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) Share

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) Share

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) Share

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) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Maj. Ian Park, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, does his pre-flight checks prior to 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) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Damain Hebert, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorological equipment technician, removes the cover plate of a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft for installation of a third very high frequency antenna May 1 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. To enhance WC-130J Super Hercules communication capabilities, the United States Air Force Reserve completed the successful temporary installation and test of a third VHF antenna on a 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aircraft used to collect weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. Once testing and evaluation is completed over the summer, installation of the antenna on the 10 WC-130Js is projected to begin this fall. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Crystal Register) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

To enhance WC-130J Super Hercules communication capabilities, the United States Air Force Reserve completed the successful temporary installation and test of a third Very High Frequency, or VHF, antenna on a 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aircraft May 1 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The third VHF antenna provides the Training and Research in Oceanic and Atmospheric Processes in Tropical Cyclones, or TROPIC, U.S. Naval Academy’s internship program a dedicated channel for gathering data during storm missions. Once testing and evaluation is completed over the summer, installation of the antenna on the 10 WC-130Js is projected to begin this fall. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Crystal Register) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

More than 10,000 people toured the U.S. Air Force Reserve's WC-130J aircraft during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 20, 2024. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become “weather-ready” during the CHAT April 16-20, 2024. As part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Col. Elissa Granderson, 403rd Operations Group commander and pilot, and Lt. Col. Devon Burton, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, pose for a photo with a youth who dreams of becoming a pilot during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 20, 2024. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become “weather-ready” April 16-20, 2024. The group visited four Caribbean nations and as part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the WC-130J aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Capt. Amaryllis Cotto, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, poses for a group photo during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 20, 2024. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become “weather-ready” April 16-20, 2024. The group visited four Caribbean locations where event dignitaries, students and the public toured the WC-130J aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

More than 10,000 people toured the U.S. Air Force Reserve's WC-130J during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 20, 2024. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become “weather-ready” during the CHAT April 16-20, 2024. As part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft to learn how the unit collects weather data to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Maj. Philip Blancher, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, briefs students about the WC-130J aircraft during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at St. Lucia April 19, 2024. During the event, April 16-20, 2024, NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters visited four Caribbean nations to discuss hurricane preparedness, resilience, and how people can become weather ready. Dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft at each location to learn how the 53rd WRS collects weather data to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share