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41st Electronic Combat Squadron

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41st Electronic Combat Squadron
41st Electronic Combat Squadron EC-130H Compass Call 73-1581
Active1917–1946; 1954–1959; 1965–1969; 1980–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleElectronic warfare
Nickname(s)Scorpions
EngagementsWorld War I
Antisubmarine Campaign
Vietnam War
Desert Storm[1]
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Insignia
41st Electronic Combat Squadron emblem (approved 28 October 1981)[1]
9th Airship Company emblem (approved 3 January 1933)[2][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. It operates the Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call communications-jamming aircraft.

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. It also holds the distinction of being the longest continuously deployed U.S. Air Force unit (2002–2021).[3][4]

History

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World War I

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The squadron's origins date to the 9th Balloon Company of the Observation Balloon Service in World War I, which served with the French 17th and 32nd Army Corps, and the III and IV Army Corps, United States Army, from 16 August – 11 November 1918.[1]

World War II

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The squadron 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

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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.[5]

From the 1960s

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

The unit was tasked with command, control, and communications countermeasures from 1982 onwards. It flew electronic countermeasures missions from the United Arab Emirates during Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm from 27 August 1990 – 17 April 1991.[1]

Post-9/11 Operations

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From 2002 to 2021, the 41st Electronic Combat Squadron was the longest continuously deployed unit in the history of the U.S. Air Force, primarily supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan. Over this 19-year deployment, the squadron flew nearly 14,800 sorties and logged over 90,000 combat flight hours, providing critical electronic warfare support.[3][4]

Lineage

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  • Organized as Company A, 4th Balloon Squadron on 13 November 1917
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
  • Redesignated 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Night-Photographic on 14 January 1954
Activated on 18 March 1954
Inactivated on 18 May 1959
  • Redesignated 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Jet and activated on 30 June 1965 (not organized)
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
  • Redesignated 41st Electronic Combat Squadron on 17 June 1980
Activated on 1 July 1980[1]

Assignments

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Source:[6]

Stations

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Aircraft

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See also

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References

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Notes

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Explanatory notes

  1. ^ The original triangular emblem was placed on a light blue disc in 1981 and slightly modified in 1994. AFHRA Factsheet.
  2. ^ Bateen Air Base as referred to in AFHRA is Al Bateen Executive Airport, as it uses the same airport code (OMAD).[7]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Factsheet 41 Electronic Combat Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 191–192
  3. ^ a b Weber, Vaughn (22 December 2021). "Nearly 19 years and 14,753 sorties later!". Desert Lightning News - Davis Monthan. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b Cohen, Rachel (16 June 2022). "This Compass Call squadron was deployed in Afghanistan for 20 years. Here's their inside story". Air Force Times. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  5. ^ Knaack, p. 419
  6. ^ "41 Electronic Combat Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 March 2023.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Gulf War Air Power Survey (PDF) (Report). Vol. V. Washington, D.C. 1993. p. 59. Retrieved 17 August 2022.

Bibliography

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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