41st Air Division


The 41st Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fifth Air Force at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated on 15 January 1968.

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 and organized, on 1 March 1952

    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
  • 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
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.