My grandfather served with the 21st Weather Squadron in Europe during World War II and I'm working on piecing together his story. I was able to request the complete Unit History from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, which has some bits of useful information, but not quite as much as I'd hoped would help pinpoint his activities.
I'd love some help tracking down other sources and records relating to the 21st Weather Squadron's activities in Europe during World War II.
Prior to D-Day, the 21st Weather Squadron had 77 detachments plus a Headquarters unit deployed throughout England. Following D-Day, detachments were deployed to continental Europe in support of the Ninth Air Force and Army ground troops at the Corps level. I have attached a PDF file with information about the 21st Weather Squadron including a list of detachments. Each of the weather squadron detachments was paired with a similarly designated and collocated detachment from the 40 Mobile Communications Squadron. For example, 21 Weather Squadron, Detachment ZA was located at Greenham Commons as well as 40 Mobile Comm Squadron, Detachment ZA also located at Greenham Commons. The Mobile Communications Squadron detachments transmitted the weather information gathered by the 21st Weather Squadron detachments. If you are unable to find further information regarding the 21st Weather Squadron, additional information may be available in 40 Mobile Communications Squadron records.
Without knowing your grandfather's detachment, it may be difficult to determine his exact location(s). Do you have your grandfather's discharge papers? And if so, can you post them on this web site?
The following contains brief excerpts from multiple sources including the Army Air Force in WWII by Wes Craven:
All units down to the group level had a headquarters squadron (HHS). Because of the highly technical nature of air operations there were many specialized service and support units difficult to categorize…. many of the service and support units were split into detachments, e.g. the 21st Weather Squadron with 77 detachments throughout Ninth Air Force...The 21st was sent to England during the summer of 1943 for assignment to VIII Air Support Command, forerunner of the Ninth Air Force soon to be established for direct support of the coming invasion of Europe. It was a fully mobile outfit, equipped and trained for movement with the army across the Channel and into Germany. At the end of October 1944, the 21st Weather Squadron had almost 70 detachments operating in France. At the end of October 1944, the 21st Weather Squadron had almost 70 detachments operating in France.
Activated at Bradley Field, Conn., in April 1943, the 21st Weather Squadron quickly moved overseas and was assigned to the 9th Air Force in October of the same year. With the purpose of providing dedicated meteorological intelligence to ground units, the 21st WS became the first fully deployable weather squadron in history with men trained specifically for combat; during Operation Overlord, 14 mobile weather units deployed 30 men in support of the ground troops.... The unit earned the European-African-Middle-Eastern service streamer and three additional campaign streamers in Northern France, Rheinland, and Central Europe, for their unparalleled support to the war fighter.
Below are the 40 Mobile Communications Squadron assignments for D Day (from the 416th Bomb Group website). As mentioned previously, the detachment designations correspond directly to the 21st Weather Squadron detachment designations.
This link from the 416th Bomb Group website contains the: 40 Mobile Communications Squadron History
I believe your father was aboard the USS Washington rather than the USS Enterprise. Below are non-US military passenger manifest pages for both the Enterprise and the USS Washington. Note the dates of departure from Southampton. The USS Washington departed December 13, 1945; the same departure ETO listed on your father's discharge papers. The USS Enterprise departed Southampton on December 15, 1945.
NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (AP) - The U. S. S. Washington, her decks, guns and superstructures covered with ice, nosed into New York harbor three days late today after weathering Atlantic storms which reached hurricane force.
The 35,000-ton Washington brought 1,626 home-bound G.I.'s from Europe. Many will not reach home for Christmas because of the delay.
"We encountered the worst storms I have seen in all my years at sea," Capt. Francis X. McInerney, the battleship's commanding officer, said.
"There were seven storms, and twice the winds reached hurricane force. The waves ran from 75 to 100 feet high, loosening rafts, damaging the superstructure and injuring several seamen," he added.
"However," Capt. McInerney said, "The morale of the troops was splendid. They knew they were headed home and we fought our way through the seas to make certain those boys would arrive."
Army officers aboard ship played host to Navy men Saturday night at a pre-Christmas dinner. Captain McInerney was presented with a scroll signed by all Army officers and enlisted men aboard as a tribute to the Washington and its crew for bringing them safely through the hurricane.
The Washington led a parade of 59 troop-carrying ships bringing more than 40,000 servicemen into three east coast and five west coast ports today in efforts to get them home sometime during the Christmas holidays.
Behind the Washington came the aircraft carrier Enterprise, the famed "Big E" of the Pacific naval battles, bringing 4,945 troops into New York after a stormy nine-day trip from Southampton, England. This ship, too, was covered with icicles - and badly battered.
Much small gear had been carried away from the Enterprise's decks by the 75-foot waves and 80-knot winds of four successive storms. Steel guards around the ship's anti-aircraft guns were crumpled.
15,000 Troops Arrive from New York Times:
12.24.1945 Troopship Arrivals from the New York Times:
Nelson Troop Ship Arrivals NYT 12.24.1945.pdf
Detailed List of Military Units arriving Dec. 24, 1945:
