53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron ), also known by her nickname of Hurricane Hunters is a flying unit of the United States Air Force. It is the 403rd Wing ( 403 Squadron ) of the Air Force Reserve Command assumed and stationed at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. Your task is to fly into tropical storms in the Atlantic and the Caribbean and record weather data in and around the storm.

The Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve differ from the MacDill AFB stationed on the NOAA Hurricane Hunters in Florida. They use Lockheed WP- 3D Orion and Gulfstream IV -SP for the similar tasks.

History

Formation

  • Situated as "3rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Air Route, Medium", 7 August 1944
  • Activated on August 31, 1944
  • Renamed to "3rd Reconnaissance Squadron, Weather, Heavy" on January 26, 1945
  • Renamed to " 53rd Reconnaissance Squadron, Long Range, Weather" on June 15, 1945
  • Renamed to " 53rd Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Weather" on November 27, 1945
  • Deactivated on October 15, 1947
  • Renamed to " 53rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Medium, Weather" on January 22, 1951
  • Activated on February 21, 1951
  • Renamed to " 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron " on February 15, 1954
  • Dissolved on 18 March 1960
  • Re-erection on January 8, 1962
  • Disabled 30 June 1991
  • Activates the AF Reserve on 1 November 1993

Stationing locations

  • Presque Isle AAFld, Maine, August 31, 1944
  • Grenier Field, New Hampshire, November 9, 1944
  • Morrison Field, Florida, November 8, 1946 - July 21, 1947
  • Kindley Field, Bermuda, August 17 - October 15, 1947
  • Kindley AFB, Bermuda, February 21, 1951 - November 5, 1953
  • Burtonwood Air Depot ( later RAF Burtonwood ), England, November 7, 1953
  • RAF Alconbury, England, April 25, 1959
  • Kindley AFB, Bermuda, January 8, 1962 - July 1, 1963
  • Hunter AFB, Georgia, August 31, 1963
  • Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, June 15, 1966
  • Keesler AFB, Mississippi, July 1, 1973 - June 30, 1991, November 1, 1993 -

Used aircraft type

  • WC -130J Hercules (1999- now )
  • WC-130A/B/E/H Hercules, ( 1965-2006 )
  • WB- 47E Stratojet, ( 1963-1969 )
  • WB -50D Superfortress, ( 1956-1960, 1962-1963 )
  • WB -29 Superfortress, ( 1951-1956 )
  • B-29 Superfortress, ( 1946-1947 )
  • RB-17/TB-17 Flying Fortress ( 1945-1947 )
  • B-25/WB-25D Mitchell, (1944, 1946-1947 )

Awards

  • Meritorious Unit Commendation:
  • 23 May to 31 October 1945
  • Outstanding Unit Awards:
RAF Mildenhall Georgia (U.S. state) Boeing B-47 Stratojet Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
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