Photos

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. Mark Withee)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Staff Sgt. Warren Reynier, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorological equipment technician, was one of the technicians involved in installing 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.

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)

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