2nd Weather Wing

• Origins in World War II: The 2nd Weather Wing traces its lineage to the 2nd Weather Group, which was activated in October 1942, playing a crucial role in providing weather data for Allied operations in Europe. • Support to D-Day: Weather personnel linked to the 2nd Weather Wing were instrumental in forecasting the break in weather that allowed the D-Day invasion of Normandy to proceed on June 6, 1944. • Cold War Role: The wing was reactivated during the Cold War, stationed in Germany, where it provided vital meteorological support to U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and NATO operations. • Headquarters Location: For much of its existence, the 2nd Weather Wing was headquartered at Wiesbaden Air Base, West Germany, before relocating to Ramstein Air Base. • Wide Area of Responsibility: At its height, the 2nd Weather Wing was responsible for weather operations in more than 40 countries across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. • Innovative Technology Use: The unit pioneered the integration of satellite data and computer modeling into military weather forecasting during the 1970s and 1980s. • Support to Major Exercises: The wing provided weather support for major NATO exercises, such as REFORGER and Able Archer, directly impacting the readiness and success of these operations. • Desert Storm Involvement: During Operation Desert Storm (1991), the 2nd Weather Wing supplied critical forecasts and weather intelligence to deployed air and ground forces. • Deactivation and Legacy: The 2nd Weather Wing was inactivated in 1991, with its missions and personnel absorbed by other weather units, but its legacy lives on in today’s Air Force Weather Agency. • Emblem and Motto: The wing’s emblem featured a winged anemometer over a globe, symbolizing global weather vigilance, and its motto was "Weather for the Warrior."