Lineage

Constituted 41st Air Rescue Squadron on 17 Oct 1952. Activated on 14 Nov1952. Discontinued on 18 Mar 1960. Activated on 29 Dec 1961. Organized on 8 Jan1962. Redesignated 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 Jan 1966. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1987. Activated on 1 Mar1989. Redesignated: 4lstAir Rescue Squadron on 1 Jun 1989; 41st Rescue Squadron on 1 Feb 1993.

Assignments

4th Air Rescue Group, 14 Nov 1952; Air Rescue and Recovery Service, 8 Dec 1956-18 Mar 1960. Military Air Transport Service, 29 Dec 1961; Air (later, Aerospace) Rescue and Recovery Service, 8 Jan 1962; 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing, 1 Jan 1970; 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Sep 1975-30 Sep 1987. 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Mar 1989 (attached to Eastern Space and Missile Center for operational control, 1 Mar 1989-); Air Rescue Service, 1 Aug 1989; 1st Operations Group, 1 Feb 1993; 1st Rescue Group, 14 Jun 1995-.

Stations

Hamilton AFB, CA, 14 Nov 1952-18 Mar 1960. Hamilton AFB, CA, 8 Jan 1962; McClellan AFB, CA, 1 Aug 1973-30 Sep 1987. Patrick AFB, FL, 1 Mar 1989-.

Aircraft

SB-17, 1952-c. 1953; C-82, 1952-1953; H-5, 1952-c. 1953; SA-16, 1953-c. 1960; SH-19, c. l953-c. 1960. SA/HU-16, 1962-1968; SH/HH-19, 1962-1963; HH-43, 1963; HC-130, 1966-1987; CH/HH-53, 1971-1973; HH-3, 1973-1976; HH-53, 1976-1987. CH/HH-3, 1989-.

Operations

Search and rescue, 1952-1960, 1962-1987; and 1989-. Recovered high-altitude atmospheric-sampling devices, 1962-1987. Beginning in Mar 1989, provided prelaunch security and safety surveillance of NASA launches and recovery or medical evacuation for Space Shuttle crewmembers.

Service Streamers

None.

Campaign Streamers

None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 22-28 Dec1955; 1 Apr 1968-31 Mar 1970; 1 Jul 1972-30 Jun 1974; 1 Sep 1975-1 May 1977; 16 Jul 1977-16 Jul 1979; 17 Jul 1979-15 Jun1981; 1 Apr 1984-31 Mar1986; 1 Apr1987-[30 Sep 1987]; 1 Feb 1993-30 Apr 1994.

Emblem

On a Black bordered White disc, extending to border a Red curvilinear suspension bridge with Black outlined truss spanning a stylized expanse of Dark Blue water with wide White caps at top and narrower White caps toward base, the tatter half concealing a downed White plane all outlined Black. Overall above plane and Blue area of water, a stylized swooping Light Blue hawk, eyed White and with Yellow beak, feet and end of tail feathers, and with elevated wings. Approved on 24 May 1954(49781 A.C.).