The 141st was first organized as the 141st Aero Squadron on 2 January 1918 at Rockwell Field, California. The squadron deployed to France and fought on the Western Front during World War I as a pursuit squadron as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. The unit was demobilized after the war in 1919.
First combat on 28 October 1918, 2 Enemy Aircraft shot down. 1 by Capt. Baker on 28 October; 1 on 5 November, shared by Capt Baker and Lts. Shelby, Cady, Hamlin and Chappell.[1]
The squadron was organized at Rockwell Field, San Diego, California, on 8 October 1917. It was organized as an un-designated provisional unit with men drawn from the 14th and 18th Training Squadrons already at the field. The squadron trained with Curtiss JN-4 Jennies at Rockwell Field. It was not until the latter part of December that the mechanics and support enlisted personnel were assigned to the squadron, and was given its formal designation as the 141st on 2 January 1918, when it was ordered to proceed to Garden City, New York, for overseas deployment.[1]
The 141st reached Field No. 2, near Garden City on 9 January, where final preparations for the squadron were made for overseas shipment. On 15 January it moved to Pier No. 45, Hoboken, New Jersey, where it boarded the Cunard liner RMS Carpathia, arriving at Halifax, Nova Scotia, awaiting to form up into a convoy. on the 19th, it began the overseas journey with seven other ships along with the cruiser USS San Diego, arriving at Glasgow, Scotland on 30 January. On the 31st, after a train trip to Winchester, England, the squadron was assigned to the Morn Hill Rest Camp for classification and advanced training in England.[1]
Training in England
For the next several months, the squadron went through advanced training to prepare it for combat at the front in France. "A" Flight was assigned to Dover, Kent; "B" Flight at the Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, near London, and "C" Flight to Northolt Airdrome, also near London. On 9 March 1918, the squadron reformed at Northolt, where it proceeded to the Swingate Down Airdrome, near Dover, Kent where it received final training by the Royal Flying Corps.[1]
The squadron arrived in France on 16 August 1918 and moved to the St. Maixent Aerodrome for equipping. Orders to move were received on 27 August for the Air Service Production Center No. 2 at Romorantin Aerodrome, where it waited for another nineteen days. Finally on 16 September it moved again to the 1st Air Depot at Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome where the 141st received SPAD XIII pursuit aircraft. There it was assigned to the 4th Pursuit Group, and moved to Croix de Metz Aerodrome (Toul) for combat duty, arriving on 19 October.[1]
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
141st Aero Squadron, November 1918 Gengault Aerodrome (Toul), France.
The squadron's insignia was an orange and black tiger with a flyer's helmet. The 141st flew its first patrol on 23 October and every day thereafter. Its combat commander, Hobey Baker, was a famous hockey and football star at Princeton before the war. It was said, Hobey preferred Ivy League men in his unit, preferably from Princeton. Indeed, he painted the aircraft in his squadron in Princeton colors: Orange and Black.[1]
The 141st shot down its first enemy aircraft on 28 October, by Captain Baker. A second enemy aircraft was shot down on 6 November by a patrol consisting of Captain Baker and Lieutenants Shelby, Cady, Hamiln and Chappell. The 141st was involved in 13 combats, the only pursuit squadron of the Air Service, Second Army to do so.[1]
After the November 1918 Armistice with Germany, the squadron remained at Gengault Aerodrome. Tragically, its commander, Captain Hobey Baker was killed on 21 December 1918 when he took a SPAD XIII up for one last ride. The SPAD developed engine trouble while taking off and Baker died when the aircraft crashed soon thereafter.[1]
Third Army of Occupation
On 19 April 1919, the squadron was assigned to the Third Army Air Service, 5th Pursuit Group. It was moved to Coblenz Airdrome, Germany, to serve as part of the occupation force of the Rhineland. For the next several months the squadron was able to perform test flights on surrendered German aircraft. Flights of the Fokker D.VII, Pfalz D.XII, Halberstadts and Rumpler aircraft were made and evaluations were made.[4]
Demobilization
On 18 June 1919, orders were received from Third Army for the squadron to report to the 1st Air Depot, Colombey-les-Belles Airdrome to turn in all of its supplies and equipment and was relieved from duty with the AEF. The squadron's SPAD aircraft were delivered to the Air Service American Air Service Acceptance Park No. 1 at Orly Aerodrome to be returned to the French. There practically all of the pilots and observers were detached from the squadron.[5]
Personnel at Colombey were subsequently assigned to the Commanding General, Services of Supply and ordered to report to one of several staging camps in France. There, personnel awaited scheduling to report to one of the Base Ports in France for transport to the United States.[6] Upon return to the US, most squadron personnel were demobilized at Camp Mills, New York on 18 July 1919.[3]
Reconstitution
On 8 September 1973 By order of the Secretary of the Air Force, the 141st Aero Squadron (Pursuit), demobilized on 19 July 1919 was reconstituted and allotted to the State of New Jersey. It was ordered consolidated with the 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron. The consolidated unit was designated as the 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron and was extended federal recognition by the National Guard Bureau same date. The consolidated unit was also bestowed the lineage, history, honors, and colors of the 141st Aero Squadron (Pursuit).[7]
World War II
341st Fighter Squadron P-47D Thunderbolt at Tanauan Airfield, Leyte, Philippines in January 1945[c]
The 341st Fighter Squadron was activated at Mitchel Field, New York, on 30 September 1942. It was equipped with the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. The 341st was one of the first USAAF squadrons to be equipped with the P-47.
After an extended period of training in the northeast United States, the squadron deployed to Archer Field (Archerfield Airport), Brisbane, Australia in June 1943. Began long-range missions to strike at Japanese targets in New Guinea. In mid-June the 341st made the 1,200-mile flight from Brisbane to Port Moresby, New Guinea. The unit operated from New Guinea and Noemfoor until November 1944, flying patrol and reconnaissance missions and escorted bombers to targets in New Guinea and New Britain.
In 1944 the 341st began to attack airfields, installations, and shipping in western New Guinea, Ceram, and Halmahera to aid in neutralizing those areas preparatory to the US invasion of the Philippines. When U.S. troops landed on Luzon the squadron in process of conversion from P-47's to P-51 Mustangs, began operation from San Marcelino airstrip a few days after the landing at San Marcelino and Subic Bay. From this location the unit engaged in ground support operations, bombing and strafing in close support of ground troops. Remained in the Philippines throughout the campaign, moving to Okinawa in mid July 1945 in preparation for the planned invasion of Japan. Engaged in long-range operations over the Japanese Home Islands until ceasing combat on 14 August 1945.
Became part of the Army of Occupation in Japan, moving to Itami Airfield, Japan in October 1945 as part of Far East Air Forces. Inactivated at Itami Airfield on 10 May 1946.
New Jersey Air National Guard
The wartime 341st Fighter Squadron was redesignated the 141st Fighter Squadron, and was allotted to the New Jersey National Guard, on 24 May 1946. It was organized and redesignated as the 141st Strategic Fighter Squadron[dubious – discuss] at Mercer Airport, Trenton, New Jersey and was extended federal recognition on 26 May 1949. The 141st Strategic Fighter Squadron [sic] was entitled to the history, honors, and colors of the 341st. The squadron was equipped with F-47D Thunderbolts and was assigned to the 108th Strategic Fighter Group.
In the late 1940s, the new Strategic Air Command (SAC) was manned by personnel of the wartime Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces. During World War II they usually encountered swarms of enemy fighters and knew the importance of having fighter escorts. In the postwar era, SAC had fighter wings placed under their own operational control. The squadron trained in escorting SAC's B-29 and later B-50 and B-36 strategic bombers.
The unit was called to active federal service on 1 March 1951. The squadron was sent to Turner Air Force Base, Georgia where it continued its mission to provide fighter escorts to SAC bombers on training missions. In December 1951 it moved to Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky where it replaced a unit deployed to England. It was released from active duty and returned to New Jersey state control on 10 November 1952.
With return to state control, the parent 108th Wing was transferred to Air Defense Command (ADC) and was redesignated as a Fighter-Interceptor Wing. The 141st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was re-equipped with the long-range North American P-51H Mustang fighter. Designed for the invasion of Japan, the P-51H was the last variant of the P-51 Mustang of World War II, but was produced too late to see any wartime combat. Not used in the Korean War due to it not being believed as "rugged" as its famous "D" model predecessor, the P-51H was used instead to equip Air National Guard units into the 1950s as an ADC interceptor. In 1955, the Mustangs were retired and the squadron entered the jet age, with the arrival of the North American F-86E Sabre.
The parent 108th FIW was transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC) in 1958, being re-designated as a Tactical Fighter Wing. The 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron transferred its interceptors and received and Republic F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bombers.
At the height of the Cold War in 1961, the squadron was again federalized as a result of tensions concerning the Berlin Wall. 28 F-84F's of the 141st and officers and airmen from all three squadrons of the 108th Wing were deployed to Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France on 16 October with the last aircraft and personnel arriving on 6 November. The ground units deployed by sealift, with the deployed elements reaching Chaumont by 17 November. In France, the deployed elements were assigned to the Provisional United States Air Forces Europe 7108th Tactical Wing on 20 November due to the reduced strength of the 108th Wing in Europe. The primary mission of the 7108th was to provide close air support to the Seventh Army in Europe under the direction of ground forward air controllers. To accomplish this mission, up to 30 sorties were flown each day. The deployment to France ended in October 1962 and the unit returned to New Jersey state control, leaving the F-84Fs in France.
Upon return from France, the squadron was moved from Trenton to McGuire Air Force Base due to air congestion in the Philadelphia area. At McGuire, the squadron was re-equipped with North American F-86H Sabres. Beginning in 1965, the Sabres were retired and the squadron began to receive the Republic F-105B Thunderchief. The 108th was the first Air National Guard unit to fly twice the speed of sound. In May 1981, the McDonnell F-4D Phantom II replaced the F-105s, and in 1985, they were upgraded to the F-4E Phantom II.
With the end of the Cold War, the parent 108th Tactical Fighter Wing was re-aligned to a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling wing. The F-4s were retired and the squadron was redesignated as the 141st Air Refueling Squadron. Also, as part of the conversion of the wing to the Objective Wing organization, the 108th Tactical Fighter Group became the 108th Operations Group, to which the 141st was assigned. The 141st was certified combat ready on 3 December 1992. The very next day it was tasked with its first operational deployment – nothing less than spearheading and establishing the U.S. – Somalia air bridge for the Unified Task Force deployment there. It deployed an air refueling detachment to Moron Air Base, Spain.
In 2007, the 141st began retiring its KC-135E aircraft and transitioning to the KC-135R. On 20 September 2023, the squadron flew its last mission with the KC-135R, as it transitioned to becoming an associate squadron of the 305th Air Mobility Wing, flying Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tankers.[8]
Lineage
141st Air Refueling Squadron
Organized on 8 October 1917 as an undesignated unit.
Designated 141st Aero Squadron on 2 January 1918
Redesignated 141st Aero Squadron (Pursuit) on 16 September 1918
Demobilized on 19 July 1919
Reconstituted, redesignated 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron, allotted to the National Guard and extended federal recognition on 8 September 1973
Redesignated 141st Air Refueling Squadron on 19 October 1991
141st Tactical Fighter Squadron
Constituted as the 341st Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 24 September 1942
Activated on 30 September 1942
Inactivated on 10 May 1946
Redesignated 141st Fighter Squadron, Single Engine and allotted to the National Guard on 24 May 1946
Activated and extended federal recognition on 26 May 1949
Federalized and placed on active duty on 1 March 1951
Redesignated 141st Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 16 May 1951
Inactivated and released from active duty on 1 December 1952
Returned to New Jersey state control and activated on 1 December 1952
Redesignated 141st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron c. 1 July 1955
Redesignated 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron (Special Delivery) on 1 July 1958
Federalized and placed on active duty on 1 October 1961
Released from active duty, returned to New Jersey state control and redesignated 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron on 30 August 1962
Withdrawn from the National Guard, redesignated 341st Fighter Squadron and disbanded on 8 September 1973
Assignments
Post Headquarters, Rockwell Field, 8 October 1917
Aviation Concentration Center, 9 January 1918
Air Service Headquarters, AEF, British Isles, 30 January 1918 (attached to the Royal Flying Corps for training after 31 January 1918)
Replacement Concentration Center, AEF, 16 August 1918
Air Service Production Center No. 2, AEF, 27 August – 16 September 1918
^Aircraft is Boeing KC-135R-BN Stratotanker 62-3514. It was built as a KC-135A and later modified to KC-135R standard. Note the 141st orange tail flash with tiger artwork.
^Description: A Great Bengal tiger with orange and black markings playing with a German helmet and Iron Cross. The Tiger is intended to be a Princeton Tiger in honor of Captain Hobey Baker, the squadron commander, of Princeton University fame. Designed by Lt. Slaughter; approved in 1918; transferred to the 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron on 30 October 1973; approved on 6 January 1988.
^Aircraft is Republic P-47D-23-RA Thunderbolt Miss Lorraine, serial 42-27886.
^Aircraft is General Motors built Republic F-84F-25-GK Thunderstreak, serial 51-9396. This plane is on display at Holloman Air Force Base in the markings of another F-84. Baugher, Joe (8 September 2023). "1951 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
^Aircraft is Republic F-105B-20-RE, serial 57-5829. The sign on the hangar proudly proclaiming McGuire AFB as the "Home of the Air Guard Thunderchiefs". This plane was sent to Tinker Air Force Base, where it was used to practice airfield battle damage repair. Baugher, Joe (29 April 2023). "1957 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
^Aircraft is McDonnell F-4E-37-MC Phantom II, serial 68-0357. Note tail code "NJ" and Tiger illustration on nose. This plane was sent to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center on 2 October 1991 and scrapped on 6 August 2018. Baugher, Joe (8 September 2023). "1968 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
Citations
^ abcdefghiSeries "E", Volume 17, History of the 141st Aero Squadron. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
^Series "H", Section "O", Volume 29, Weekly Statistical Reports of Air Service Activities, October 1918 – May 1919. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
^ abOrder of Battle of the United States Land Forces in the First World War, Volume 3, Part 3, Center of Military History, United States Army, 1949 (1988 Reprint)
^Section E, Volume 26, Supplemental Histories of the 25th-1102d Aero Squadrons, Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C. via http://www.fold3.com
^Series "D", Weekly Statistical Reports of Air Service Activities, October 1918 – May 1919. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
^Series "O", Volume 22, Weekly Statistical Reports on progress of Air Service Activities, October 1918 – May 1919. Gorrell's History of the American Expeditionary Forces Air Service, 1917–1919, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
^Department of the Air Force letter DAF/PRM 830q, 6 January 1988. The 6 January 1988 letter corrected an error noted in the National Guard Board order DAF/PRM 719p dated 27 August 1973 and revoked DAF/PRM 719p which did not authorize the unit the history, honors, and colors of the original squadron. The date of the consolidation was left unchanged as 8 September 1973.
United States War Department (1920), Battle Participation of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, Belgium and Italy, 1917–1919, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1920
David K. Vaughan, Flying for the Air Service: The Hughes Brothers in World War I, Bowling Green State University Popular Press, OH 43403, ISBN0-87972-761-6.
United States
Air National Guard
