11th Operational Weather Squadron

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

11th Operational Weather Squadron
Active1941 – 1957
1958 – 1992
1999 – 2008
Country
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
11th Operational Weather Squadron emblem (approval date unknown)[1]
11th Weather Squadron emblem (approved 13 June 1961)[1]
11th Weather Squadron emblem (approved 20 September 1944)[1]

The 11th Operational Weather Squadron (11OWS) was an operational weather squadron of the

Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
, and was responsible for forecasting Alaska's weather and analyzing its climate.

The squadron was first activated in early 1941 as the Air Corps Detachment, Weather, Alaska at

Elmendorf Field (later Air Force Base). The detachment oversaw weather stations in Alaska and after the Attack on Pearl Harbor in February 1942 became the 11th Air Corps Squadron, Weather. The squadron was redesignated the 11th Weather Squadron in 1944. In 1952 the squadron was relocated to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi where it inactivated five years later. In 1958 the squadron was reactivated at Elmendorf. The squadron was inactivated after a short stay at Eielson Air Force Base
in 1992. The squadron was reactivated as the 11th Operational Weather Squadron at Elmendorf in 1998.

History

World War II

The 11th Operational Weather Squadron was constituted as Air Corps Detachment, Weather, Alaska, on 15 November 1940, and activated on 11 January 1941 at

March Field. Its mission was to operate the Alaska Weather Region to provide Army Air Corps aircraft and Alaska Army units with weather service. The detachment relocated to Elmendorf Field on 2 May.[2] On 7 December, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the detachment oversaw the weather stations at Elmendorf, Ladd, Annette Island, and Yakutat, a total of 44 enlisted men and three officers.[3]

The squadron was redesignated the 11th Air Corps Squadron, Weather, on 26 February 1942 and transferred to the

Air Weather Service) on 22 October 1945.[2]

Cold War

On 4 December 1945, the squadron became part of the

343d Operations Group on 15 April. The squadron was inactivated on 1 June.[2][4]

Operational Weather Squadron

The squadron was redesignated the 11th Operational Weather Squadron on 5 February 1999, and activated on 19 February 1999 with the

Alaska NORAD Region.[5] As a result of USAF manpower and budget reductions, the 11th OWS was inactivated and merged with the 17th Operational Weather Squadron in Hawaii in June 2008. This merger was completed on 13 June 2008.[6]

Lineage

The lineage of the 11th Operational Squadron from inception to 2008:[4]

  • Constituted as Air Corps Detachment, Weather, Alaska, on 15 November 1940
Activated on 11 January 1941
  • Redesignated 11th Air Corps Squadron, Weather (Regional Control) on 26 February 1942
  • Redesignated 11th Weather Squadron on 6 January 1944
Inactivated on 20 April 1952
Activated on 20 April 1952
Inactivated on 18 November 1957
Activated on 18 June 1958
Inactivated on 1 June 1992
  • Redesignated 11th Operational Weather Squadron on 5 February 1999
Activated on 19 February 1999[4]
  • Inactivated and merged with 17th Operational Weather Squadron on 13 June 2008[6]

Assignments

The assignments of the 11th Operational Squadron from inception to 2008:[4]

Stations

The stations of the 11th Operational Squadron from inception to 2008:[4]

  • Ladd Field
    , Alaska, 11 Jan 1941
  • Elmendorf Field
    (later Air Force Base), Alaska, 2 May 1941
  • Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, 20 April 1952 – 18 November 1957
  • Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, 18 Jun 1958
  • Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, 1 April 1992 – 1 June 1992
  • Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, 19 February 1999[4] – 13 June 2008[6]

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
 1 January 1944–24 October 1945 11th Weather Squadron [1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
 1 May 1966–30 April 1968 11th Weather Squadron [1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 June 1969–31 May 1971 11th Weather Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1975–1 April 1976 11th Weather Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1976–30 June 1978 11th Weather Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1990–30 June 1992 11th Weather Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 1999–30 September 2001 11th Operational Weather Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 2003–30 September 2005 11th Operational Weather Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 November 2005–31 October 2007 11th Operational Weather Squadron[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 November 2007–13 June 2008 11th Operational Weather Squadron[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription 7 December 1941 – 2 March 1946 11th Weather Squadron[1]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Air Force Weather: Our Heritage 1937 to 2012 (PDF). Air Weather Association. 2012. pp. 7–3, 13–17, 13–36, 13–37.
  2. ^ a b c d "Air Force Weather Lineage– the 11th OWS" (PDF). Air Force Weather Historian Newsletter. Vol. 1, no. 1. Winter 2003. p. 2. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Fuller 1990, pp. 179–181.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Lineage and Honors of the Operational Weather Squadrons (PDF). Air Force Weather Heritage Series. Offutt AFB, Nebraska: Air Force Weather History Office. March 2003. pp. 1–3.
  5. ^ "11th Air Force". 11th Air Force Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 12 April 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d Lee, Jesse (25 August 2008). "Two weather squadrons become one". 17th Operational Weather Squadron. Retrieved 10 February 2017.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=11th_Operational_Weather_Squadron&oldid=1114917272"