Air Force Special Operations Weather Technician - History

History

During World War II, Air Force's combat weathermen supported the American effort against the Japanese in the China-Burma-India theater of operations. They also participated in the European theater at Normandy Beach, France; and in the Netherlands and Yugoslavia.

The 10th Weather Squadron reactivated at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand, to conduct combat weather operations in Southeast Asia on 16 June 1966. The squadron trained indigenous weather personnel and set up the clandestine weather observation networks throughout Southeast Asia. The 10th Weather Squadron played an important part in the raid on the Son Tay POW camp (a.k.a. Operation Ivory Coast) of 1970. The mission was planned around advanced weather reconnaissance by the 10th WS. It has been reported that elements of the 10th WS also conducted on-the-ground weather reconnaissance in areas along the Ho Chi Minh trail in support of covert air interdiction, strafing, and armed reconnaissance missions against the communist Viet Cong guerillas & North Vietnamese Army soldiers that used the trail.

Special operations weathermen have directly participated in the majority of modern special operations contingency operations since Operation Urgent Fury, the U.S. invasion of Grenada working with other special operations and conventional forces. These recent successes include operations Just Cause in Panama, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Task Force Ranger operations in Somalia, Uphold Democracy in Haiti, operations in Bosnia and counter narcotics operations in South America, as well as ongoing operations in support of Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Special operations weathermen were not included in the failed US embassy hostage rescue attempt in Iran in 1980, known as Operation Eagle Claw. A report by the Holloway Commission, formed to examine what went wrong with the mission, pointed out that the lack of weather intelligence personnel on the ground was one of the key factors in the mission failure.

• 15 May 1942—Parachute School is established at Fort Benning, Georgia. It is a three-week course students attend en route to their duty assignment.
• 24 June 1942—Combat weathermen support the American effort against the Japanese in the China-Burma-India theater of operations.
• June 1944—Combat weathermen see action during World War II at Normandy Beach, France; and, in the Netherlands and Yugoslavia.
• 16 June 1966—The 10th Weather Squadron is reactivated at Udon Airfield, Thailand, to conduct combat weather operations in Southeast Asia. The squadron is responsible for training indigenous weather personnel and setting up the clandestine weather observation networks throughout Southeast Asia.
• November 1971—Personnel from the 10th WS are key players in many successful special operations including the highly weather dependent Son Tay Raid. Timing for the Son Tay Raid was advanced by 24 hours based on the three-day forecast. Weather support personnel successfully forecast the only 12 hours of "go" conditions during a 38-day period.