officer rank that is responsible for land forces within a joint operations environment...
for combat operations.
History
The 118th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) at the Stanly County AirportStanly County Airport
Stanly County Airport is a public airport located four miles northeast of the central business district of Albemarle, a city in Stanly County, North Carolina, USA. This general aviation airport covers and has two runways....
was originally formed as the 118th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, of Charlotte, North Carolina. The Detachment of the squadron that would become the 118th ASOS was initially formed in Wadesboro, North Carolina
Wadesboro, North Carolina
Wadesboro is a town in Anson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,780 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Anson County.-Geography:Wadesboro is located at ....
and designated Detachment A. While designated the 118th ACWS the unit was ordered to active duty during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
with three squadrons of the Georgia Air National Guard
Georgia Air National Guard
The Georgia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is, along with the Georgia Army National Guard, an element of the Georgia National Guard...
on January 8, 1951. On January 2, 1952 the 118th ACWS arrived in French Morocco, North Africa, and set up operations about twenty miles from the city of Casablanca. Unit personnel calibrated numerous early warning radar sites for the Strategic Air Command in the Sahara, and in the Atlas mountains in Morocco. From October 8, 1952 until 1999 the unit functioned as a separate state of the art Communications Squadron. In 1999 the Air Force realizing a shortfall, chose to re-role the 118th Combat Communications Squadron into the 118th Air Support Operations Squadron. With this new mission the unit has gone from a front line communications unit to a unit in direct support of the Army war fighter. The 118th ASOS currently is tasked with supporting both the North and South Carolina Army National Guard units.