17th Operational Weather Squadron The 17th Operational Weather Squadron ( 17 OWS ) is a unit of the military of the United States . Based at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii , it covers weather in largest geographical area in the world . Mission . The 17th Operational Weather Squadron is responsible for producing and disseminating mission planning and execution weather analyses , forecasts , and briefings for Air Force , Army , Navy , Marines , Guard , Reserve , USFK , PACOM , PACAF , USARPAC , SOCPAC , and NAVPAC forces operating at 115 installations / sites over 110M sq . mi . within the Pacific theater of operations . This weather squadron is responsible for base or post forecasting , developing weather products , briefing transient aircrews , and weather warnings for all of their geographical units . The current commander of the 17th Operational Weather Squadron is Lt Col Jason Patla . Using automatic observing systems located at all military installations and communicating with their combat weather flights , the squadron is able to ' watch ' the weather in their entire area of responsibility from one central location . The Operational Weather Squadron is the first place a newly schooled weather apprentice will report . At the squadron , working alongside a seasoned weather professional , the forecaster is trained in all aspects of Air Force meteorology , from pilot briefing to tactical forecasting . Personnel and resources . 17th Operational Weather Squadron ’ s manning consists of active duty , reserve , civilian and contract personnel and is located on Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii , under the Thirteenth Air Force . Lineage . Activations and Inactivations of the 17th Weather Squadron , and the 17th Operational Weather Squadron . Constituted 17th Weather Squadron ( Regional Control ) on 31 Aug 1942 Activated on 18 Sep 1942 Disbanded on 10 Feb 1945 Reconstituted and redesignated 17th Weather Squadron , on 24 Jul 1969 Activated on 15 Jan 1970 Inactivated on 30 Jun 1972 Activated on 1 Apr 1980 Inactivated on 30 Sep 1991 Redesignated 17th Operational Weather Squadron on 12 Oct 2000 Activated on 27 Oct 2000 . Duty Assignments . List of duty assignments and parent units from 1942 to present . McClellan Field , California , Army Air Forces , 18 September 1942 – 26 October 1942 Auckland , New Zealand , Army Air Forces , 26 October 1942 – 17 January 1943 Noumea , New Caledonia , United States Army Forces in the South Pacific Area , 20 January 1943 – 1 July 1943 Noumea , New Caledonia , 13th Air Force , 1 July 1943 – 20 December 1943 Noumea , New Caledonia , United States Army Forces in the South Pacific Area , 20 December 1943 – 1 August 1944 Noumea , New Caledonia , Army Air Forces , Pacific Ocean Area , 1 August 1944 – 4 September 1944 Noumea , New Caledonia , 1st Provisional Weather Group , 4 September 1944 – 29 November 1944 Hickam Field , Territory of Hawaii , 1st Provisional Weather Group 29 November 1944 - 10 February 1945 Travis Air Force Base , California , 7th Weather Wing , 15 January 1970 – 30 June 1972 Travis Air Force Base , California , 7th Weather Wing , 1 April 1980 – 30 September 1991 Hickam Air Force Base , Hawaii , 502nd Air Operations Group , 27 October 2000 – present Emblem . Approved on 9 Jun 1982 . Blazon : The four stars and the blue background represent the Southern Cross constellation and the midnight , as observed in the area where the squadron is stationed . The red lightning flash against the yellow sky denotes the sudden tropical storms common to the region . The white anemometer , the universal symbol of weather forecasting , depicts the squadron ’ s function . History . The 17th Operational Weather Squadron was activated as the 17th Weather Squadron on September 18 , 1942 , at McClellan Field , California . The squadron shortly thereafter relocated to Auckland , New Zealand , where it was assigned to U . S . Army Forces in the South Pacific Area . In January 1943 the 17th relocated to Nouméa , New Caledonia . It was reassigned to Thirteenth Air Force on July 1 , 1943 , but returned to the control of U . S . Army Forces in the South Pacific Area on December 20 , 1943 . The squadron was assigned to Army Air Forces , Pacific Ocean Area on August 1 , 1944 , but reassigned to the 1st Provisional Weather Group on September 4 . In November 1944 , the 17th moved to Hickam Field , Hawaii , where it was disbanded on February 10 , 1945 . The 17th was again activated on January 15 , 1970 , at Travis Air Force Base , California , as part of the 7th Weather Wing . It was inactivated on June 30 , 1972 . The squadron was activated once again on April 1 , 1980 , at Travis . It was inactivated on September 30 , 1991 , as part of the divestiture of Air Weather Service . The 17th was redesignated the 17th Operational Weather Squadron on October 12 , 2000 , and activated on October 27 , 2000 , at Hickam , where it was assigned to the 502nd Air Operations Group . The 17th began operating alongside the Navy ( Fleet Weather Center Aviation Detachment ) in March 2010 . Awards . Service Streamers . World War II Asiatic - Pacific Theater .