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18th Weather Squadron Det. 1[18th WS Det. 1]

Air Force Weather has provided weather support to both the Air Force and Army for over 50 years. Established in 1947, Air Weather Service (AWS) was a technical service of the newly formed U.S. Air Force (USAF) Military Air Transport Service. In 1949, Air Force Regulation designated that the USAF would provide weather support to both Army and the Air Force forces. In 1954, Felker Army Airfield was established and was home to over 120 aircraft and 700 aviators. In 1959, the 16th Weather Squadron was established at Fort Monroe, VA to provide weather support to area Army units. Support included over 1,000 weather briefings a month in support of aircraft operations at Felker Army Airfield.

On 8 Jul 1960, Detachment (Det) 13, 16th Weather Squadron was established at Felker Army Airfield to provide weather support to Fort Eustis, as well as Fort Lee, Fort Pickett, and hurricane warnings to Fort Story. Consisting of 3 officers and 13 enlisted personnel, Det 13 was responsible for fulfilling all weather support requirements of the U.S. Army Transportation Center, Fort Eustis, and tenant organizations.

On 28 Nov 1961, Det 13 transmitted the first long-line tele-type transmission on the National Military Teletype Network. On 28 Feb 1963, Felker Army Airfield received installation of fixed meteorological equipment, to include a transmissometer for runway visibility, a ceilometer to determine cloud heights, a temperature and dew point sensor, and an anemometer for determining wind speed and direction.

During early 1966, Officers and Airmen of Det 13 went through jungle warfare training at Fort Wallace, located on the outskirts of Williamsburg, VA. Fort Wallace was made to simulate a jungle atmosphere and was used to prepare soldiers for guerrilla warfare prior to departure for Vietnam.

On 1 Jan 1975, Det 13 was reassigned from 16th Weather Squadron to 5th Weather Squadron. Det 13 was now part of the largest squadron in Air Weather Service with 365 people in the squadron headquarters, 17 detachments (including Det 13), and 6 operating locations. In 1985, Det 13 received the Mishap Prevention Award for achieving a ground mishap-free record for the fiscal year of 1985. On 30 Sep 1991, as part of a larger Air Force reorganization, Det 13, 5th Weather Squadron was relieved from assignment to Air Weather Service and aligned under Tactical Air Command.

On 7 Jun 1994 the Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) WSR-88D Doppler Radar was installed in the Felker Army Airfield weather station vastly improving the weather station's ability to monitor local weather events. The Principle User Processor (PUP), valued at over $150,000 and weighing 1200 pounds, had to be fork-lifted into the weather station through a second story window in the Airfield Headquarters building.

In July 1994, Det 13 was realigned under 18th Weather Squadron at Fort Bragg, NC as Operating Location Bravo (OL-B), 18th Weather Squadron.

After providing garrison support to both the Post and 7th Transportation Group for many years, the 7th Group Commander formally stated a requirement for dedicated deployed weather support from OL-B. Requested support included the requirement for maritime weather (i.e., sea state) information both in-garrison and deployed in support of 7th Group's worldwide taskings. Headquarters, Air Combat Command validated the requirement on 21 Jul 1995 and the process was put in motion to increase manning at OL-B by an additional seven personnel. The move established a mobility requirement for OL-B with all assigned personnel now susceptible to worldwide taskings.

In July 1996, OL-B provided support to its first Continental US (CONUS) field exercise in support of 7th Group and in May 1997 deployed weather personnel overseas. Since that time, OL-B has supported 7th Group operations during Exercise FOAL EAGLE (Sep - Oct 1998) in South Korea and Hurricane Mitch Relief efforts in Panama (Nov 1998 - Mar 1999).

On 12 March 1999, OL-B, 18th Weather Squadron was disestablished and reactivated as Detachment 1, 18th Weather Squadron.

In May 1999, Det 1 supported NATO Operations in the Balkans (Kosovo) with 7th Group during Operation Allied Force, Task Force Hawk (Brindisi, Italy, 11 May - 6 Aug 99).

The mission of Detachment 1, 18th Weather Squadron, is to provide worldwide, mission-focused meteorological and oceanographic information that enhances the safety and operational effectiveness of supported Army, Air Force, and Joint watercraft, ground, and aviation operations.