It does not appear to have been fully equipped or manned before it was inactivated in 1949 as the reserves reorganized and eliminated units in the wake of President Truman's 1949 defense budget cuts.

[1] In late 1942, the 4th group deployed to the South Pacific, where it flew combat missions with Thirteenth Air Force.

[1] The deployed elements of the squadron flew missions over enemy-held territory in Guadalcanal, New Guinea, the northern Solomon Islands, and the Bismarck Archipelago.

[3] Simultaneously with the attachment of the deployed air echelon to the 8th group, the element remaining behind in the United States moved to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma.

[7] The 18th was inactivated when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization system in June 1949.

[1] President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget also required elimination of a number of units in the Air Force, and the 18th was not replaced as reserve flying operations at Newark ceased.