53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron

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53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
Hurricane Hunters.png
53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron emblem
Active 1944-1947, 1951-1960, 1962-1991, 1993-present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Squadron
Role Tropical Storm Weather Reconnaissance
Size 10 aircraft, 20 flight crews
Garrison/HQ Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi
Nickname Hurricane Hunters
A WC-130J Hercules aircraft weather loadmaster of the 53d WRS performs pre-engine start-up inspection in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, on 16 September 2010.

The 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (AFRC), also known by its nickname, Hurricane Hunters, is a flying unit of the United States Air Force, and "the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes."[1] Aligned under the 403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and based at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, it flies aircraft into tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. The 53d WRS currently operates ten Lockheed WC-130J aircraft in the performance of its mission.

The squadron was activated in 1944 during World War II as the 3rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, tracking weather in the North Atlantic between North America and Europe. Redesignated the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron in 1945, the term "Hurricane Hunters" was first applied to its activities in 1946. The 53rd became a part of the USAF before its inactivation in 1947, was reactivated in 1951 as a long range weather reconnaissance unit based in Bermuda and England, and since 1962 has been based in the southern United States or Puerto Rico with the primary mission of measurement of tropical cyclones. The 53d WRS moved to its present home station at Keesler AFB in 1973, and after being briefly inactivated again between 1991 and 1993, became an Air Force Reserve unit.

The Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve are distinct from those of the Department of Commerce's NOAA Hurricane Hunters, based at MacDill AFB, Florida, which uses Lockheed WP-3D Orion and Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft for weather reconnaissance and data collection missions. In accordance with its memorandum of agreement with NOAA, AFRC maintains a capability in the 53d WRS for five sorties per day from its home station and two deployed locations in support of requirements for the National Hurricane Operations Plan. The 53d also provides a subunit, the Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All Hurricanes ("CARCAH"), at the National Hurricane Center to coordinate the activities of both organizations.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

All data from Air Force Historical Research Agency[3]

[edit] Lineage

  • Constituted 3d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Air Route, Medium on 7 August 1944
Activated on 31 August 1944
Redesignated 3d Reconnaissance Squadron, Weather, Heavy on 26 January 1945
Redesignated 53d Reconnaissance Squadron, Long Range, Weather on 15 June 1945
Redesignated 53d Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Weather on 27 November 1945
Inactivated on 15 October 1947
  • Redesignated 53d Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Weather on 22 January 1951
Activated on 21 February 1951
Redesignated 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron on 15 February 1954
Discontinued on 18 March 1960
  • Organized on 8 January 1962
Inactivated on 30 June 1991
  • Activated in the Reserve on 1 November 1993

[edit] Assignments

[edit] Stations

[edit] Aircraft operated

53d WRS WC-130H

[edit] Operational history

The 1943 Surprise Hurricane, which struck Houston, Texas during World War II, marked the first intentional meteorological flight into a hurricane. That summer, British pilots being trained as instrument instructor pilots at Bryan Field heard that the school was evacuating its AT-6 Texan trainers in the face of the oncoming hurricane, and began teasing their instructors about the airworthiness of the aircraft. School commander USAAF Col. Joseph B. Duckworth bet his RAF students that he could safely fly into the storm and return. He took out one of the trainers with 2nd Lt. Ralph M. O'Hair navigating and flew it straight into the eye of the storm. After he returned safely, the base's only weather officer, 1st Lt. William H. Jones-Burdick, took over the navigator's seat and Col. Duckworth flew into the storm (now over land) a second time, this time recording their observations and measuring temperatures within the storm.[5] The flights demonstrated that hurricane reconnaissance flights were feasible, and further flights continued on an irregular basis.[6][7]

The 53d WRS was originally activated in 1944 as the 3rd WRS, at Presque Isle Army Airfield, Maine.[3] Many of its missions were flown from a forward base at Gander, Newfoundland, using B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. Its original mission was to fly weather tracks along aircraft ferry routes between North America and Allied Western Europe. During the 1946 season, when the 53d WRS acquired the RB-29 (later WB-29) Superfortress as its primary aircraft, the term "Hurricane Hunters" was first used to describe its missions. While not an ideal weather reconnaissance platform, the WB-29 proved to be comparatively safe and reliable. The first medium level penetration of a hurricane took place on 19 October 1947 by an RB-29 of the 53d WRS into Hurricane Love near Bermuda, validating penetration of tropical storms at lower altitudes as reasonably safe.[4]

From Gander, the squadron moved to New Hampshire; Florida; Kindley Field, Bermuda; RAF Burtonwood, England, with forward basing at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Bermuda for a short time, and Hunter AFB, Ga. In 1966, now flying the Lockheed WC-130, the 53d WRS once again left the United States, this time for Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. When Ramey closed in 1973, the Hurricane Hunters relocated to their present location at Keesler AFB, Mississippi.[6]

53d WRS WB-29A weathership landing at its base at RAF Burtonwood in 1954
53d WRS WB-50D weathership landing at RAF Burtonwood in 1956. The observation and sampling station is on top of the rear fuselage

On 18 September 1953, while based at Kindley AFB, Bermuda, the squadron suffered its only mission-related loss of an aircraft, a WB-29. Returning to base with a runaway propeller on the inboard engine of the right wing, the propeller separated from its shaft and struck the engine beside it, causing both the wing and outboard engine to catch fire. The pilot ordered an immediate bailout, but the aircraft went out of control and only three of the 10-man crew survived.[8][n 1]

In 1976 the 815th Tactical Airlift Squadron of the Air Force Reserve, also based at Keesler, was redesignated the 815th Weather Squadron "Storm Trackers" and served as an associate squadron to the 53d until 1987, when the 815th reverted to a tactical airlift unit. The Regular Air Force 53d WRS was deactivated in June 1991 for budgetary reasons and its mission assumed by the 815th TAS, which continued its airlift role as well. On 1 November 1993, the 53d WRS was reactivated as an Air Force Reserve squadron to take over the weather reconnaissance mission from the 815th AS.[9]

The WC-130H airframes flown by the 53d WRS were originally built in 1964-65 as C-130Es. 1992's Hurricane Andrew demonstrated a need for upgraded models to continue the mission, and funding for ten replacements was authorized by Congress in FY1998. On 11 October 1999, the 53d WRS received its first WC-130J, and flew its first hurricane mission in the new model on 16 November, into Hurricane Lenny. Problems with the new model, primarily damage to its composite material 6-bladed propellers from hail and ice and a lack of sensitivity in its color radar images, delayed its Initial Operational Capability until just before the 2005 hurricane season. The propeller problem was overcome by bonding a metal sleeve to the leading edge of each blade and the radar issue by changes in the radar software coding.[10]

While in conversion to the new airframe, the unit continued its mission of aerial weather reconnaissance and added a new weather-related mission type in 2003, using the WC-130Js to drop buoys ahead of impending tropical storms. In 2004, the unit started training to support tactical airlift missions in addition to its weather mission. The landfall of Hurricane Katrina on 29 August 2005 caused devastating damage to Keesler Air Force Base. The equipment and personnel of the squadron were flying out of Dobbins Air Reserve Base near Atlanta, Georgia when the hurricane struck and never missed a tasked mission.[6]

[edit] Hurricane Hunter mission

WC-130H Hercules in flight
WC-130J Hercules on the ramp at Dobbins ARB, Georgia, with another landing behind it, during reployment for Hurricane Katrina.[11]

The 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, using the call sign Teal, flies missions into hurricanes and weather systems for research purposes and observation. Although satellite data has revolutionized weather forecasters' ability to detect early signs of tropical cyclones before they form, there are still many important tasks for which this information is not suitable. Satellites cannot determine the interior barometric pressure of a hurricane, nor provide accurate wind speed information. These data are needed to accurately predict hurricane development and movement. Because satellites cannot collect the data and ships are too slow and vulnerable, the only viable way to collect this information is with aircraft. Meteorological parameters measured are:

  • exact geographical position of the storm center at flight level and relative position of the center at the surface,
  • sea-level atmospheric pressure of the storm center determined by dropsonde or extrapolation from within 1,500 ft (460 m) of the sea surface,
  • minimum pressure at altitudes of 5,000 ft (1,500 m) or 10,000 ft (3,000 m),
  • wind profile data at flight level,
  • temperature profile at flight level, and
  • dew point profile at flight level.[n 2]

The 53d WRS is equipped with ten pallet-instrumented WC-130J aircraft to collect the required meteorological data.[n 3] The area of responsibility for the "Hurricane Hunters" is from midway through the Atlantic Ocean west to the Hawaiian Islands, although they have also been tasked to fly into typhoons in the Pacific Ocean on occasion, as well as gather data in winter storms.[n 4] The Hurricane Hunters are tasked to support 24 hour a day continuous operations with the ability to fly up to 3 storms at a time with a response time of 16 hours. This necessitates a mission organization of ten full-time aircrews and ten part-time. Crews train twice monthly at Keesler AFB and fly weather recon missions when available. The WC-130J employs a five person crew element of a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer (ARWO), and a weather loadmaster/dropsonde operator.[12]

Since 1969, the 53d WRS also performs winter storm weather reconnaissance off both coasts of the United States between 1 November and 15 April in support of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction. These missions are flown at the WC-130's service ceiling of 30,000 ft (9,100 m), which subjects them to turbulence, lightning and icing. The crews collect data ahead of weather systems, dropping weather buoys along their routes, before they move off the eastern seaboard to help determine if the conditions are right to intensify into Nor'easter blizzards. In 1997 and 1998, the Hurricane Hunters also flew winter storms in the Gulf of Alaska. The predetermined tracks are six to eleven hours in duration, with one to three missions flown per major winter storm event.[13]

The 53d WRS works closely with the National Hurricane Center (NHC), a division of the National Weather Service located in Miami, Florida, that tracks hurricanes to provide early warning service for Atlantic basin storms. It maintains a subunit, the Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All Hurricanes (CARCAH), at the NHC as a point-of-contact and provides the staff and equipment to coordinate weather reconnaissance missions between the 53d, the Department of Commerce's Hurricane Hunters, and the NHC.[2]

[edit] Tropical cyclone operational profiles

When a tropical disturbance becomes suspect for development as a tropical or subtropical cyclone, the NHC assigns the system a temporary tracking number[n 5] and requests the 53d WRS to investigate if the winds are blowing in a counterclockwise rotation, indicating a "closed system". This investigative mission is flown at an altitude of 500 ft (150 m) - 1,500 ft (460 m) above the ocean surface in a pattern designated by the ARWO aboard the mission WC-130 based on observed conditions.[n 6] The ARWO continuously monitors ocean waves to determine wind speed and direction. The low-level wind and pressure fields provide an accurate picture for NHC forecasters. Once NHC determines that there is circulation within the disturbance, the mission becomes a sequentially-numbered "fix" mission, conducted initially every six hours by rotating flights in cooperation with NOAA missions, and then at three-hour intervals as the storm moves within specified parameters.[12][n 7]

During the "fix" mission, the ARWO directs the aircraft to the true center of the storm. In order to make a reliable evaluation of the size and configuration of the storm, the crew flies through it using "Flight Pattern Alpha" consisting of intercardinal headings with legs 105 nautical miles (190 km) in length.[n 8] The Alpha pattern is repeated twice during the mission. Flight weather data is continuously collected and sent directly to the NHC by satellite communications. Since the WC-130J is not equipped for aerial refueling, the alpha pattern continues until minimum fuel reserve is reached, or until the NHC has received all the data it requires.[12]

Major hurricanes (category 3 or above) are entered at approximately 10,000 ft (3,000 m) altitude.[n 9] While penetrating the eyewall, a dropsonde is released to determine the maximum winds at the surface and a second dropsonde is released in the eye to detect the lowest pressure at the surface. After exiting the eye, the ARWO creates a Vortex Data Message that includes the precise latitude and longitude of the storm center as well as its maximum winds, maximum temperature, and minimum sea level pressure.[n 10] The average duration of a "Hurricane Hunter" mission is eleven hours, with six to seven hours on station when tasked to perform three fixes at three-hour intervals.[12]

[edit] Decorations

All data from Air Force Historical Research Agency[3]

Streamer MUC Army.PNG

23 May - 31 October 1945

AFOUA Streamer.JPG

1 December 1958 – 30 September 1959
1 July 1967 – 30 June 1968
1 January-31 December 1971
1 September 1975 – 1 May 1977
16 July 1977 – 16 July 1979
17 July 1979 – 15 June 1981
1 April 1984 – 31 March 1986
1 April 1986 – 31 March 1988
[1 November 1993] - 30 April 1994
1 May 1994 – 30 April 1996
1 May 1996 – 31 August 1997

[edit] Cable television series

The Weather Channel announced the programming of a four-episode docu-reality series (Hurricane Hunters) for July 2012 centered around the operations of the 53d WRS.[14] However even before its debut, the series and its network were beset by controversy when a 53d WRS member, Captain (Major select) Nicole L. Mitchell, an ARWO and former on-camera meteorologist for TWC, filed suit 4 June 2012 against The Weather Channel and its owners, NBC Universal and two private equity firms, Bain Capital and the Blackstone Group, claiming that the termination of her employment in 2010 was discriminatory and in violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994.[15] The series premiered a week later, a month ahead of its announced date, but Mitchell was not a part.

[edit] See also

Portal icon Tropical cyclones portal
Portal icon United States Air Force portal

[edit] Notes

Footnotes
  1. ^ The WB-29 was 44-62277, a converted B-29A.
  2. ^ A complete list of data needs in order of priority are found at pages 5-3 and 5-4 of the National Hurricane Operations Plan of 2012, linked below.
  3. ^ AF s/n 96-5300 through -5302, 97-5303 through -5306, 98-5307 and -08, and 99-5309.
  4. ^ The squadron previously tasked for tropical storm reconnaissance in the Western Pacific, the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, was inactivated in 1987.
  5. ^ Numbers 90 through 99 in the cyclone numbering system are reserved for such disturbances. Although not required, the 90’s series of cyclone numbers is assigned sequentially and normally reused throughout the calendar year. The number is further modified by a two-letter ocean basin code. Investigation AL97 (or "97L" in verbal shorthand) would be the seventh sequential disturbance in the North Atlantic basin, while Invest. EP92 (92E) is the second in the East Pacific basin north of the equator.
  6. ^ "Suggested" investigative patterns are the X, Box, and Delta patterns, described and illustrated at NHOP 2012, pages 5-20 and 5-21.
  7. ^ A typical weather reconnaissance Tropical Cyclone Plan of the Day (TCPOD) is reproduced here. Up to four 6-hour fixes per day are conducted when a system is within 500 nautical miles of landfall and west of 55°W in the Atlantic, and up to eight 3-hour fixes per day if within 300 nautical miles of the coast of the United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin islands, or DOD installations. Up to two "synoptic surveillance" missions per day may be flown on the periphery of systems with a potential for landfall. (NHOP 2012, p. 5-12).
  8. ^ "5.8.1. Flight Pattern ALPHA Operational Details. 5.8.1.1. Flight Levels and Sequence. Flight levels will normally be 1,500 ft, 925 hPa, 850 hPa, or 700 hPa, depending on data requirements and flight safety. Legs will normally be 105 nm long and flown on intercardinal tracks (45 degrees off cardinal tracks). The pattern can be started at any intercardinal point and then repeated throughout the mission. Prior to starting an inbound or outbound track the aircrew should evaluate all available data, e.g., radar presentation, satellite photo, for flight safety. Once started on course, every effort should be made to maintain a straight track and the tasked altitude. A horizontal observation is required at each leg end point. This data is transmitted immediately. The ALPHA pattern may be modified to satisfy unique customer requirements (such as extending legs to examine the wind profile of a strong storm) or because of proximity of land or warning areas." (NHOP 2012, p. 5-19)
  9. ^ Atmospheric pressure is determined by deviations from "standard levels" used by meteorologists worldwide. Stronger storms have lower pressures, and the lower the actual altitude from the standard level, the lower the pressure. The Hurricane Hunters use autopilot to fly a steady atmospheric pressure of 925 (2500 ft/762 m), 850 (4780 ft/1457 m), or 700 millibars (9880 ft/3011 m) of pressure. Storms of category 3 strength or greater are flown at 700mb. By using a radar altimeter to measure actual altitude above the surface, the ARWO calculates the "height of standard surface" reported to NHC to make these determinations.
  10. ^ A description of the contents of the vortex data message is here. Standard sea level pressure is 1013 millibars. A "supplemental vortex data message" gives a cross-section of weather data at 15-nautical mile intervals, both inbound and outbound, along the 105-mile intercardinal legs to locate damaging winds in the storm's quadrants. Observation requirements are summarized in Table 5-1, page 5.5, National Hurricane Operations Plan 2012, linked below.
Citations
  1. ^ "NHC Aircraft Reconnaissance". National Hurricane Center. 2012. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/recon.php. Retrieved 25 August 2012. 
  2. ^ a b National Hurricane Operations Plan 2012, p. 5-1 and Appendix F.
  3. ^ a b c "53 Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (AFRC)". AFHRA. http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10264. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
  4. ^ a b Robison, Tom. "The B-29 in Weather Reconnaissance". Air Weather Reconnaissance Association. http://www.awra.us/The%20B-29%20in%20Weather%20Reconnaissance%20by%20Tom%20Robison.htm. Retrieved 3 September 2010. 
  5. ^ Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams (2001). Hurricane Watch: Forecasting the Deadliest Storms on Earth. Vintage. ISBN 0-375-70390-X. , 98-100
  6. ^ a b c "53d Weather Reconniassance Squadron 'Hurricane Hunters' Fact Sheet". 403rd Wing. http://www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7483. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
  7. ^ Fincher, Lew, and, Read, Bill. "The 1943 "Surprise" Hurricane". NOAA.gov. http://www.history.noaa.gov/stories_tales/surprise.html. Retrieved 30 August 2010. 
  8. ^ "Gone, But Not Forgotten". Air Weather Reconnaissance Association. http://www.awra.us/gallery-may05.html. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
  9. ^ "The History of the Hurricane Hunters". Hurricane Hunters Association.com. http://www.hurricanehunters.com/history.htm. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
  10. ^ Robison, Tom. "Whiskey-Charlie". Air Weather Reconnaissance Association. http://www.awra.us/WhiskeyCharlie.html#10. Retrieved 3 September 2010. , notes 10-11
  11. ^ "WC-130". aviation spectator.com. http://www.aviationspectator.com/more-aviation-photos?page=89&p1ff8age=17. Retrieved 5 September 2010. 
  12. ^ a b c d "The Mission of the Hurricane Hunters". Hurricane Hunters Association.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. http://www.hurricanehunters.com/mission.html. Retrieved 30 August 2010. 
  13. ^ "53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron". Global Security.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/53wrs.htm. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
  14. ^ "The Weather Channel Premieres New Series Hurricane Hunters in July 2012". The Weather Channel. 2012. http://press.weather.com/press_detail.asp?id=375. Retrieved 12 June 2012. 
  15. ^ Folsom, Geoff (5 June 2012). "Suit alleges Weather Channel Star was fired for military service". The Marietta Daily Journal. http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/18857115/article-Suit-alleges-Weather-Channel-Star-was-fired-for-military-service. Retrieved 12 June 2012. 

[edit] References

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