41st Air Division

History

"The 41st Air Division was organized, administered, equipped, and trained assigned units in Japan from March 1952 – January 1968,. 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 United States Navy and United States Marine Corps defense type aircraft, United States Army 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

Designated 41st Air Division (Defense) and organized, on 1 Mar 1952

Redesignated 41st Air Division on 18 Mar 1955 Discontinued and inactivated on 15 Jan 1968

Assignments

Japan Air Defense Force, 1 March 1952;

Fifth Air Force, 1 September 1954 – 15 January 1968

Components

Wings

3d Bombardment Wing: attached 1 October 1954 – 1 March 1955; assigned 1 March 1955 – 1 February 1957; 10 November 1958 – 8 January 1964

8th Tactical Fighter Wing: 10 November 1958 – 1 June 1962

35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing: 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)

67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing: 10 November 1958 – 8 December 1960

6441st Tactical Fighter Wing: 10 November 1958 – 8 December 1960

Groups

6007th Reconnaissance Group: 1 March 1955 – 9 August 1957

Squadrons

8th Bombardment Squadron: 8 January 1964 – 24 April 1964

13th Bombardment Squadron: 8 January 1964 – 24 April 1964

34th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 15 May 1966 – 15 January 1968

35th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 18 June 1964 – 1 April 1965; 15 November 1966 – 15 January 1968

36th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 18 June 1964 – 1 April 1965; 15 November 1966 – 15 January 1968

39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: attached c.1 August 1954 – 30 September 1957, assigned 1 October 1957 – 8 December 1957

40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 October 1957 – 20 June 1965

68th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 1 October 1957 – 1 June 1962

80th Tactical Fighter Squadron: 18 June 1964 – 1 April 1965; 15 November 1966 – 15 January 1968

90th Bombardment Squadron (later, 90 Tactical Fighter): 8 January 1964 – 9 June 1964

421st Air Refueling Squadron: 8 December 1960 – 18 February 1965

6091st Reconnaissance Squadron: 8 December 1960 – 15 January 1968

Stations

Johnson Air Base (later Johnson Air Station), Japan, 1 March 1952

Yokota Air Base, Japan, 28 June 1962 – 15 January 1968

Service Streamer

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)