BRIEF HISTORY OF THE 41ST TRANSPORT SQUADRON

1942 - 1956 Prepared by USAF Historical Division Research Studies Institute Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama February 1957

41st MILITARY AIRLIFT SQUADRON THE 41ST FERRYING SQUADRON WAS ACTIVATED ON 17 AUGUST 1942 AT ACCRA, BRITISH GOLD COAST. IT WAS REDESIGNATED THE 41ST TRANSPORT SQUADRON IN MARCH 1943, AND WAS DISBANDED IN AFRICA ON SEPTEMBER 1943. THE SQUADRON WAS RECONSTITUTED IN 1952 AND ACTTVATED .1T WHELLUS FIELD TRIPOLI ON JULY 20, 1952. REDESIGNATED AN AIR TRANSPORT SQUADRON HEAVY, THE 41ST MOVED TO CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. ON 13 APRIL 1954.

THE 41ST MASQ HAS PART IG IPATED IN ALL MAJOR OPERATIONS AND EXERCISES OF THE WING, INCLUDING THE CUBAN CRISIS, THE PANAMA UPRISING, THE' DOMINICAN CRISIS, THE AIRLIFTS OF THE: SOUTHEAST ASIA CONFLICT, A14D THE RECENT NICKEL GRASS AND NIGHT REACH.

THE 76TH; MSAQ HOLDS SIX AIR FORCE OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARDS, 1963-64, 1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-7(), 1972-73.

41 Military Airlift Squadron - 3 ASSIS. 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-. STATIONS. Accra, British Gold Coast, 17 Aug 1942-30 Sep 1943. Wheelus Fld, Libya, 20 Jul 1952-12 Apr 1954; Charleston AFB, SC, 13 Apr 1954-. COMMANDERS. Unkn, 17 Aug 1942-30 Sep 1943. Lt Col James A Price, Jul 1952; Maj (later, Lt Col) Jack C Bickford, 19 Nov 1954; Maj Benjamin E Jams, 1 Feb 1957; Lt Col Jack C Bickford, 21 Oct 1957; Maj Benjamin E James, Jun 1959; Lt Col Melvin E Qualls, 26 Oct 1959; Lt Col Joseph P Bilotta, 17 Mar 1961-unkn; Lt Col Richard Q 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; Lr Col Cyrus C Miller Jr, 1 Jun 1971; Lt Col: Robert E Kastner, 23 May 1972; 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 0 Pusey, 1 Jul 1976; 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 Edwards, Lt Col Jim Norris, Lt Col Duncan McNabb, Lt Col John Haulk

AIRCRAFT: C-54, 1952-1955; C-121, 1955-1962; C-130, 1962-1967; C-141,

1967-.

41st Military Airlift Squadron - 4 OPERATIONS. 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 Sep 1943.

The 41st Air Transport Squadron activated in Jul 1952 at Meelus Fld, 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 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 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 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 tranferred its C-121s to Air National Guard units, and on 11 Aug received its first C-130E aircraft. During the 1960s,

41st Military Airlift Squadron - 5 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 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 mach 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 Apr-Jun 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.

HONORS. One service streamer and ten decorations. (See page 2.)

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

41st Military Airlift Squadron - 6

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 while scroll edged and inscribed Air Force blue, TOUJOURS PRET--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. Photographic

Negative Numbers: 3728 A. C.(black and white); K-10843 (color).

41st Air Transport Squadron

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NARRATIVE APPENDIXES: A. Organizational Status B. Station List C. Aircraft Used BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE