41st Electronic Combat Squadron | |
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Active | 1917–1946; 1954–1959; 1965–1969; 1980–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Electronic warfare |
Nickname(s) | Scorpions |
Engagements |
World War I Antisubmarine Campaign Vietnam War Desert Storm [1] |
Decorations |
Presidential 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.
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]
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]
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. [3]
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]
Source: [4]
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Explanatory notes
Footnotes
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency