41st Military Airlift Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 41st Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the 437th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base
, South Carolina. It was inactivated on 1 October 1991.
Activated in July 1952 at Wheelus Field, Libya. Flew C-54s to Egypt, Saudi 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 trove to the United States. By 13 Apr, had completed the trove to Charleston AFB, SC, 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 September and 31 December 1955, and added destinations in the Caribbean and Central America to operations. In November-December, made the first of many missions in support of the UN, transporting peace-keeping forces from Columbia 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 has only one of many humanitarian missions flown.
In 1962 the 41st transferred its C-121s to Air National Guard units, and on 11 August received its first C-130E aircraft. During the 1960s,
41st Military Airlift Squadron 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. Re-designated 41st Airlift Squadron in January 1966. Converted to C-141 aircraft in February-May 1967, and expanded operations to destinations all over the world. Flights to Southeast Asia in support of combat operations became mach more frequent, only ceasing with the withdrawal of the U.S. in January 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 February 1972.
Participated in the airlift of military supplies to Israel during the Yom Kippur War in October-November 1973. In April-June 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 replacement troops and equipment to Beirut, Lebanon, after a terrorist attack on U.S. Marines' barracks killed 241 men. The 41st IBS 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.
Inactivated in 1991 as part of the drawdown of the USAF after the end of the Cold War.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last was assigned to the 437th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base
Charleston Air Force Base
Joint Base Charleston is a United States military facility located in North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 628th Air Base Wing, Air Mobility Command...
, South Carolina. It was inactivated on 1 October 1991.
History
Activated as the 41st Ferrying (later, Transport) Squadron at Accra, British Gold Coast, West Africa, in Aug 1942. 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 inactivated on 30 September 1943.Activated in July 1952 at Wheelus Field, Libya. Flew C-54s to Egypt, Saudi 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 trove to the United States. By 13 Apr, had completed the trove to Charleston AFB, SC, 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 September and 31 December 1955, and added destinations in the Caribbean and Central America to operations. In November-December, made the first of many missions in support of the UN, transporting peace-keeping forces from Columbia 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 has only one of many humanitarian missions flown.
In 1962 the 41st transferred its C-121s to Air National Guard units, and on 11 August received its first C-130E aircraft. During the 1960s,
41st Military Airlift Squadron 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. Re-designated 41st Airlift Squadron in January 1966. Converted to C-141 aircraft in February-May 1967, and expanded operations to destinations all over the world. Flights to Southeast Asia in support of combat operations became mach more frequent, only ceasing with the withdrawal of the U.S. in January 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 February 1972.
Participated in the airlift of military supplies to Israel during the Yom Kippur War in October-November 1973. In April-June 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 replacement troops and equipment to Beirut, Lebanon, after a terrorist attack on U.S. Marines' barracks killed 241 men. The 41st IBS 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.
Inactivated in 1991 as part of the drawdown of the USAF after the end of the Cold War.
Lineage
- Established as 41st Ferrying Squadron on 1 August 1942
- Activated on 17 August 1942
- Re-designated: 41st Transport Squadron on 1 March 1943
- Disbanded on 30 September 1943
- Re-designated: 41st Air Transport Squadron and activated on 20 Jul 1952
- Re-designated: 41st Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 13 Apr 1954
- Re-designated: 41st Military Airlift Squadron, Heavy on 8 January 1966
- Re-designated: 41st Military Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1985
- Inactivated on 1 October 1991
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 Wing1608th Air Transport WingThe 1608th Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Eastern Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina...
, Heavy, 18 Jan 1963 - 437th Military Airlift Wing, 8 Jan 1966-1 October 1991
Stations
- Accra Airfield, British Gold Coast, 17 Aug 1942-30 Sep 1943
- Wheelus Air BaseWheelus Air Base-See also:*List of airports in Libya-External links:*****...
, Libya, 20 Jul 1952-12 Apr 1954 - Charleston AFB, South Carolina, 13 Apr 1954-1 October 1991
Aircraft
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, 1952–1955 - C-121 Constellation, 1955–1962
- C-130E Hercules, 1962–1967
- C-141 StarlifterC-141 StarlifterThe Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
, 1967–1991