inental ▁United ▁States . ▁ 1 8 th ▁Wing ▁her itage ▁began ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁January ▁ 1 9 2 7 , ▁when ▁the ▁War ▁Department ▁activ ated ▁a ▁prov is ional ▁purs uit ▁group ▁at ▁Whe eler ▁Field , ▁Hawai i . ▁Short ly ▁there after ▁the ▁group ▁was ▁re - design ated ▁the ▁ 1 8 th ▁P urs uit ▁Group ▁with ▁the ▁following ▁squad rons : ▁▁▁ 6 th ▁P urs uit ▁Squadron ▁( ass igned ▁January ▁ 1 9 2 7 ) ▁▁ 1 9 th ▁P urs uit ▁Squadron ▁( ass igned ▁January ▁ 1 9 2 7 ) ▁ ▁The ▁" f ight ing ▁co ck " ▁Group ▁ins ign ia ▁with ▁" U ng u ibus ▁et ▁Rost ro ", ▁" With ▁Tal on ▁and ▁Be ak " ▁was ▁chosen ▁by ▁ 1 8 th ▁P urs uit ▁Group ▁CO ▁Maj . ▁Car ly le ▁H . ▁Wal sh ▁in ▁February ▁ 1 9 3 1 , ▁and ▁officially ▁approved ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 2 . ▁Major ▁Kenneth ▁M . ▁Walker ▁( for ▁whom ▁Walker ▁A FB , ▁New ▁Mexico ▁was ▁later ▁named ) ▁assumed ▁command ▁in ▁March ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁having ▁on ▁his ▁staff ▁Captain ▁Roger ▁W . ▁R ame y ▁( for ▁whom ▁R ame y ▁A FB ▁Pu etro ▁Rico ▁was ▁named ), ▁and ▁Lie uten ants ▁Bruce ▁K . ▁H ollow ay , ▁K . ▁P . ▁B oc qu ist , ▁John ▁G . ▁Sim pson