Background
On December 22, 1939 constituted as the 41st Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor). On February 1, 1940 activated at Bolling Field, Washington DC as part of the 31st Pursuit Group (31st PG) in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). On October 21, 1940 moves to Selfridge Field, Michigan. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Nicknamed "The Flying Buzzsaws". On October 4, 1941 the squadron emblem was approved as a circular blue disc with scattered clouds with a yellow border with a flying buzzsaw in operation leaving a trail of yellow chips. On December 6, 1941 moves to Baer Field, Indiana.
Wartime History
On December 15, 1941 moves to Paine Field, Washington State. On January 15, 1942 assigned to the 35th Pursuit Group (35th PG). On January 21, 1942 departs overseas bound for Australia equipped with early model P-39 Airacobra and P-400 Airacobra. On February 25, 1942 at Brisbane. On March 8, 1942 arrives Ballarat Airfield. On March 17, 1942 moves to Mount Gambier Airfield.
On April 7, 1942 moves to Bankstown Airfield.
On May 15, 1942 redesignated the 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS) in the 35th Fighter Group (35th FG) nicknamed "The Flying Buzzsaws" with the motif of a buss-saw with red wings leaving a trail of yellow chips inside a circle with a background of clouds and a blue sky.
On July 20, 1942 moves to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in New Guinea. Later, the squadron also operates from 30 Mile Drome (Rogers) northwest of Port Moresby.
On July 22, 1942 sixteen Airacobras from the 80th Fighter Squadron, 39th Fighter Squadron, 40th Fighter Squadron, 41st Fighter Squadron conduct a mission to strafe Japanese barges off Buna and Gona. Over the target, eight Airacobras strafed barges while the other eight flew top cover.
On July 29, 1942 the squadron fly top cover plus Airacobras from 80th FS fly close escort for eight A-24 Dive Bombers from 3rd Bomb Group (3rd BG) striking Japanese transports north of Gona.
On
December 16, 1942 the squadron flew a patrol mission. Lost is P-39K 42-4346 pilot 2nd Lt Alexander D. Currie (rescued) and P-39K 42-4362 pilot 2nd Lt Robert G. Tucker (MIA).
On January 16, 1943 six Airacobra led by Captain Francis R. Royal fly a patrol over Buna. Lost is P-39 pilot Voorhis (MIA)
On April 11, 1943 the squadron flys a patrol over Wau. Lost is P-39 pilot Cohen (survived).
On April 12, 1943 the squadron scrambles to intercept an incoming Japanese air raid by G4M1 Bettys escorted by A6M Zeros over Port Moresby. During the air combat, shot down is P-39D Airacobra 41-38351 pilot 1st Lt. Richard
Culton (survived), P-39 pilot Ferguson (survived), P-39 pilot Keating (survived) and P-39D Airacobra 41-38402 pilot 2nd Lt Richard D. Kimball (survived). Damaged and written off is P-39 Airacobra pilot Lt Edwards Park.
On August 15, 1943 the squadron flew an escort mission over Tsili-Tsili and was intercepted by Ki-43 Oscars. Lost is P-39N pilot Mikiska (survived), P-39N pilot Topolcany (KIA), P-39N pilot Hilbert (survived) and P-39N pilot Bomar (survived).
On August 16, 1943 moves to Tsili Tsili Airfield.
On August 25, 1943 lost is P-39N 42-18807 pilot 1st Lt. Carey J. Wooley, Jr. crashed in a landing accident.
On September 6, 1943 a flight of P-39 Airacobras from the squadron patrol in the vicinity of Lae and two P-39s engaged a formation of Japanese planes and claim a Zero shot down (none were lost) without any loss or damage.
On October 22, 1943 moves to Nadzab Airfield.
On November 6, 1943 Japanese air raid against Nadzab Airfield. The bombing
and strafing at Nadzab destroyed two P-39 Airacobras and damaged 23 other planes to some extent. Killed In Action (KIA) is
TSgt William E. Cardamone.
On November 7, 1943 a Japanese air raid by Ki-21 Sallys escorted by Ki-43 Oscars strikes Nadzab Airfield destroys parked P-39N "Nanette".
On February 14, 1944 the squadron flew an escort mission over Wewak. Lost is P-47D 42-22662 pilot 2nd Lt. John H. Hartsfield (MIA).
On February 15, 1944 moves to Gusap Airfield.
On
March 11, 1944 the squadron flew an escort mission over Wewak and engage in air combat. Returning alone lost is P-47D 42-22896 pilot 2nd Lt. George P. Gaffney
Jr. (MIA).
On April 11, 1944 the squadron flew an escort mission over Hansa Bay. Lost is P-47D 42-22709 pilot 2nd Lt. Dewey W. Foster (MIA).
On June 9, 1944 returns to Nadzab Airfield.
On
August 4, 1944 four P-47s took off on a training flight. Lost is P-47D 42-27866 pilot 1st Lt. Henry W. Frintner (MIA) and P-47D 42-27848 pilot Captain Carl V. Bohman (MIA).
On August 16, 1944 moves to Noemfoor Island.
On September 17, 1944 moves to Owi Airfield on Owi Island off the north coast of western New Guinea.
On October 14, 1944 eight P-47D Thunderbolts took off on a fighter sweep over Manggar Airfield on southeast Borneo. Lost is P-47D "Claire-Doll III" 42-28500 pilot 1st Lt. Raymond P. Wiedmeyer (MIA).
On October 17, 944 moves to Wama Airfield on Morotai.
On December 18, 1944 fighter-bombers including P-47s of the 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS) strafe seaplane facilities at Sanga Sanga lost is P-47D 42-28513 pilot Captain John Douglas Bailey (POW/MIA).
On January 21, 1945 moves to Mangaldan Airfield on Luzon in the Philippines.
On February 20, 1945 lost is
P-47D "Nancie-A" 42-28493 pilot 1st Lt. Thomas
C. Prizzia (MIA).
On April 16, 1945 moves to Lingayen Airfield.
On April 20, 1945 moves to Clark Field and transitions to the P-51D Mustang.
On June 30, 1945 moves to Okinawa until the end of the Pacific War.
Postwar
On October 10, 1945 moves to Irumagawa Airfield in Japan.
On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF).
On January 20, 1950 redesignated 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group and tranisitioned to the F-80.
On March 20, 1950 moves to Yokota Airfield.
On August 15, 1950 moves to Johnson AFB. On September 6, 1950 a detachment begin operating from
Misawa until August 1951.
On December 1, 1950 attached to the 6162d Air Base Wing until June 25, 1951.
On May 25, 1951 a detachment begin operating from
Niigata until October 31, 1954.
During 1953 transitions to the F-86 Sabre.
On August 13, 1954 returns to
Yokota Airfield.
On August 5, 1956 moves to Andersen AFB on Guam.
On October 1, 1957 assigned to the 327th Air Division.
On March 8, 1960
discontinued as a squadron and disbaneded.
Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation: Papua (July 23, 1942–January 23, 1943), New Guinea (August 15, 1943), Borneo (October 10-14, 1944)
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (September 7, 1950–February 7, 1951.
References
41st Fighter Squadron History
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 190-191 (41st Fighter)
[PDF pages 202-203]
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 33 (35th FG), 34 (41st FS)
41st Fighter Squadron DVD (2000)
