KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The Hurricane Hunter Association is taking applications for the Swan 38 Memorial Scholarship, which was established to honor the memory the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aircrew members who lost their lives during a reconnaissance mission into Typhoon Bess Oct. 12, 1974, over the South China Sea. The scholarship is available to 403rd Wing members or their family members, and this year's deadline is June 1, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Staff Sgt. Patrick Gaudet, 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron dedicated crew chief, inspects the propeller blade of a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft to make sure there are no cracks or other damage Jan. 26, 2018, at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Crew chiefs are responsible for performing numerous checks, tests and maintenance on aircraft to make sure the Air Force fleet is fit for flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Aircrew members from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” taxi a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft to its parking spot on the runway at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, after a winter storm flight Jan. 12, 2018. In addition to their hurricane taskings, Hurricane Hunters fly winter storm missions to gather weather data used by forecasters in generating models for systems that could affect the East, West or Gulf Coast of the United States. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER

Col. Brian May, 403rd Operations Group commander, poses for a photo in front of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft May 4, 2017 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Heiney) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” took part in the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour, which made its first stop in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada May 7, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Thomas Barnaby, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron weather reconnaissance loadmaster, talks to members of the media and public about the weather-data-gathering instrument called the dropsonde in Islip, New York, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 8, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Shannon Hailes, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron instructor pilot, talks to members of the public about the capabilities of the squadron’s WC-130J Hercules aircraft in Arlington, Virginia, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 9, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Members of the public view a WC-130J Hercules aircraft from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” in Arlington, Virginia, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 9, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Col. Brian May, 403rd Wing Operations Group commander, talks with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper about the mission of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” in Raleigh, North Carolina, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 10, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Dr. Rick Knabb, National Hurricane Center director, addresses media at a press conference in Orlando, Florida, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 11, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

First Lt. Garrett Black, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, talks with members of the media about the Hurricane Hunter mission in Miami, Florida, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 12, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center, Dr. Rick Knabb, director and Lixion Avila, senior hurricane specialist, talk about hurricane readiness during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour in Mérida,Yucatan, Mexico April 15, 2017. Attendees included the Governor of Yucatan, Rolando Zapata Bello, and more than thirteen-thousand local schools and residents. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Shelton Sherrill) Share