Photos

Tech. Sgt. Vincent Boyd, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmasters, briefs media representatives on a tour of a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft during Media Day at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., May 6, 2025. As part of Hurricane Preparedness Week, the event offered nine civilian media outlets an inside look at the 53rd WRS—known as the Hurricane Hunters—and their mission. Media personnel interviewed squadron members to better understand the unit’s role in collecting critical data during storms, which enhances forecast accuracy and supports public safety and disaster readiness efforts across the nation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Emily Bloodworth).

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Jeremy Dehart, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, talks to the media during a tour of a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft during Media Day at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., May 6, 2025. As part of Hurricane Preparedness Week, the event offered nine civilian media outlets an inside look at the 53rd WRS—known as the Hurricane Hunters—and their mission. Media personnel interviewed squadron members to better understand the unit’s role in collecting critical data during storms, which enhances forecast accuracy and supports public safety and disaster readiness efforts across the nation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Emily Bloodworth).

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Kelsey Carpenter, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, and Lt. Col. Brad Boudreaux, 53rd WRS pilot, review weather data collected during a mission into Hurricane Milton Oct. 8, 2024. Aircrews flew missions around the clock from Oct. 6-9, 2024, into Hurricane Milton to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. The 53rd WRS, better known as the Hurricane Hunters, are a unit in the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flew a weather reconnaissance mission into Hurricane Milton Oct. 8, 2024. Aircrews flew missions around the clock from Oct. 6-9, 2024, into Hurricane Milton to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. The Hurricane Hunters, or 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, are a unit in the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

During weather reconnaissance missions, the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters release dropsondes, which collect temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, and barometric pressure data. The aircraft also collects surface wind speed and flight-level data. This information is transmitted to the National Hurricane Center to assist them with their storm warnings and hurricane forecast models. Crews with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew missions into Hurricane Milton around the clock from Oct. 6-9, 2024, to gather vital weather data for NHC forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Col. Elissa D. Granderson, 403rd Operations Group commander, flies a weather reconnaissance mission into Hurricane Milton Oct. 8, 2024. Aircrews with 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, or Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, flew missions around the clock from Oct. 6-9, 2024, into Hurricane Milton to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Mark Withee)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A view of Hurricane Helene from a Sept. 26, 2024, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron mission. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flew weather reconnaissance missions around the clock from Sept. 23 to 26, 2024 into Hurricane Helene to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. The Hurricane Hunters are a unit in the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Capt. Lawrence Monahan and Capt. Zach McDermott, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilots, fly a reconnaissance mission into Hurricane Helene Sept. 26, 2024. Crews flew around the clock from Sept. 23 to 26, 2024 into Hurricane Helene to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. The Hurricane Hunters, or 53rd WRS, are a unit in the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Master Sgt. Cameron Beste, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster and dropsonde operator, reviews vertical weather profile data sent from the dropsonde to the aircraft during a mission into Hurricane Helene Sept. 26, 2024. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flew weather reconnaissance missions around the clock from Sept. 23 to 26, 2024 into Hurricane Helene to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. The Hurricane Hunters, or 53rd WRS, are a unit in the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flew weather reconnaissance missions around the clock from Sept. 23 to 26, 2024 into Hurricane Helene to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. One of the tools they use to collect weather data is a dropsonde, which is released into the storm and collects temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, and barometric pressure data. The aircraft also collects surface wind speed and flight-level data. This information is transmitted to the NHC in Miami to assist them with their storm warnings and hurricane forecast models in the Atlantic, Caribbean and eastern Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

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