Organized in the California National Guard as Headquarters, Special Troops, 40th Division. Federally recognized 10 April 1936 at Berkeley. Ordered into active Federal service on 3 March 1941 at Berekley. Disbanded 19 February 1942 at Los Angeles, California. Reorganized in Federal service 15 October 1943 at Fort Shafter, Territory of Hawaii. Inactivated 7 April 1946 at Camp Stoneman, California.
Redesignated 5 August 1946 as Headquarters Company, 49th Infantry Division. Reorganized and Federally recognized 23 April 1947 at Alameda.
Redesignatged 1 May 1959 as 49th Aviation Company and concurrently relocated to Stockton. Redesignated 1 March 1963 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 49th Aviation Battalion and assigned to the 49th Infantry Division. Reorganized and redesignated 29 January 1968 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 49th Aviation Battalion.
Reorganized and redesignated Company, 76th Aviation group and relieved from the 49th Infantry Division on 13 January 1974.
Redesignated 1 September 1978 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 40th Aviation Battalion.
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDITS:
Bismrck Archipelago;
Leyte;
Luzon (with Arrowhead);
Southern Philippines (with Arrowhead).
DECORATIONS:
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered: 17 OCTOBER 1944-4 JULY 1945 (Hq, Sp Tps 40t Inf Div cited; DA GO 47, 1950).
DISTINCTIVE BADGE:
Flanked by two orange broad arrows a blue triangle bearing two silver stars, all between two silver wings. The motto CURA ET PERFECTIO (Accuracy and Perfection) is silver on an orange scroll.
SYMBOLISM:
Ultramarine blue and golden orange are the colors used for Army Aviation. The two broad arrows denote the Southern Philippines and Luzon campaign assault landings while th stars symbolize the Bismarch Archipelago and Leyte campaigns of World War II. The triangular shapes, suggested by the Philippine Presidential flag, allude to the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation awarded the unit for it's participation in the liberatin of th Philippines during World War II. The wings, symbols of flight, allude to that aspect of the unit's mission. The sample fo fthe badge depicted was originally approved on 27 October 1970 for wear by the 49th Aviation Battalion.
NOTE: Personnel of this unit serving in the Philippine Islands during WW II are further authorized both the Philippine Liberation and Independence Medals and if wounded in the PI, the Philippine Wound Medal.
1SG Charles W. Aresta; The Hawaiian Military Insignia Collectors and Study Group; 1813 Sereno Street; Honolulu, Hawaii 96817-2318 (e-mail: ra1sgt@aol.com) Ph or fax: 808-537-2753
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