Heroes...Hurricane Hunters

The way the Bayou is situated in the Back Bay, I have full view of the comings and goings of Keesler Air Force Base. It is here that the famed and wonderfully heroic Hurricane Hunters are stationed. This group of amazing people fly missions into the most terrific storms to give the rest of us the much needed information that keeps us safe. Without their skill, knowledge and bravery, the residents on the coastlines of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean would be in extreme danger with every storm. The data that these crews gather is continuously sent to the National Hurricane Center so the world can be informed of the exact pinpoint of the impending storm's location.

The "Hurricane Hunters" started on a dare during the middle of World War II. The 1943 "Surprise Hurricane" struck the coast of Texas where a group of British pilots were training along side of the American pilots. The British pilots questioned the safety of evacuating the AT-6 planes in the face of the storm. On a bet, Lt Col Joe Duckworth flew an AT-6 Texan training aircraft into the eye of a hurricane with just a navigator on board. After returning safely, Duckworth turned right around and flew into the eye a second time. This time with the base's weather officer. The moniker of "Hurricane Hunters" was applied in 1946 and it stuck. The current Hurricane Hunter crew also known as the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is stationed at Keesler Air Force Base here in Biloxi, Mississippi. There is a total of ten Lockheed-Martin WC-130J aircraft and when there is a disturbance out there that needs attention..this crew scrambles! They know their stuff! It takes a lot of guts to fly into any storm but when there is a strong one like the current Irene or the infamous Katrina, not many of us would have what it takes. I can only imagine, it is not the smoothest of rides. While the majority of people evacuate to safer territory, the Hurricane Hunters aim their plane at the eye of the hurricane and proceed with their mission of gathering the data for the Hurricane Center. This data is then passed on to us with the hopes that lives will be saved. To become one of the elite Hurricane Hunters, you have to pass numerous grueling training courses including survival training. I am sure that many set out with big ideas of the romance of this job only to realize that there is a tremendous workload involved. The few that make the cut truly are amazing, strong and knowledgeable people. And if this is not enough..this amazing group does another little known service..they fly winter storms as well!

For the past few weeks, the Hunters have been flying in and out of Keesler on a regular basis. You can hear their large planes thundering in and another immediately roaring out. It should cause all of us to pause and say a prayer for their safety and also a prayer of thanks for the gutsy people that fill the job. I am proud that the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is based near here..I love hearing their planes overhead. With each flyby, I know that I am that much safer..that much more informed. Thank you, Hurricane Hunters! You are the best!