1st Weather Squadron

The United States Air Force's 1st Combat Weather Squadron is a weather unit located at Fort Lewis, Washington.[1] The squadron is connected to the 1st Air Support Operations Group and it provides support to units based at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, including I Corps, the Stryker brigades, an army aviation unit, the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, and the 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade.[2]

1st Combat Weather Squadron
Active1937–1944, 1949–1952, 1966–1992, 1992–1994, 1994–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
SizeSquadron
Garrison/HQFort Lewis, Washington
Insignia
1st Weather Squadron emblem

Duties

The 1st Weather Squadron assists soldiers on the battlefield by predicting the weather, allowing the commanders to determine when to undertake "full-spectrum operations." According to Lorin Smith, the unit's personnel are able to report on the weather that will occur during a "unit's future missions and create battlefield reports to the unit commander on whether that mission will be impacted by the weather and local environment."[2] Weather effects that can be predicted include dust storms and floods. The airmen are taught "infantry tactics" and they are trained in the same basic abilities as soldiers. The 1st Weather Squadron has two sides which are designated as "green and blue". The green side distributes "battlefield weather forecasts and briefing to Army leaders" while the blue side flies with jets and helicopters.[2]

In 2019, it was reported that the squadron had 89 members "in six different U.S. Indo-Pacific Command locations". Their data helps 80,000 soldiers and assets belonging to the U.S. Army. The squadron also assists with natural disasters including volcanic eruptions and wildfires.[1]

History

Harold Huntley Bassett was the first commander of the squadron due to Oscar C. Maier not accepting the job after being recommended for the position.[3]

Lineage

The lineage of the 1st Weather Squadron is as follows:[4]

  • Constituted as the 1st Weather Squadron on 24 June 1937
Activated on 1 July 1937
Redesignated 1st Weather Squadron, Regional on 16 June 1942
Redesignated 1st Weather Squadron, Original on 1 November 1943
Disbanded on 7 September 1944
  • Reconstituted c. 21 April 1949
Activated on 20 May 1949
Inactivated on 20 May 1952
Organized on 8 January 1966
Inactivated on 15 June 1992
Activated on 15 June 1992
Inactivated on 29 April 1994
Activated on 1 July 1994

Assignments

The assignments of the 1st Weather Squadron are as follows:[4]

Stations

Decorations
  • 2016 Weather Squadron of the Year[9]

References

Notes
  1. Finlay, David (9 September 2019). "The Mighty First Weather Squadron". Eielson Air Force Base. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  2. Smith, Lorin (16 June 2011). "Weather Airmen keep Army flying". U.S. Army. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  3. John Fuller (30 March 2015). Thor's Legions: Weather Support to the U.S. Air Force and Army, 1937–1987. Springer. p. 26. ISBN 978-1-935704-14-0.
  4. Moyers, Al (2005). "1st Weather Squadron is an Air Force Original" (PDF). Air Force Weather Historian. Air Force Weather History Office. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  5. Mueller, p. 369
  6. Mueller, p. 401
  7. Mueller, p. 608
  8. Mueller, p. 354
  9. Cox, Divine (10 January 2017). "1st Weather Squadron wins 2016 Weather Squadron of the Year". Eielson Air Force Base. Retrieved 26 January 2021.

Bibliography
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