Re-equipped in 1954 with F-89D Scorpions and moved to Ladd AFB, Alaska for interceptor duty in the Fairbanks area as part of Alaskan Air Command.

Reassigned to Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota in 1960 and received the new McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor, and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer.

On 1 October 1977 the squadron was reactivated under the 343rd Tactical Fighter Group, assigned to the 21st Composite Wing of Alaskan Air Command flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.

From 1981 to 1991 the squadron conducted air-to-ground operations with the A-10, assigned to the 343rd Tactical Fighter Wing before converting to the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Lt. Col. Burt Bartley, the 18 FS commander at the time, received the Silver Star for strafing and dropping 500 lbs Laser-guided bombs on what would later be known as "The Battle for Roberts Ridge".

The squadron deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam in support of Operation Noble Eagle during March 2003.

In 2013, the Air Force, responding to the Department of Defense strategy guidance of December 2012, proposed consolidating all fighter units in Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

[5] While the move was pending, in response to the sequestration of defense funds, the squadron's aircraft were grounded in the middle of April for a period of three months.