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  • 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 finish flying Tropical Storm Cristobal

    The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron finished flying Tropical Storm Cristobal June 7.The squadron flew seven missions into the storm, which began June 1 as Tropical Depression Three. The Hurricane Hunters provided reconnaissance starting June 2 from the Bay of Campeche in the southwestern Gulf

  • Dedicated crew chief maintains Hurricane Hunters

    Tech. Sgt. Victoria Kinman is a 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief and works on the WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. As of March 20, 2020, Kinman is one of three 403rd Wing female dedicated crew chiefs who have their names displayed on the aircraft. She

  • 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 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,

  • 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

  • Hurricane Hunters finish flying Dorian

    Over the last two weeks the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, aka Hurricane Hunters, have flown 25 missions in support of Hurricane Dorian.

  • Flying Tropical Storm Dorian

    Three WC-130J’s and one C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 403rd Wing departed Keesler Air Force Base Monday for Curaçao to provide weather reconnaissance support for Tropical Storm Dorian.