Weather Warriors Fly Into Hurricane Ike

An emergency call from Air Force Rescue requested support from the Hurricane Hunters in finding a person who fell overboard without a life raft into the Gulf of Mexico. The Air Force Reserve's Hurricane Hunters are fequently called on to support rescue efforts in tropical weather because they are usually the only aircraft near the scene. Capt. Kaitlyn McLaughlin, flight meterologist, as well as the rest of the crew visually scanned the surface for any signs of the missing boater. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. James B. Pritchett)