41st Military Airlift Squadron

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41st  Airlift Squadron History and Lineage   

Constituted 41st Ferrying Squadron on 9 Jul 1942. Activated on 11 Aug 1942. Redesignated 41st Transport Squadron on 24 Mar 1943. Disbanded on 30 Sep 1943. Reconstituted, and redesignated 41st Air Transport Squadron, Medium on 20 Jun 1952. Activated on 20 Jul 1952.  Redesignated 41st Air Transport Heavy, on 1 Jul 1955; 41st Air Transport Squadron, medium on May 1956; 41st Military Airlift Squadron on 8 Jan 1966; 41st Airlift Squadron, 1992. Inactivated 1 April 1992 at Charleston AFB, South Carolina.

Assignments: 12th Ferrying (later 12th Transport) Group. 17 Aug 1942-30 Sep 1943. 1603d Air Transport Wing, 20 Jul. 1952; 1602d Air Transport Wing, 1 Jan 1953-  1608th Air Transport Group (later, 1608th Air Transport Group, medium;: 1608th Air Transport Group, Heavy, 13 Apr 1954; 1608th Air Transport. Wing, Heavy, 18 Jan 1963; 437th Military Airlift Wing, 8 Jan – 1966 – 1992; 437th Airlift Wing 1992 -.

Station: Accra. British Gold Coast. 17 Aug 1942-30 Sep 1943, Wheelus Field, Libya, 20 Jul 1952 - 2 Apr 1954. Charleston AFB, SC 13 Apr 1954- 1 Apr 1992. 

Commanders:  Unkn. 17 Aug 1942-30 Sep 1943. Lt Co1 James A Price, Jul 1952; Maj (later, Lt Col) Jack C Bickford, 19 Nov 1954; Maj Benjamin E James, 1 Feb 1957: Lt Col Jack C Bickford; 21 Oct 1957; Maj Benjamin E James, Jun 1959; Lt Col Melvin Qualls, 26 Oct. 1959; Lt Col Joseph P Bilotta, 17 Mar 1961; Unkn; Lt: Col  Richard O McLean, (by Jan 1965); Lt Col Buford E Stovall, (by Jan 1966); Lt Col Louie Franklin. {by 31 Dec) 1966; Lt Col Clarence G Summerlin, Oct 1967; Lt Col Peter W Almquist, (by Jul) 1969; Lt Col Jimmy M Tumbleson, (by 31 Dec) 1969; Lt Col Cyrus C Miller Jr., 1 Jun 1971;  Lt Col Robert E. Kastner, 23 May 1962, Lt Col John B Schmidt, 9 Jul 1973; Lt Col Phillip A Goodwin, 2 Feb 1974; Lt Col Donald R. Hargrove, 18 Aug 1975; Lt Col Frank o. Pusey, 1 Ju11976; Lt Col Markwell A. Fletcher, 10 Apr 1977; Lt Col James A. Caldwell, 19 May 1978; Lt Col George D. Burgess; 19 Feb 1980, Lt Col Jack E. Keeter Jr., 17 Jul 1981, Lt Col Elmer C. Lavender, 29 Jul 1983; Lt Col Arthur W. Patterson, 12 Apr 1985; Lt Col Harold M. Edwards, 5 August 1986; Lt Col James A. Norris, June 1988; Lt Col Duncan J. McNabb, 2 November 1990; Lt Col John Haulk, 28 January 1992 until the unit was deactivated. 

Aircraft: C-54, 1952 – 1955, C-121, 1955-1962; C-130, 1962-1967; C-141, 1967 – 1992. 

Operations: On June 27, 1942, the United States Army activated the Air Transport Command in Cairo under Brigadier General Shepler W. Fitzgerald. Ten days later, Fitzgerald moved his headquarters to Accra and organized the Africa-Middle East Wing. In late 1942, the United States Army expanded its presence in Accra by activating the 12th Ferrying Group Headquarters, the 41st Ferrying Squadron, and the 42nd Ferrying Squadron. The 41st ferried various aircraft, including A-20s, A-30s, B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, B-26s, B-34s, P-38s, P-40s, C-46s, and C-53s, to destinations in England, North Africa, the Middle East, Iran, and India. Also provided maintenance service for transient aircraft until disbanded on 30 Sep 1943. 

The 41st Air Transport Squadron activated in Jul 1952 at Wheelus F1d, Libya. Flew C-54s to Egypt, Saudia Arabia, and Cyprus, and operated the base transport control center. Nine months after activation, the 41st undertook transient maintenance. Ceased flying operations on 1 Apr 1954 to prepare for move to the United States. By 13 Apr, had completed the move to Charleston AFB, and on 10 May made its first scheduled flight. Over the next fourteen months, the C-54s flew to Goose Bay, Labrador; Torbay, Newfoundland; Port Lyautey,  Morocco; Tripoli, Libya; England; West Germany; Thule, Greenland; Bermuda; the Azores; and France. 

Converted to the C-121C between 15 Sep and 31 Dec 1955, and added destinations in the Caribbean and Central America to operations. In Nov-Dec, made the first of many missions in support of the UN, transporting peace-keeping forces from Colombia and India to Beirut, Lebanon, to enforce a Middle East cease-fire between Egypt and Israel. The airlift of Hungarian refugees from West Germany to the United States in Dec 1956 was only one of many humanitarian missions flown. 

In 1962 the 41st transferred its C-121s to Air National Guard units, and on 11 Aug received its first C-13OE aircraft. During the 1960s, annually flew airlift missions to the Antarctic in support of U.S. scientific bases there. In the spring, 1965, helped airlift troops, equipment, and supplies to the Dominican Republic in support of the U.S. backed Government. In May 1965, flew first airlift mission to Vietnam. Redesignated 41st Military Airlift Squadron in Jan 1966. 

Converted to C-141 aircraft in Feb-May 1967, and expanded operations to destinations all over the world. Flights to Southeast Asia in support of combat operations became more frequent, only ceasing with the withdrawal of the U.S. in Jan 1973. The squadron frequently flew support missions for presidential trips, including President Richard M. Nixon's visit to the People's Republic of China in Feb 1972. Participated in the airlift of military supplies to Israel during the Yom Kippur War in Oct-Nov 1973. In April 1975, flew missions in support of the evacuation and resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees, as the Communists took over South Vietnam and Cambodia. Between 23 and 29 Oct 1983, airlifted rep1acenent troops and equipment to Beirut, Lebanon, after a terrorist attack on US. Marines' barracks killed 241 men. The 41st MAS provided airlift support for the Grenada operation from 24 Oct to 19 Dec 1983. In recent years, the squadron has participated regularly in tactical air-drop exercises with the Army, and provided support for the U.S. Navy as well. On March 24, 1992 the 41st Military Airlift Squadron was deactivated and replaced by the 14th Airlift Squadron. 

Honors:

Service Streamers: EAME Theater (WWII) 

Decorations: 

Foreign: Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966 – 28 Jan 1973. 

AF Outstanding Unit Awards: 1963-1964, 1966-1967, 1967-1968, 1968-1969, 1979-1970, 1972-1973, 1980-1981, 1982-1984, 1984-1986. 

Emblem: 

Description: On an Air Force blue disc a stylized white aircraft fesswise between in dexter (right) chief a globe, water areas light blue, land areas Air Force Golden yellow, in sinister (left) chief an Air Force Golden Yellow increscent moon, and in base an Air Force golden yellow sun issuing from sinister: details Air Force blue throughout. 

Motto: On a White scroll edged and inscribed Air Force blue, TOUJOURS PREI - Always Ready.

Significance: The emblem is symbolic of the squadron’s mission. The squadron, represented by the aircraft, is ready for duty anywhere in the world. As an integral part of the USAF, the mission, symbolized by the globe, is worldwide. The sun and the moon represent the future. The blue background indicates the sky, eternity, and dependence on God. The emblem displays the official Air Force colors, ultramarine blue and golden yellow. Approved on 11 Dec 1958.