| Unit Name: | 41st Flying Training Squadron |
| Dates: | 1940–1960; 1990–1997; 1998–present |
| Role: | Pilot Training |
| Command Structure: | Air Education and Training Command |
| Current Commander: | Lt Col. Timothy "Bogey" Thoren |
| Garrison: | Columbus Air Force Base |
| Nickname: | Flying Buzzsaws |
| Motto: | A Cut Above |
| Battles: | Southwest Pacific Theater Korean War[1] |
| Decorations: | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 41st Flying Training Squadron emblem (approved 10 May 1990) |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 41st Pursuit Squadron emblem (approved 4 October 1941)[2] |
The 41st Flying Training Squadron is part of the 14th Flying Training Wing based at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. It operates Beechcraft T-6 Texan II aircraft conducting flight training.
The squadron's mission is to train future Air Force military aviators in Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Phase 2 in the T-6A. Additionally, the 41st trains several foreign military pilots each year in the T-6, through both Foreign Military Sales program and the international Aviation Leadership Program. To accomplish its mission, the squadron annually flies over 17,200 sorties and 22,000 flight hours. The squadron also qualifies and sustains 80–90 mission-ready T-6 instructor pilots. The "Flying Buzzsaws" are currently commanded by Lt Col Timothy "Bogey" Thoren.[3]
The squadron flew antisubmarine patrols off the coast of Washington from 14 December 1941 – 21 January 1942.
Transferred to the Southwest Pacific theater in early 1942, the 41st converted to the Bell P-39 Airacobra at Sydney, Australia. Scrambled in response to an attack on Sydney Harbour by Japanese submarines, 1/Lt George Cantello died when his P-39 crashed, soon after takeoff. On 23 July 1942, the squadron commenced frontline combat sorties in New Guinea, including air patrols, bomber escort, and close air support. It later converted to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Combat sorties continued until 14 August 1945.
During the Korean War, the squadron flew air defense sorties over Japan. It had been re-designated the 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. It conducted academic training for pilots and managed the accelerated copilot enrichment training program from, 1990–1991 and has conducted student flight training since 1998.[1]
Activated on 1 February 1940
Redesignated 41st Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated 41st Fighter Squadron, Single-Engine on 14 February 1944
Redesignated 41st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 January 1950
Discontinued and inactivated on 8 March 1960
Activated on 10 January 1990
Inactivated on 15 May 1991
Detachments operated from Misawa Air Base, Japan 6 September 1950 – August 1951 and Niigata Air Base, Japan c. 25 May 1951 – 31 October 1954