Photos

Members of the 403rd Maintenance Squadron's Meteorological Equipment Technician's shop installed a KU Antenna on a WC-130J Super Hercules as part of the test phase for adding internet accessible technology to the aircraft to better support the weather missions flying into tropical storms and hurricanes to send collected weather data to the National Hurricane Center. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Emily Bloodworth)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Tobi Baker, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, participated in the test flight for the installed KU Antenna on a WC-130J Super Hercules, which adds internet accessible technology to the aircraft to better support the weather missions flying into tropical storms and hurricanes to send collected weather data to the National Hurricane Center. Baker's role was to ensure the new technology works properly, while not interfering with the current mechanisms and software on the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Emily Bloodworth)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

U.S. Air Force Col. John Benson, 403rd Wing commander, welcomes leaders from the 81st Mission Support Group for an immersion brief at Keesler Air Force Base Miss., Oct. 17, 2024. Lt. Col. Lisa Breal, 403rd Mission Support Group commander, hosted commanders and senior enlisted leaders from the 81st MSG for a tour of the 403rd MSG to provide insight about the Air Force Reserve and the 403rd WG’s capabilities. The wing provides aeromedical evacuation, tactical airlift and airdrop, weather reconnaissance, and agile combat support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Leadership from the 403rd Mission Support Group and the 81st Mission Support Group gather for an immersion tour of the 41st Aerial Port Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base Miss., Oct. 17, 2024. Lt. Col. Lisa Breal, 403rd Mission Support Group commander, hosted commanders and senior enlisted leaders from the 81st MSG for a tour of the 403rd MSG to provide insight about the Air Force Reserve and the 403rd WG’s capabilities. The wing provides aeromedical evacuation, tactical airlift and airdrop, weather reconnaissance, and agile combat support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Senior Master Sgt. Martin Guthrie, of the 41st Aerial Port Squadron, briefs leaders from the 81st Mission Support Group during an immersion tour at Keesler Air Force Base Miss., Oct. 17, 2024. Lt. Col. Lisa Breal, 403rd Mission Support Group commander, hosted commanders and senior enlisted leaders from the 81st MSG for a tour of the 403rd MSG to provide insight about the Air Force Reserve and the 403rd WG’s capabilities. The wing provides aeromedical evacuation, tactical airlift and airdrop, weather reconnaissance, and agile combat support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo)

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)

Photos