41st Electronic Combat Squadron

41st Electronic Combat Squadron

41st Electronic Combat Squadron EC-130H Compass Call 73-1581
Active 1917–1946; 1954-1959; 1965-1969; 1980-present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Electronic Warfare
Nickname(s) Scorpions
Engagements World War I
World War II
Vietnam
Saudi Arabia
Insignia
41st Electronic Combat Squadron emblem (approved 3 January 1933)[1][note 1]

The 41st Electronic Combat Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona as a geographically separated unit from its parent wing, the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to 14 June 1917, when it was organized at Kelly Field, Texas. It served overseas in France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. The squadron also saw combat during World War II, and became part of Tactical Air Command (TAC) during the Cold War.

History

World War I

The squadron was an observation unit with French XVII and XXXII, and American III and IV Army Corps, 16 August – 11 November 1918.[1]

World War II

It provided air defense for Panama Canal, January 1942 – May 1944, with occasional antisubmarine patrols over the Caribbean and Pacific, especially during May and June 1942; deployed to Western Pacific in June 1945, but never entered combat.[1]

Cold War

The squadron was reactivated at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where it was assigned to the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group and equipped with Douglas RB-26 Invader aircraft.[1] In 1956 as deliveries of the Douglas RB-66B Destroyer to the Air Force increased, the squadron was equipped with the newer jet aircraft.[2]

Vietnam War

The unit engaged in combat in Southeast Asia, c. November 1965 – 31 October 1969.[1]

Current era

Command, control, and communications countermeasures, 1982–. Electronic countermeasures in Southwest Asia, 27 August 1990 – 17 April 1991.[1]

Lineage

Redesignated 9th Balloon Company on 25 July 1918
Redesignated 9th Airship Company on 30 August 1921
Redesignated 9th Airship Squadron on 26 October 1933
Redesignated 1st Observation Squadron on 1 June 1937
Redesignated 1st Observation Squadron (Medium) on 13 January 1942
Redesignated 1st Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942
Redesignated 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (Special) on 25 June 1943
Redesignated 41st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 25 November 1944
Redesignated 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 24 January 1946
Inactivated on 17 June 1946
Activated on 18 March 1954
Inactivated on 18 May 1959
Organized on 1 October 1965
Redesignated 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 8 October 1966
Redesignated: 41st Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron on 15 March 1967
Inactivated on 31 October 1969
Activated on 1 July 1980[1]

Assignments

Two flights attached to Cavalry School to c. April 1941
Third flight remained assigned to Cavalry School throughout period
Flight attached to Cavalry School to c. December 1941
Attached to 6th Bombardment Group, 10 April 1942 – c. June 1942

Attached to Air Division Provisional, 15, 5 December 1990 – 17 April 1991

Stations

Detachment at: North Field (Iwo Jima), Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands (Japan), 9 August 1945 – c. 15 September 1945
  • East Field (Saipan), Mariana Islands, 4 January 1946
  • Agana Airfield, Guam, Mariana Islands, 15 April 1946 – 17 June 1946
  • Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 18 March 1954 – 18 May 1959
  • Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 1 October 1965
  • Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, 20 October 1965 – 31 October 1969
  • Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 July 1980 – present
Deployed at Bateen Air Base, Saudi Arabia, 27 August 1990 – 17 April 1991[1]

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

  1. The original triangular emblem was placed on a light blue disc on 28 October 1981 and slightly modified in 1994. AFHRA Factsheet.

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Factsheet 41 Electronic Combat Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 2011-03-22. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  2. Knaack, p. 419

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 2/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.