41st Air Division (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 41st Air Division


caption= 41st Air Division emblem
dates= 1 March 1952–15 January 1968
country= United States
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branch= United States Air Force
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History

From March 1952–January 1968, the 41st Air Division organized, administered, equipped, and trained assigned units in Japan. It conducted combined planning with the Japan Air Self Defense Force and, when directed by higher headquarters, joint and combined training with other allied forces. It also developed tactics and examined technical aspects of aerial warfare requirements for new weapons and weapon systems, and improved uses of current weapons. In addition, its assigned units carried out aerial surveillance and reconnaissance missions and collected, evaluated, produced and disseminated intelligence data. The division maintained operational control of all and defense type aircraft, antiaircraft artillery, and surface to air missile units in Japan. In 1962 it became an operational organization that controlled, evaluated, and exercised assigned units. In fulfilling this role the division participated in exercises such as Commando Night, Commando Rock, Bright Night and Teamwork. In response to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident in 1964, the 41st deployed personnel and aircraft to Southeast Asia. These deployments continued periodically until the unit was inactivated.

Lineage and honors

The division was designated 41 Air Division (Defense), and organized, on 1 March 1952. They were redesignated 41 Air Division on 18 March 1955. The division was discontinued, and inactivated, on 15 January 1968. The unit earned the Korean Service organizational service streamers.

Emblem

Blazon: Over a shield, divided per bend, azure and gules a cost argent, between a shield of the last ornamented and orled of the second and sable and an arm in armor embowed, gauntleted and brandishing a sword to the sinister all argent; on a chief vert in fess a radio wave pattern argent, the shield and chief edged throughout of the last. (Approved 30 April 1958)

Assignments

Japan Air Defense Force (later, Japan Air Self-Defense Force), 1 March 1952;
Fifth Air Force, 1 September 1954–15 January 1968.

Components

Wings:
* 3 Bombardment: attached 1 October 1954–1 March 1955; assigned 1 March 1955–1 February 1957; 10 November 1958–8 January 1964.
* 8 Tactical Fighter: 10 November 1958–1 June 1962.
* 35 Fighter Interceptor: attached 1 March 1952–1 March 1955, assigned 1 March 1955–1 October 1957 (further attached to 6102 Air Base Wing, 1 July 1957-1 October 1957).
* 67 Tactical Reconnaissance: 10 November 1958–8 December 1960.
* 6441 Tactical Fighter: 10 November 1958–8 December 1960.

Groups:
* 6007 Reconnaissance: 1 March 1955–9 August 1957.

Squadrons:
* 8 Bombardment: 8 January 1964–24 April 1964.
* 13 Bombardment: 8 January 1964–24 April 1964.
* 34 Tactical Fighter: 15 May 1966–15 January 1968.
* 35 Tactical Fighter: 18 June 1964–1 April 1965; 15 November 1966–15 January 1968.
* 36 Tactical Fighter: 18 June 1964–1 April 1965; 15 November 1966–15 January 1968.
* 39 Fighter Interceptor: attached c.1 August 1954–30 September 1957, assigned 1 October 1957–8 December 1957.
* 40 Fighter Interceptor: 1 October 1957–20 June 1965.
* 68 Fighter Interceptor: 1 October 1957–1 June 1962.
* 80 Tactical Fighter: 18 June 1964–1 April 1965; 15 November 1966–15 January 1968.
* 90 Bombardment (later, 90 Tactical Fighter): 8 January 1964–9 June 1964.
* 421 Air Refueling: 8 December 1960–18 February 1965.
* 6091 Reconnaissance: 8 December 1960–15 January 1968.

Stations

Johnson Air Base (later, Air Station), Japan, 1 March 1952;
Yokota Air Base, Japan, 28 June 1962–15 January 1968.

Aircraft / Missiles / Space vehicles

F-80 Shooting Star, 1952–1954;
F-86 Sabre, 1952–1961;
F-94 Starfire, 1952–1954;
B-57 Canberra, 1956–1957, 1958–1964;
F-100 Super Sabre, 1958–1962, 1964;
KB-50 Superfortress, 1958–1962;
RB-50 Superfortress, 1958–1961;
RB-57 Canberra, 1958–1960;
RB-66 Destroyer, 1958–1960;
RF-101 Voodoo, 1958–1960;
SC-47 Skytrain, 1958–1960;
T-33 Shooting Star, 1958–1959;
WB-66 Destroyer, 1958–1960;
F-102 Delta Dagger, 1959–1965;
C-130 Hercules, 1961–1962;
F-105 Thunderchief, 1964–1968;
F-4 Phantom II, 1967–1968.

Commanders

Colonel Robert S. Israel, 1 March 1952;Colonel Charles E. Lancaster Jr., 25 June 1952;Colonel Anthony V. Grossetta, 25 July 1952;Brigadier General Cecil P. Lessig, 1 March 1955;Colonel Elbert Helton, 20 June 1958;Colonel Murray W. Crowder, 4 August 1958;Brigadier General Theodore R. Milton, 11 August 1958;Brigadier General Thomas R. Ford, c.25 June 1961;Colonel Philip C. Loofbourrow, 11 June 1962;Colonel Leo Hawel Jr., 28 June 1962;Colonel Charles S. Overstreet Jr., 26 June 1963;Colonel Maurice L. Martin, 27 July 1963;Colonel Paul P. Douglas Jr., 26 July 1965–15 January 1968.

ee also

* Fifth Air Force

References

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0041ad.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 41st Air Division]