at ot ank er ) ▁▁ 9 6 1 st ▁Air bor ne ▁Air ▁Control ▁Squadron ▁( A AC S ) ▁( E - 3 ▁S entry ) ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁For ▁additional ▁line age ▁and ▁history , ▁see ▁ 1 8 th ▁Wing ▁ ▁Her ald ry ▁The ▁fighting ▁co ck ▁em blem , ▁approved ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 1 , ▁symbol izes ▁the ▁courage ▁and ▁ag gress iveness ▁of ▁a ▁combat ▁organization . ▁ ▁Line age ▁ ▁Author ized ▁as ▁ 1 8 th ▁P urs uit ▁Group ▁on ▁ 2 0 ▁January ▁ 1 9 2 7 ▁ ▁Activ ated ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁January ▁ 1 9 2 7 ▁ ▁Red es ign ated : ▁ 1 8 th ▁P urs uit ▁Group ▁( Interceptor ) ▁on ▁ 6 ▁December ▁ 1 9 3 9 ▁ ▁Red es ign ated : ▁ 1 8 th ▁F ighter ▁Group ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁ ▁Red es ign ated : ▁ 1 8 th ▁F ighter ▁Group ▁( Single ▁Engine ) ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁ ▁Red es ign ated : ▁ 1 8 th ▁F ighter ▁Group , ▁Two ▁Engine , ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁ ▁Red es ign ated : ▁ 1 8 th ▁F ighter ▁Group , ▁late ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁ ▁Red es ign ated : ▁ 1 8 th ▁F ighter - B om ber