The squadron was first activated in early 1941 as the Air Corps Detachment, Weather, Alaska at Ladd Field.

The detachment was commanded by Captain Wilson H. Neal and consisted of a Technical sergeant and five other enlisted men, transferred from March Field.

[2] On 7 December, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the detachment oversaw the weather stations at Elmendorf, Ladd, Annette Island, and Yakutat, a total of 44 enlisted men and three officers.

After the American liberation of Attu in May, the squadron established a weather station at Alexai Point on the island.

The Adak and Alexai Point stations provided forecasts for a number of bombing raids against Paramushir in the summer.

By the end of 1943, the squadron controlled 32 weather stations, manned by 81 officers, seven NCOs, and 447 enlisted men, its peak strength.

In February, both weathermen and a radio operator at the Chuginadak station died of exposure while searching for a supply barge which had run aground on the island.

Between 20 January and 1 February 1989, elements of the squadron participated in Exercise Brim Frost 89, training Joint Task Force-Alaska against invasion.

[5] As a result of USAF manpower and budget reductions, the 11th OWS was inactivated and merged with the 17th Operational Weather Squadron in Hawaii in June 2008.