Air Weather Service

• Origins in World War II: The Air Weather Service (AWS) traces its roots back to 1943, when the Army Air Forces Weather Service was established to provide critical weather support for WWII operations. • D-Day Forecasting: AWS meteorologists played a pivotal role in the success of the D-Day invasion by providing the weather forecasts that determined the timing of the Normandy landings. • Global Reach: At its peak during the Cold War, AWS operated weather stations at hundreds of locations worldwide, including the Arctic, Antarctica, and remote Pacific islands. • Balloon Reconnaissance: AWS used high-altitude balloons to collect atmospheric data and even conduct covert reconnaissance missions during the early years of the Cold War. • Weather Reconnaissance Aircraft: The famous "Hurricane Hunters" were part of AWS, flying into typhoons, hurricanes, and other severe weather to gather vital data. • Operation Ivy: AWS supported Operation Ivy, the first test of a hydrogen bomb in 1952, by providing weather forecasts that ensured safe and effective detonation. • Space Race Support: AWS weather teams supported NASA's Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, ensuring safe launches and recoveries for astronauts. • Vietnam War Contributions: AWS provided real-time weather intelligence to U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, influencing air operations and combat missions. • Transition to Air Force Weather Agency: In 1997, AWS was inactivated and its mission was absorbed by the Air Force Weather Agency, which continues to provide weather support today. • Emblem and Motto: The AWS emblem features a winged anemometer and lightning bolts, symbolizing speed, precision, and meteorological expertise; its unofficial motto: "Weather for the Air War."