News Search

  • Flying Jennies and Hurricane Hunters ready for flight

    A line of C-130J and W-C130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 815th Airlift and 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadrons on the flight line, July 17, 2020, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The mission of the 815th AS is to recruit, organize and train to deploy, redeploy and employ air and ground

  • Hurricane Hunters: pilots fly storm missions

    The 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., is the only Department of Defense organization that flies weather reconnaissance.This specialized unit of Reserve Citizen Airmen is at a minimum made up of a five-person crew consisting of a pilot,

  • Hurricane Hunters conduct deployment for training

    The Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron deployed to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 15 to 19 to fly training missions over the Caribbean in preparation for the 2020 hurricane season. The Hurricane Hunters are Reserve Citizen Airmen of the 403rd Wing based at Keesler Air

  • Hurricane Hunters take part in online National Tropical Weather Conference

    The 2020 National Tropical Weather Conference, originally scheduled for April, was postponed due to COVID-19, however, the pandemic didn’t stop emergency managers, meteorologist, and the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters from going live online this week to talk about their mission and educate the

  • Swan 38 Memorial Scholarship assists wing members

    Annually the Hurricane Hunter Association acknowledges outstanding students in the 403rd Wing in the form of financial assistance through the SWAN 38’ Memorial Scholarship.“This year there will be two $2,000 scholarships awarded to the recipients in their field of study,” said Tech. Sgt. Krystal

  • Hurricane Hunters train over Gulf of Mexico

    Tech. Sgt. Larry Banks, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster, prepares to drop a simulated buoy from a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft March 19, 2020, off the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The Hurricane Hunters train all year to maintain readiness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Larry Banks)

  • Hurricane Hunter squared

    “I can think back to when I was in pre-school,” said Ashley Lundry. “It’s one of those vague memories that you have. I remember one of the local meteorologists coming into my pre-school class, and she brought a board that had the magnetic weather symbols and talked about the weather. It was a female

  • Hurricane Hunters fly Winter Storm

    The United States Air Force Reserve 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the Hurricane Hunters, flew their first Winter Storm of the season Feb. 26. A WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft departed Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. midday to fly the Western Atlantic Flight Track,

  • Mississippi resident 403rd Wing Pilot for a Day

    One local Mississippi resident received a holiday treat a little early this year. The 403rd Wing commissioned 14-year-old Charles “Payton” Burge, of Carriere, Mississippi, as an honorary Air Force Reserve second lieutenant today as part of their Pilot for a Day program. “The Gulf Coast is very

  • 53rd WRS reflect on 2019 Hurricane season

    Andrea, Barry, Dorian, Fernand, Humberto, Jerry, Karen, Lorena, Nestor and Olga. At first glance one may think this is a list popular baby names for the year, but in fact they’re the names of nine storms the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew into during this year’s hurricane season. The 2019