Photos - 53rd Weather Recon Squadron
The AWA Weather Reconnaissance section contains photos from various Weather Recon units as shown at the links below. If you have a historical
document, photo, or video to add to the Weather Recon section, please notify the
Website Administrator.
|
|
|
| 1945 53rd Recon Sq |
1963 53rd Wx Recon Sq |
1995 53rd Wx Recon Sq |
This page has nineteen photos from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron courtesy
of the AFWA History Office and Bernie Barris. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, 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." 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 1963 has been based in the southern United States or in Puerto Rico with its primary mission the measurement
of tropical cyclones. The 53rd 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. For details, see the
WikiPedia webpage.
Return to
the Library
Click an image to open the 53WRS Viewer page.
