July 14, 2021 Little Rock Reserve maintainers assist Keesler with WC-130J repair Maintaining aircraft for 10 WC-130J Super Hercules is no easy task, especially when that job is to repair an aircraft after a destructive fire.On Nov. 1, 2020, a 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron crew was preparing to take off to fly Hurricane Eta when the aircraft’s left wing caught fire. None
May 24, 2021 Hurricane Hunters get upgraded The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” aerial reconnaissance weather officer and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities.“The (Meteorology Equipment Technician) shop is in the middle
March 26, 2021 Hurricane Hunters wrap up atmospheric river season Three WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” returned from the West Coast to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., March 25, 2021. The 403rd Wing’s Hurricane Hunters wrapped up the atmospheric river season in partnership with National Oceanic and
Dec. 18, 2020 Hurricane Hunters hunt first winter storm of the season Hurricane season might be over, but that does not mean the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” are through providing pertinent weather reconnaissance services to those potentially impacted by severe weather. As of Nov. 1, the winter storm season began, and the 53rd took off
Dec. 2, 2020 AFR's Hurricane Hunters unit weathers record storm season The 2020 Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons, at least technically, came to an end Nov. 30, and what a season it was. The Atlantic side saw many records broken throughout the season, including dethroning 2005 and its 28 named storms as the busiest season on record with 30 named storms for this
Sept. 17, 2020 Tracking Sally From tropical storm to hurricane, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron“ Hurricane Hunters,” flew nine missions into Sally to track the storm and gather data.The 53rd WRS, an Air Force Reserve unit assigned to the 403rd Wing, started flying missions into then-Tropical Storm Sally from their home
Aug. 18, 2020 Hurricane Hunters: navigators guide through storms The 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based out of Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, is the only Department of Defense organization that flies weather reconnaissance. In this specialized unit of Reserve Citizen Airmen, a crew is made up of a minimum of five members consisting of a
Aug. 3, 2020 CARCAH key to coordination, storm support Coordination—it is the key to any successful organization or event; and, when that event happens to be a hurricane, which requires aerial reconnaissance to gather life-saving weather data for forecasts—it’s imperative.In order for the Hurricane Hunters, whether that’s the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd
July 30, 2020 Hurricane Hunter sets unit record for eyewall penetrations In the Air Force, the number 341 typically elicits an unpleasant memory. Like that time someone in your group of three marching at basic military training forgot to put their cover on, so you all were vehemently reprimanded by a military training instructor and had your 341 pulled.Or that time you
July 27, 2020 Hurricane Hunters fly first Pacific hurricane of the year The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircrews flew five weather reconnaissance missions into Hurricane Douglas, the first hurricane in the Pacific, July 24-27, 2020, collecting data to assist Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecasters.The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, assigned to the