Photos

Maj. Kimberly Spusta, aerial reconnaissance weather officer for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, talks with the loadmaster across from her during a flight into Hurricane Laura from Charleston International Airport, S.C. Aug. 26, 2020. The 53rd WRS operates out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and plays an important role in the forecasting of tropical systems by flying directly into storms and collecting atmospheric data satellites cannot reach, improving the area of impact by up to 25 percent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristen Pittman)

CHARLESTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, S.C.

1st Lt. Tim Viere, a pilot for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, flies through the eye of Hurricane Laura from Charleston International Airport, S.C. Aug. 25, 2020. The 53rd WRS operates out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and plays an important role in the forecasting of tropical systems by flying directly into storms and collecting atmospheric data satellites cannot reach, improving the area of impact by up to 25 percent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristen Pittman)

CHARLESTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, S.C.

Maj. David Gentile, WC-130J pilot for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, flies towards the sunset after a pass through Hurricane Laura from Charleston International Airport, S.C. Aug. 25, 2020. The 53rd WRS operates out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and plays an important role in the forecasting of tropical systems by flying directly into storms and collecting atmospheric data satellites cannot reach, improving the area of impact forecast by up to 25 percent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristen Pittman)

CHARLESTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, S.C.

Capt. Julie Fantaske, a navigator for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, jots down notes during a flight into Hurricane Laura from Charleston International Airport, S.C. Aug. 25, 2020. The 53rd WRS operates out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and plays an important role in the forecasting of tropical systems by flying directly into storms and collecting atmospheric data satellites cannot reach, improving the area of impact by up to 25 percent. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristen Pittman)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, relocated its aircraft today as Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura make their way to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The 815th Airlift Squadron relocated their aircraft to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron will continue flying missions into both storms from Atlantic Aviation Charleston International Airport, South Carolina. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, relocated its aircraft today Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura make their way to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The 815th Airlift Squadron relocated their aircraft to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, and the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron will continue flying missions into both storms from Atlantic Aviation Charleston International Airport, South Carolina. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, relocated its aircraft today as Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura make their way to the U.S. Gulf Coast. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron will continue flying missions into both storms from Atlantic Aviation Charleston International Airport, South Carolina. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Maj. Mark Withee, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron navigator, has been flying with the Air Force Reserve for five years and has more than 3,600 flight hours in the C-130. He said that his most memorable storm was a night flight during Hurricane Michael, because as they were tracking it, the Hurricane was rapidly intensifying and made his job that much more busy and exciting due to the constant changes in flightpaths as the storm neared land. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Mark Withee)

BRUNSWICK GOLDEN ISLES AIRPORT, Ga.

Warren Madden, senior meteorologist and lead of Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination All Hurricanes team, talks with local media during the Hurricane Awareness Tour May 10, 2019, in Brunswick, Georgia. The purpose of the HAT is to help create a weather-ready nation by raising awareness for the upcoming hurricane season occurring June 1 - Nov. 30, with emphasis this year on raising awareness about inland flooding. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Carranza)

KONA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Hawaii

Chief Master Sgt. Rick Cumbo, loadmaster for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, stands in front of the tail of a WC-130J Super Hercules at Kona International Airport, Hawaii, July 28, 2020. Cumbo became the recordholder for most eyewall penetrations, with 341, after flying Hurricane Douglas July 24. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristen Pittman)

BARBERS POINT, Hawaii.

Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters use dropsondes to collect weather data such as wind speed, wind direction, pressure and temperature. Several of these were dropped into Hurricane Douglas July 24, 2020, The data the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters collect is send to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center to assist with their forecasts. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, assigned to the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, departed July 22 and started conducting operations out of Barbers Point Kapolie Airport, Hawaii, July 24, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

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