HISTORY--55th

HISTORY of the 55th Strategic. Weather Reconnaissance. Squadron.

By C. R. Layton

In November 1952 when I was assigned to the 55th, it was called the 55th Strategic Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, based at McClellan AFB Sacramento, CA.

The earliest I have heard of the 55th is 1944. Three men have told me that they served in the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. at Guam, two from 1944-45 flying weather missions for the B-29 Bombers flying out of Siapan and Tinian .to bomb Japan Both said they were flying B-24 Liberators. Omer Ross told me he was a Flt Engineer- Gunner on the B-24’s. Edwin Pathis was a Mechanic on the B-24’s. Robert Brewer served there from 1946-47 as a Radio Operator. A lot of years have past since then. A lot of different aircraft and a big difference in the purpose of mission.

The latest is 1985. Several have told me that they served in the 55th at McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA.. Frank Yerkes, Lew Newhard and Michael Lyons were all pilots from 1982-85 flying the C-135’s. Trying to fill in all the blanks is quite a problem, but I’m going to try. The best information I’ve found is on the AWRA web page. Thanks to Lt. Col. Bernie Barris, I have permission to use it. There are several photos from Air Force Weather History Office which cannot be used for commercial purposes.

Members of the 655th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, Weather Reconnaissance This photo was taken during training at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma Official USAF Photo, courtesy of the Air Force.

The 55^th WRS was originally designated the 655 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, Weather Reconnaissance. Activated at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma on 21 August, 1944. The squadron was assigned brand new B-24 Liberators built for long range weather reconnaissance missions. The forward Bomb bay housed fuel tanks for the long missions. The aft bomb bay had accommodations for the weather officer. The first commander, Capt Raymond A Walker headed the squadron for two weeks until Lt Col Nicholas H. Chavasse arrived to take over. This group trained flying weather missions over the Gulf of Mexico In March they moved to Fort Lawton, Washington then on to Hamon Field, Guam on 8 March with the first four aircraft. They soon began flying their long range missions over Japanese territory. The squadron soon grew to 21 aircraft, 25 aircrews and between 700-800 personnel. They were assigned to the 20^th Air Force under XXI Bomber Command effective April 11, 1945. This unit provided critical meteorologic data to the strategic bombing campaign planners.

On 16 February 1945, shortly before leaving Will Rogers Field, the 655^th received approval for their Emblem seen when you clicked on . The likeness of Willie Weatherbee symbolizes the squadrons readiness to carry out its assigned task under all climatic Conditions. This emblem would endure through and after the war, the only weather reconnaissance Emblem to do so. It remained the symbol of the 55^th WRS until July 1967.The nickname “Willie” Most likely came from the Army Air Field where the 655^th trained. The 55^th Strategic Weather Reconnaissance Squadron had this emblem in front of the Orderly Room At McClellan AFB in Sacramento, CA when I served there in 1952-53. The sign stood about 10 feet tall.

In May 1945, the 655^th started staging missions through Iwo Jima, by the end of May they had a flight of four aircraft, with aircrews and mechanics at Iwo supporting the VII Fighter Command. The B-24s scouted target and enroute weather for the forward based P-47s and P-51s .

On 16 June 45 the unit was re-designated the 55^th Reconnaissance Squadron, Long Range Weather.. The 55^th’s operational life ended after September 1945 when equipment was turned in and aircraft and crews came back to the U. S. In its last month the squadron found and tracked nine typhoons. In its short life in the Pacific They flew more that 508 missions and logged more than 5, 000 flying hours.

Crew No. 5 of 55th Reconnaissance Squadron (LR) Weather This crew consisted of: Kenneth Krig , Pilot; Lloyd Fraley, Copilot; Einar Hendrickson, Navigator; Robert Pruitt, Weather Officer; George Conner, Flight Engineer; Marion Smith, Radio Operator; Pat Farris, Radar Operator; Kenneth Black, Arm.Gunner; Philip Roewe, Nose Gunner; and Robert Hansen, Tail Gunner
Official USAF Photo, courtesy of the Air Force Weather History Office May not be used for commercial purposes

Unlike many Army Air Force units, the 55^th’s mission did not end when hostilities with Japan were over. The 55^th reconstituted back on Guam and continued to fly synoptic weather reconnaissance . They also gathered peripheral data on tropical storms that threatened the western Pacific most of the year. On 27 Nov 1945 the squadron was assigned to the 311^th Reconnaissance Wing. The 55^th continued their weather support until April of 1945 when the unit was essentially reduced to a “paper” squadron and Colonel Chavasse turned command over to Capt. Fred M. Barricklow.

Crew of the 55^th R S (LR) Wea B-24L Beaufort Belle
Front L to R S/Sgt Walter S. Pula, Turret: Capt William A Wilcox, Weather Officer: T/Sgt James F. Scouler, Radar Observer: 1^st Lt Stanley W. Smith, Co-pilot: S/Sgt William B. Shields, Tail Gunner: Rear L to R 1^st Lt Francesco S. rRssi, Navagator: 1^st Lt Francis R. Schwend, Pilot: T/Sgt Dale A. Lauzenheizer, Radio Op: S/Sgt Robert A Givens. Flt Eng: S/Sgt Albert J.Riley, Turret

Photo Courtesy of Helmet Eric Nimke, 55^th RS Historian

Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved