History
The 18th FLTS lineage traces back to the 18th Bombardment Squadron activated 15 Jan. 1941. Flying the PT-17 Stearman, B-18 Bolo and B-17 Flying Fortress, the squadron supported Allied actions in Europe during World War II. Following victory in Europe, the unit was inactivated 18 Aug. 1945.
The 18th returned to action as the 18th Special Operations Squadron 25 Jan. 1969. Activated at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, and deployed to Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam, the 18th SOS flew the AC-119K gunship. The squadron's primary mission was the interdiction of enemy supply lines, close air support, and air base defense. Following the transfer of the aircraft to the South Vietnamese Air Force, the 18th SOS was inactivated 31 Dec. 1972.
On 1 Oct. 1983, the Special Missions Operations Test and Evaluation Center (SMOTEC) was activated at Hurlburt Field by order of the Secretary of the Air Force as a direct reporting unit of Headquarters Military Airlift Command at Scott Air Force Base. SMOTEC was formed through the consolidation of the test and evaluation function previously assigned to the 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing, located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, which was responsible for combat rescue and related test. It was also responsible for the informal test and evaluation staffs of the 2nd Air Division and the 1st Special Operations Wing, at Hurlburt Field. Though testing was reassigned to SMOTEC in October 1983, most of the testing continued at Kirtland for the reminder of that year.
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