| Unit Name: | 41st Airlift Squadron |
| Dates: | 1942–1949; 1952–1971; 1971–present |
| Role: | Airlift |
| Command Structure: | Air Mobility Command |
| Garrison: | Little Rock Air Force Base |
| Nickname: | Blackcats[1] |
| Battles: | Southwest Pacific Theater Operation Just Cause Desert Storm Global War on Terror[2] |
| Notable Commanders: | Alfred G. Hansen |
| Decorations: | Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 41st Airlift Squadron emblem (17 August 2007) |
The 41st Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Command's 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. It operates Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.[1]
The 41st AS became Air Mobility Command's first active-duty C-130J combat unit during 2007.[3]
The squadron was constituted as 41 Transport Squadron on 2 Feb 1942. Activated on 18 Feb 1942 at Duncan Field, Texas. Redesignated as: 41 Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942.[2] The 41st participated in airborne drops on Nadzab, Noemfoor, Tagaytay, Corregidor, and Aparri, as well as aerial transportation in South, Southwest, and Western Pacific, during World War II.[2]
While stationed at the Hollandia Airfield Complex, the squadron rebuilt a captured Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar fighter.[4]
Redesignated 41 Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 30 June 1948 and participated in the Berlin Airlift in 1948.[2] The 41st was inactivated on 14 Sep 1949.[2]
Redesignated as 41 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 3 July 1952 and activated on 14 July 1952. The 41st transported United Nations troops to the Congo in 1960, Redesignated as: 41 Troop Carrier Squadron on 8 Dec 1965. Airlifted personnel and equipment to Southeast Asia from Ryukyu Islands from, 1965–1971. The 41 Troop Carrier Squadron was renamed 41 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 August 1967. Supported airlift operations in Korea during Pueblo crisis in January 1968.[2]
The squadron was inactivated on 28 February 1971. Activated on 31 August 1971. It has supported U.S. Army training and performed rotational duty throughout Europe, since 1971. The 41st airlifted personnel, special forces and supplies during operations in Grenada in 1983, Panama from December 1989 – January 1990, and in Southwest Asia from, 11 August 1990 – 21 March 1991.[2] Redesignated as the 41st Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992.[2]
The 'Blackcats' received their first on 13 March 2007, this marked the start of the squadron's replacement of their elderly C-130H Hercules transporters.[5]
On 26 July 2019, the 41st Airlift Squadron was awarded the 2018 General Joseph Smith Trophy for being the most outstanding airlift squadron in Air Mobility Command for 2018. The squadron led the largest wing exercises in a decade, delivered the most prevalent overseas airdrop in five years, and had the Air Force's lowest C-130J mishap rate for eight years.[6]
Activated on 18 February 1942
Redesignated 41st Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
Redesignated 41st Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy on 30 June 1948
Inactivated on 14 September 1949
Activated on 14 July 1952
Redesignated 41st Troop Carrier Squadron on 8 December 1965
Redesignated 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 August 1967
Inactivated on 28 February 1971
Redesignated 41st Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992[2]
Attached to 513th Tactical Airlift Wing, 6 November 1971 – 12 January 1972, 11 March–16 May 1974, 11 November 1974 – 15 January 1975
Attached to 322d Tactical Airlift Wing, 4 June–16 August 1972, 5 February–14 April 1973, 9 August–15 October 1973
Attached to 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, 4 October–15 December 1975, 13 July–10 September 1976, 5 March–25 April 1977, 2 May–22 July 1978
Attached to 313th Tactical Airlift Wing, 5 December 1979 – 12 February 1980, 3 April–14 June 1981, 3 August–14 October 1982, 4 December 1983 – 15 February 1984, 10 February–10 April 1985, 25 May–13 August 1986, 1 August–14 October 1987, 3 December 1989 – 15 February 1992
Attached to Airlift Division, Provisional, 1610th, 1 November 1990; Tactical Airlift Wing, Provisional, 1660th, 17 December 1990; Tactical Airlift Group, Provisional, 1675th, 15 January–21 March 1991
Deployed to RAF Mildenhall, England, 6 November 1971 – 12 January 1972, 11 March-16 May 1974, 11 November 1974 – 15 January 1975, 13 July-10 September 1976, 5 March-25 April 1977, 2 May-22 July 1978, 5 December 1979 – 12 February 1980, 3 April-14 June 1981, 3 August-14 October 1982, 4 December 1983 – 15 February 1984, 10 February-10 April 1985, 25 May-13 August 1986, 1 August-14 October 1987, 3 December 1989 – 15 February 1990, 2 December 1991 – 15 February 1992
Deployed to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, 4 June-16 August 1972, 5 February-14 April 1973, 9 August-15 October 1973, 4 October-15 December 1975
Deployed to RAF Sculthorpe, England, 2 October-15 December 1988
Deployed to Thumrait Air Base, Oman, 11 August 1990 – 12 January 1991
Deployed to King Fahd Air Base, Saudi Arabia, 13 January-21 March 1991