1C-USAF Service: 45th Space Wing (1995-99)

Following a nine-month weather forecasting training program at Keesler AFB near Biloxi, Mississippi, I was assigned to the 45th Weather Squadron of the 45th Space Wing for my third active-duty assignment. The 45th Space Wing (45th SW), headquartered at Patrick AFB near Cocoa Beach, Florida, provided weather support for a variety of aircraft and space launch operations. This collection highlights the aircraft and rockets I supported during that assignment.

PATRICK AFB TENANT UNIT SUPPORT
I regularly provided weather forecasts to aircrews flying the following aircraft from Patrick AFB:
- HC-130P/N Combat King (US Air Force Reserve)
- HH-60G Pave Hawk (US Air Force / Air Force Reserve)
- OV-10D+ Bronco (US Department of State Air Wing)
- T-41A Mescalero (US Air Force)

SPACE LAUNCH
While stationed at Cape Canaveral Air Station, I was responsible for weather forecasts on space launch missions, supporting the following rockets:
- Atlas IIAS (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Delta II ((National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Delta III (National Aeronautics and Space Administration / Boeing)
- Titan IV (US Air Force)
- Space Shuttle (National Aeronautics and Space Administration / US Air Force)

MISSILE TEST & EVALUATION
Cape Canaveral Air Station, the only Air Force installation with a submarine port, also supported test launches of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) in the Atlantic Ocean off its coast. I occasionally provided weather forecasts for these tests:
- UGM-27 Polaris A3 (UK Royal Navy)
* Vanguard-class SSBN (UK Royal Navy)
- UGM-96 Trident C4 (US Navy)
* Ohio-class SSBN (US Navy)

NASA AVIATION
NASA frequently operated flights out of Kennedy Space Center and Patrick AFB. I provided aviation weather forecasts for astronauts and pilots flying the following NASA aircraft:
- T-38A Talon (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- UH-1H Iroquois (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
* Gulfstream III (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Gulfstream IV (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Space Shuttle Orbiter (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

LOCAL AVIATION SUPPORT
The 45th Weather Squadron was responsible for supporting Army and Air Force units operating from nearby Melbourne and Orlando airports. When Coast Guard aircrews from Clearwater Air Station conducted search and rescue or counter-drug missions over the Atlantic, they often requested weather forecasts from the 45th WS.
- E-8A JSTARS (US Air Force / Northrop-Grumman)
- RC-12G Crazy Horse (US Army)
* HC-130H Hercules (US Coast Guard)
* HH-60J Black Hawk (US Coast Guard)

DEPLOYED UNITS
Patrick AFB was a frequent site for deployments. Among the most memorable aircrews I supported with weather forecasts were those flying the following aircraft:
- F-16 ADF Fighting Falcon (Puerto Rico Air National Guard)
- Cessna Citation (National Aeronautics and Space Administration / University of North Dakota)
- ER-2 (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
* DC-8 (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)

* Wishlist