28th Operational Weather Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 28th Operational Weather Squadron (28th OWS), is an operational weather squadron responsible for supporting USCENTCOM operations.
This weather squadron is responsible for base or post forecasting, developing weather products, briefing transient aircrews, and weather warnings for all of their geographical units. Using automatic observing systems located at all military installations and communicating with their combat weather flights, the squadron is able to 'watch' the weather in their entire area of responsibility from one central location.
in the Pacific requested two mobile weather squadrons be activated for projected land operations in the theater's forward area. The Weather Wing constituted the 27th and 28th Weather Squadrons on May 30, 1945. The squadrons activated at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina
, on June 5, 1945, and underwent intensive training.
The squadrons were ordered to port for movement to the Pacific in August 1945, but the order was soon thereafter rescinded when Japan capitulated. Both squadrons were inactivated on November 9, 1945.
The 28th Weather Squadron was reactivated on March 1, 1949, at Bushy Park
, England to provide weather services for US Air Force and US Army units within the British Isles. The squadron was assigned to the 2105th Air Weather Group, redesignated the 2058th Air Weather Wing in October 1951.
The 28th's predominant customer was the 3d Air Division which was activated in 1948 under the command of then-Maj Gen Leon W. Johnson. Maj Gen Leon W. Johnson, a World War II Medal of Honor
recipient, was a member of the initial cadre of officers assigned to the US Air Corps
weather service when it was formed in 1937.
The headquarters of the 28th Weather Squadron was relocated to South Ruislip
, England, near 3d Air Division headquarters, on June 7, 1949; but returned to Bushy Park in March 1951. The headquarters moved to RAF Northolt
, England, on October 24, 1962.
The 28th was reassigned to the 2d Weather Wing on February 8, 1954, in concert with an Air Weather Service
overseas wing reorganization. The 28th Weather Squadron's emblem was in use by 1952. The Air Force officially approved its use on April 10, 1959.
The 28th Weather Squadron was one of seven weather squadrons eliminated as part of an Air Force directed Military Airlift Command
programming action to reduce Air Weather Service command elements. It was deactivated on July 1, 1971, and its detachments were assigned to the 31st Weather Squadron.
Air Weather Service commander Brig Gen Albert J. Kaehn, Jr. approved a reorganization plan in 1979 that included reactivation of the 28th Weather Squadron, which he officiated on July 1, 1980, at RAF Mildenhall
, England.
Detachments of the 28th at Lakenheath
, Bentwaters
, Woodbridge
, Mildenhall
, Upper Heyford
, Fairford
, and Alconbury
Royal Air Force
stations were activated simultaneously.
With the Air Force-directed divestiture of Air Weather Service "to give mission commanders ownership of their weather support resources", the 28th Weather Squadron and its detachments were again deactivated on September 30, 1991.
Under the Air Force Weather
re-engineering effort, the 28th Weather Squadron was redesignated the 28th Operational Weather Squadron on February 5, 1999. The 28th was activated at Shaw Air Force Base
, South Carolina
, on February 17, 1999, and assigned to the Air Combat Command
's 609th Air Operations Group, severing its deep roots planted in England during the Cold War.
On July 20, 2006, the 28th Operational Weather Squadron was split into two entities: the 28th Operational Weather Squadron, which maintained USCENTCOM functions; and the 9th Operational Weather Squadron
, which continued CONUS
-based operations. The 9th Operational Weather Squadron dissolved in 2007 and CONUS functions were relocated to the 26th Operational Weather Squadron, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Currently the 28th Operational Weather Squadron is the only OWS assigned to Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Additionally, as of 2010 it is the only OWS in the United States Air Force that focuses specifically on USCENTCOM military meteorology and product development.
, South Carolina.
Mission
The 28th Operational Weather Squadron is responsible for producing and disseminating mission planning and execution weather analyses, forecasts, and briefings for US Air Force, USCENTCOM forces.This weather squadron is responsible for base or post forecasting, developing weather products, briefing transient aircrews, and weather warnings for all of their geographical units. Using automatic observing systems located at all military installations and communicating with their combat weather flights, the squadron is able to 'watch' the weather in their entire area of responsibility from one central location.
History
On January 26, 1945, the commanding general of the US Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
in the Pacific requested two mobile weather squadrons be activated for projected land operations in the theater's forward area. The Weather Wing constituted the 27th and 28th Weather Squadrons on May 30, 1945. The squadrons activated at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, on June 5, 1945, and underwent intensive training.
The squadrons were ordered to port for movement to the Pacific in August 1945, but the order was soon thereafter rescinded when Japan capitulated. Both squadrons were inactivated on November 9, 1945.
The 28th Weather Squadron was reactivated on March 1, 1949, at Bushy Park
Bushy Park
- External links :***...
, England to provide weather services for US Air Force and US Army units within the British Isles. The squadron was assigned to the 2105th Air Weather Group, redesignated the 2058th Air Weather Wing in October 1951.
The 28th's predominant customer was the 3d Air Division which was activated in 1948 under the command of then-Maj Gen Leon W. Johnson. Maj Gen Leon W. Johnson, a World War II Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient, was a member of the initial cadre of officers assigned to the US Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
weather service when it was formed in 1937.
The headquarters of the 28th Weather Squadron was relocated to South Ruislip
South Ruislip
South Ruislip is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon.The population, according to the 2001 UK census, was 10,823. By 2008, this had reached 11,116.-Education:...
, England, near 3d Air Division headquarters, on June 7, 1949; but returned to Bushy Park in March 1951. The headquarters moved to RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
, England, on October 24, 1962.
The 28th was reassigned to the 2d Weather Wing on February 8, 1954, in concert with an Air Weather Service
Air Force Weather Agency
The Air Force Weather Agency is a Field Operating Agency and the lead military meteorology center of the United States Air Force...
overseas wing reorganization. The 28th Weather Squadron's emblem was in use by 1952. The Air Force officially approved its use on April 10, 1959.
The 28th Weather Squadron was one of seven weather squadrons eliminated as part of an Air Force directed Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
programming action to reduce Air Weather Service command elements. It was deactivated on July 1, 1971, and its detachments were assigned to the 31st Weather Squadron.
Air Weather Service commander Brig Gen Albert J. Kaehn, Jr. approved a reorganization plan in 1979 that included reactivation of the 28th Weather Squadron, which he officiated on July 1, 1980, at RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force station located at Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Despite its status as an RAF station, it primarily supports United States Air Force operations and is currently the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing...
, England.
Detachments of the 28th at Lakenheath
RAF Lakenheath
RAF Lakenheath, is a Royal Air Force military airbase near Lakenheath in Suffolk, England. Although an RAF station, it hosts United States Air Force units and personnel...
, Bentwaters
RAF Bentwaters
RAF Bentwaters, now known as Bentwaters Parks, is a former Royal Air Force station about 80 miles NE of London, 10 miles ENE of Ipswich, near Woodbridge, Suffolk in England...
, Woodbridge
RAF Woodbridge
Royal Air Force Station Woodbridge, more commonly referred to as RAF Woodbridge, is a former Royal Air Force military airbase situated to the east of Woodbridge in the county of Suffolk, England...
, Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force station located at Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Despite its status as an RAF station, it primarily supports United States Air Force operations and is currently the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing...
, Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located north-west of Bicester near the village of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. The base was brought into use for flying in July 1918 by the Royal Flying Corps. During World War II it was used by many units of the RAF, mainly as a training...
, Fairford
RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, England. It is a standby airfield, not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the 2003 Iraq War, Operation Allied Force in 1999, and the first Gulf War in...
, and Alconbury
RAF Alconbury
RAF Alconbury is an active Royal Air Force station in Cambridgeshire, England. The airfield is adjacent to the Stukeleys [Great and Little] and located about northwest of Huntingdon; about north of London....
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
stations were activated simultaneously.
With the Air Force-directed divestiture of Air Weather Service "to give mission commanders ownership of their weather support resources", the 28th Weather Squadron and its detachments were again deactivated on September 30, 1991.
Under the Air Force Weather
Air Force Weather Agency
The Air Force Weather Agency is a Field Operating Agency and the lead military meteorology center of the United States Air Force...
re-engineering effort, the 28th Weather Squadron was redesignated the 28th Operational Weather Squadron on February 5, 1999. The 28th was activated at Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, on February 17, 1999, and assigned to the Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
's 609th Air Operations Group, severing its deep roots planted in England during the Cold War.
On July 20, 2006, the 28th Operational Weather Squadron was split into two entities: the 28th Operational Weather Squadron, which maintained USCENTCOM functions; and the 9th Operational Weather Squadron
9th Operational Weather Squadron
The 9th Operational Weather Squadron , based out of Shaw AFB, SC, was the Squadron responsible for weather prediction in the Southeastern United States. It was split from the 28th Operational Weather Squadron in 2006...
, which continued CONUS
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
-based operations. The 9th Operational Weather Squadron dissolved in 2007 and CONUS functions were relocated to the 26th Operational Weather Squadron, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Currently the 28th Operational Weather Squadron is the only OWS assigned to Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Additionally, as of 2010 it is the only OWS in the United States Air Force that focuses specifically on USCENTCOM military meteorology and product development.
Personnel and resources
The 28th Operational Weather Squadron's manning consisted of active duty, deployed in-place OL-E, reserve, civilian and contract personnel and is located on Shaw Air Force BaseShaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command...
, South Carolina.
Lineage
- Constituted 28th Weather Squadron on 30 May 1945
- Activated on 5 June 1945
- Deactivated on 9 November 1945
- Activated on 1 March 1949
- Deactivated on 1 July 1971
- Activated on 1 July 1980
- Deactivated on 30 September 1991
- Redesignated 28th Operational Weather Squadron on 5 February 1999
- Activated on 17 February 1999
- Portions redesignated 9th Operational Weather Squadron on 20 July 2006
- Deactivated 9th Operational Weather Squadron in 2007
Duty assignments
List of duty assignments and parent units from 1945 to present.- Seymour Johnson Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Army Air Forces Weather Wing, 5 June 1945 – 9 November 1945 - Bushy ParkBushy Park- External links :***...
, England, 2105th Air Weather Group (later, 2058th Air Weather Wing), 1 March 1949 – 7 June 1949 - South RuislipSouth RuislipSouth Ruislip is a suburban area in the London Borough of Hillingdon.The population, according to the 2001 UK census, was 10,823. By 2008, this had reached 11,116.-Education:...
, England, 2105th Air Weather Group (later, 2058th Air Weather Wing), 7 June 1949 – 22 March 1951 - Bushy ParkBushy Park- External links :***...
, England, Air Weather Group (later, 2058th Air Weather Wing), 22 March 1951 – 8 February 1954 - Bushy ParkBushy Park- External links :***...
, England, 2nd Weather Wing, 8 February 1954 – 24 October 1962 - RAF NortholtRAF NortholtRAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
, England, 2nd Weather Wing, 24 October 1962 – 1 July 1971 - RAF MildenhallRAF MildenhallRAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force station located at Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Despite its status as an RAF station, it primarily supports United States Air Force operations and is currently the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing...
, England, 2nd Weather Wing, 1 July 1980 – 30 September 1991 - Shaw Air Force BaseShaw Air Force BaseShaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command...
, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, 609th Air Operations Group, 17 February 1999 – 20 July 2006 - Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 9th Air Force, 20 July 2006 – present
Awards
- Fawbush-Miller AwardFawbush-Miller AwardThe Fawbush-Miller Award is a US Air Force award given for the most Outstanding Operational Weather Squadron for the entire Air Force. It is named after Robert C. Miller and E J. Fawbush who pioneered tornado warning forecast.-External links:*...
2001-2003, 2005 - Air ForceAir forceAn air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
Outstanding Unit Awards for periods: 1 January 1968 – 31 December 1969; 1 July 1982 – 30 June 1984; 1 July 1990 – 30 September 1991; 1 June 2004 - 31 May 2006; 1 June 2006 - 31 May 2007.