On July 1, 1954, the Joint Numerical Weather Prediction Unit, a combined U.S. Air Force, U.S. Weather Bureau, and U.S. Navy numerical weather forecasting unit under the leadership of Air Force meteorologist Dr. George P. Cressman, began operation at Suitland, Maryland. Made possible by the development of the electronic computer, the organization of this facility marked a major milestone in the history of the science of meteorology. The leadership of Air Weather Service, then the Air Force’s lead agency for weather support, fully appreciated the significance numerical weather prediction had for weather support to modern jet fighters and bombers. They took an active and, in their estimation, leading role in the “operationalizing” of numerical weather prediction.

The Air Force’s weather service associated itself with the theoretical foundation of numerical weather prediction from its organization out of the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1937*. As early as 1946, at the time when many meteorologists recognized the potential the emerging electronic computer had for numerical weather prediction, the Air Force began several active, albeit perhaps less than fully coordinated, research projects into numerical weather prediction. For nearly a decade, the Air Force supported at varying levels of investment the work of the academic community, as well as its own programs in numerical weather prediction research. From this participation, Air Weather Service leadership concluded by 1953 that numerical weather prediction was ready to be “operationalized.” This paper argues that Air Weather Service leadership was a, if not the, leading proponent of and instrumental in the establishment of the Joint Numerical Weather Prediction Unit in 1954. It is based upon primary research in Air Force documents and official histories, the recorded recollections of key Air Force weather service leaders, and other published works on the development of operational numerical weather prediction.