55th Space Weather Squadron

55th Space Weather Squadron
Detachment 1, 55th WRS at Ladd AFB in 1958
Active	1944–1947; 1951–1961; 1962–1993; 1997–2002
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Weather Reconnaissance
Engagements	World War II
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
Patch with 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (approved 3 July 1967)
655th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 16 February 1945)

The 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 50th Operations Group at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, where it was inactivated on 16 July 2002.

Established in mid-1944 as a weather reconnaissance squadron; trained under Third Air Force using Consolidated B-24 Liberator aircraft. Deployed to XXI Bomber Command on Guam in April 1945. Equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress very long range aircraft and provided weather reconnaissance for Twentieth Air Force B-29 raids on Japan in the Western Pacific theater. Returned to the United States in 1946, where it trained and conducted weather reconnaissance. Between July and Oct 1947, when it inactivated, the squadron flew daily missions over the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Reactivated as part of Air Weather Service in 1951, assigned to McClellan Air Force Base, California. The squadron flew weather reconnaissance missions over the northern Pacific using WB-29s. Upgraded to Boeing WB-50 Superfortresses in 1954. Tested WB-50 aircraft flying long-duration missions over 24 hours in length and trained crews for other weather squadrons.

During the 1950s, supported atomic tests by monitoring radioactive clouds and taking atmospheric samples. Provided weather reconnaissance data for northeast Pacific Ocean, parts of Arctic Ocean, and northwestern Atlantic Ocean in late 1950s. Tracked Hurricanes Dot and Donna in 1959 and 1960. Provided weather data for transoceanic fighter deployments, photographic reconnaissance for testing experimental Corona reconnaissance satellite imagery, and surveillance for space flight recoveries. Operated detachments in Alaska, Hawaii and Washington until inactivation in 1961 due to budget reductions.