156th Weather Flight
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 156th Weather Flight is a combat weather flight located at the Stanly County Airport
's Air National Guard Station, North Carolina
.
(NCANG). Based in Charlotte, the 156th WF served the vital weather forecasting
and observing functions for the 145th Aero Medical Transport Group as well as the 145th Air Transport Group for Admin/Logistics support. In 1967, the 156th WF joined the 206th Weather Flight,
as attached units responsible for supporting airlift missions for the 145th Military Airlift Group. The 206th WF was later deactivated (1975) leaving the 156th WF as the only unit serving the weather forecasting and observing requirements of the
NCANG.
The year 1975 also marked the start of an Army weather support mission that has lasted for more than 25 years. While still a fully integrated part of the Air National Guard
with continuing support for Air Force missions, the 156th WF also established a tactical weather forecasting and observing capability for the NCARNG's 30th Infantry Brigade "Old Hickory", a Mechanized Heavy Separate Brigade (HSB). "Old Hickory" was tasked to support European Theatre operations in Italy in the event of armed conflict with Soviet Bloc forces. During the following twenty years, the 156th Weather Flight participated in several joint training exercises in several OCONUS locations including the Joint Forces "Brimfrost" winter exercise in central Alaska and "Reforger", a NATO exercise held in
Germany during the winter of 1984. European theatre training exercises also included six unit deployments to Italy for joint training with units from NATO's Southern Command.
Although tactical weather support for the 30th Brigade has been a major part of the 156th Weather Flight mission for more than twenty-five years, weather support for several Air Force flying units was a vital component of ongoing weather
operations including continued support for 145th Airlift Wing
operations. Recognition for the superior performance in all aspects of Weather Flight operations has come in several forms: an Air National Guard Outstanding Weather Unit Award and Excellent to High-Excellent ratings on numerous operational evaluations.
In 1995, an expanded Army tactical mission began when the 156th Weather Flight was tasked to provide weather support to the 218th Mechanized Heavy Separate Brigade, a part of the South Carolina Army National Guard
. The mission is synonymous with that of the 30th HSB. During the next five years, training focused primarily on preparing for a major deployment to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California where the 156th Weather Flight received the most realistic combat training in the world.
In May 2010 the 156th Weather Flight relocated to the Stanly County Airport (KVUJ) in New London, NC under the 145th Combat Operations Group. The 156th Weather Flight currently provides vital weather intelligence in battlefield conditions to the North Carolina Army National Guard, specifically the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 60th Troop Command and the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade.
Second Level: 145th Airlift Wing
Third Level: 145th Combat Operations Group
Forth Level: 156th Weather Flight
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 156th Weather Flight is a combat weather flight located at the Stanly County Airport
Stanly County Airport
Stanly County Airport is a public airport located four miles northeast of the central business district of Albemarle, a city in Stanly County, North Carolina, USA. This general aviation airport covers and has two runways....
's Air National Guard Station, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Mission
To provide quality observations, forecasts, and climatological data in support of tasked Army and Air Force missions, both Federal and State, by:- Maximizing operations in both garrison and tactical environments.
- Maintaining the highest level of training and equipment readiness.
- Ensuring high motivation of unit members through safety and security, physical readiness, esprit de corp, and career advancement.
History
The 156th Weather Flight (WF) was activated on 15 March 1948 as a standing unit in the North Carolina Air National GuardNorth Carolina Air National Guard
The North Carolina Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is, along with the North Carolina Army National Guard, an element of the North Carolina National Guard...
(NCANG). Based in Charlotte, the 156th WF served the vital weather forecasting
Weather forecasting
Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a given location. Human beings have attempted to predict the weather informally for millennia, and formally since the nineteenth century...
and observing functions for the 145th Aero Medical Transport Group as well as the 145th Air Transport Group for Admin/Logistics support. In 1967, the 156th WF joined the 206th Weather Flight,
as attached units responsible for supporting airlift missions for the 145th Military Airlift Group. The 206th WF was later deactivated (1975) leaving the 156th WF as the only unit serving the weather forecasting and observing requirements of the
NCANG.
The year 1975 also marked the start of an Army weather support mission that has lasted for more than 25 years. While still a fully integrated part of the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
with continuing support for Air Force missions, the 156th WF also established a tactical weather forecasting and observing capability for the NCARNG's 30th Infantry Brigade "Old Hickory", a Mechanized Heavy Separate Brigade (HSB). "Old Hickory" was tasked to support European Theatre operations in Italy in the event of armed conflict with Soviet Bloc forces. During the following twenty years, the 156th Weather Flight participated in several joint training exercises in several OCONUS locations including the Joint Forces "Brimfrost" winter exercise in central Alaska and "Reforger", a NATO exercise held in
Germany during the winter of 1984. European theatre training exercises also included six unit deployments to Italy for joint training with units from NATO's Southern Command.
Although tactical weather support for the 30th Brigade has been a major part of the 156th Weather Flight mission for more than twenty-five years, weather support for several Air Force flying units was a vital component of ongoing weather
operations including continued support for 145th Airlift Wing
145th Airlift Wing
The United States Air Force's 145th Airlift Wing is a tactical airlift unit of the North Carolina Air National Guard flying the C-130 Hercules...
operations. Recognition for the superior performance in all aspects of Weather Flight operations has come in several forms: an Air National Guard Outstanding Weather Unit Award and Excellent to High-Excellent ratings on numerous operational evaluations.
In 1995, an expanded Army tactical mission began when the 156th Weather Flight was tasked to provide weather support to the 218th Mechanized Heavy Separate Brigade, a part of the South Carolina Army National Guard
South Carolina Army National Guard
The South Carolina Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
. The mission is synonymous with that of the 30th HSB. During the next five years, training focused primarily on preparing for a major deployment to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California where the 156th Weather Flight received the most realistic combat training in the world.
In May 2010 the 156th Weather Flight relocated to the Stanly County Airport (KVUJ) in New London, NC under the 145th Combat Operations Group. The 156th Weather Flight currently provides vital weather intelligence in battlefield conditions to the North Carolina Army National Guard, specifically the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 60th Troop Command and the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade.
Hierarchy
Top Level: Air National GuardAir National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
Second Level: 145th Airlift Wing
145th Airlift Wing
The United States Air Force's 145th Airlift Wing is a tactical airlift unit of the North Carolina Air National Guard flying the C-130 Hercules...
Third Level: 145th Combat Operations Group
Forth Level: 156th Weather Flight
External links
- http://www.145aw.ang.af.mil/
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/145aw.htm