Army Air Force Weather Wing | 10th Combat Weather Squadron | 10th AAF CBI

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Army Air Force Weather Wing | 10th Combat Weather Squadron | 10th AAF CBI
OELUM AD PROELIUM ELIGE ("Choose the weather for action" aka "I select the weather for battle")

 

Lineage: Established as Weather Wing, Flight Control Command on 13 Apr 1943. Activated on 14 Apr 1943. Redesignated as: Army Air Forces Weather Wing on 6 Jul 1943; Army Air Forces Weather Service on 1 Jul 1945; Air Weather Service on 13 Mar 1946.

In the CBI theater the detachment operated as 10th Weather Squadron, formed 15 Jun 1942. Activated on 24 Jun 1942. Inactivated on 3 Jul 1946. Activated on 1 Jun 1948. Inactivated on 20 May 1952. Activated on 16 Jun 1966. Organized on 8 Jul 1966. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1975. Redesignated 10th Combat Weather Squadron and activated on 1 Apr 1996.

Assignments: 1 Air Force, 24 Jun 1942; Tenth Air Force, Aug 1942; Theater Troops (China-Burma-India), 18 Aug 1943; Army Air Forces, India-Burma Sector, China-Burma-India Theater (later, Army Air Forces, India-Burma Theater), 21 Aug 1943; Army Air Forces (later, Air) Weather Service, 12 Oct 1945-3 Jul 1946. 101 Weather (later, 2101 Air Weather) Group, 1 Jun 1948; 2059 Air Weather Wing, 20 Sep 1950-20 May 1952. 1 Weather Group, 8 Jul 1966; 1 Weather Wing, 30 Jun 1972-30 Sep 1975. 720 Special Tactics Group, 1 Apr 1996-.

 

The 10th Weather Squadron was initially activated at Derrick Field, Maryland, on June 24, 1942. It was assigned to the 10th Air Force in New Delhi, India in January, 1943. The unit operated with Col. Philip Cochrane's 1st Air Commando Group throughout the China-Burma-India (CBI) theater supporting both Brig. General Orde Wingate's Long Range Penetration Group, the Chindits,and Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill's "Marauders".

The roots of today’s Special Operations Weather Teams (SOWT) can be traced back to World War II when the Office of Strategic Services (the CIA predecessor) trained 36 volunteers from the 19th Weather Squadron. The 10th CWS squadron made use of small weather teams that were inserted deep into enemy territory to provide weather observations. In August 1944, then Maj. Gen. Curtis E. LeMay transferred from the European theater to the China-Burma-India theater and directed first the XX Bomber Command in China and then the XXI Bomber Command in the Pacific. LeMay was later placed in charge of all strategic air operations against the Japanese home islands. He authorized the training of Chinese guerillas in basic weather observation skills. These weather volunteers were trained in parachuting, close quarters combat, escape and evasion, and advanced weapons qualifications. Armed with these advanced skill sets, the intent was to deploy these “Weather Commandos” deep into enemy territory. By VJ Day the 10th WS was the largest weather squadron in USAF history, with over 2,000 personnel on its roster.

 

A coincidence to this topic is that as a young Eagle Scout, I rode in the back seat of a convertible sitting next to Gen. LeMay, "father of the strategic air command", in a parade. That day he wore a magnificent tunic onto which all of his insignia and ribbons were embroidered.

 

Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, USAF

 

 

Today, Special Operation Weather Commandos provide a full suite of meteorological and environmental data in conditions ranging from hostile to permissive. Squadron members augment their specialized weather forecast and observation skills with static line parachuting, survival and small unit tactics. Select members receive training in military freefall parachuting, SCUBA, Pathfinder, Ranger skills, mountain warfare training and air assault.

 

 

Theater-made. Multi-piece leather, hand-painted. 5-1/4" round.

 

 

 

The original Air Weather Service emblem was a distinctive, disc-shaped badge approved on 8 September 1942. Significance: Performance of Air Weather Service day and night was indicated by the light blue (left inside) and black (right inside) coloring on the disc. The white anemometer cups, bordered in golden yellow, are the principal instruments used in weather forecasting and are symbolic of the performance. The golden yellow fleur-de-lis represents participation of the weather service (American Expeditionary Forces) in France during World War l. MOTTO: COELUM AD PROELIUM ELIGE translates from the Latin as "CHOSE THE WEATHER FOR ACTION."

 

 

 

 

 

A photo of an HQ from the Internet:

 

 

 

 

Most of the special operations weather lineage, honors, and heraldry origins of WWII are attributed to the 10th Weather Squadron, at New Delhi, India under the 10th Air Force. The 10th Weather Squadron was constituted 10th Weather on 15 Jun 1942 and activated on 24 Jun 1942 (New Delhi, India). Inactivated on 3 Jul 1946 the 10th Weather Squadron was subsequently activated on 1 Jun 1948, inactivated on 20 May 1952, activated on 16 Jun 1966, organized on 8 Jul 1966, inactivated on 30 Sep 1975, designated 10th Combat Weather Squadron and activated on 1 Apr 1996, and finally inactivated 7 May 2014. The inactivation of the 10th Combat Weather Squadron resulted in special operations weathermen from the unit being integrated into 720th STG.

For the curious, here is the special operations in action today . . .

 

http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104529/special-operations-weather-team/

http://www.shadowspear.com/2009/01/special-operations-weather/