Misplaced Pages

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78-627: The USAF's Air Weather Service (AWS) received its first C-130 Hercules in 1962 to conduct air sampling missions in the wake of a resumption of atmospheric weapons testing by the Soviet Union in September 1961. The Air Force was then in the process of replacing its fleet of WB-50 weather reconnaissance aircraft with WB-47E jets but by 1965 the AWS had decided it would better served by the WC-130 in

156-630: A Vortex Data Message sent to the National Hurricane Center. A critical piece of weather equipment on board the WC-130J is the GPS Dropsonde Windfinding System, a cylindrically-shaped instrument about 16 inches (41 cm) long and 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) in diameter and weighing approximately 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg). The dropsonde is equipped with a high frequency radio and other sensing devices and

234-434: A comprehensive weather database of forecast, climatological, and space weather products. The wing's task is to provide weather information to American military forces anytime. It has over 1,800 active-duty, reserve, civilian and contract personnel and is headquartered on Offutt Air Force Base , Nebraska , with a $ 175 million annual budget. Weather forecasts are produced using numerical weather prediction software, such as

312-638: A few medium bombers on these missions. Following V-E Day , the 25th Group returned to the United States for inactivation. However, the squadron remained active and re-equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses . In December, it deployed to North Field, Guam for long range weather reconnaissance The unit flew weather reconnaissance missions for the Far East Air Forces during the early postwar years, inactivating in October 1947. It

390-400: A fleet of WB-50Ds deployed in seven squadrons. Between 1956 and 1960 six WB-50 accidents resulted in the loss of an entire crew and caused the deaths of 66 crew members; metal fatigue and other structural problems with the type was to end its service by 1965. The C-130 Hercules was desired by the AWS as the best alternative but budgetary limitations prevented the procurement of new aircraft for

468-607: A mixture of WB-50s, Boeing WB-47 Stratojets and Lockheed C-130 Hercules and resumed its typhoon hunting mission. The squadron was the last operator of the WB-50D Superfortress, retiring the last aircraft in 1965, when it operated C-130s. Perhaps its best accomplishment was during the Vietnam War when Operation Popeye (Project Popeye/Motorpool/Intermediary-Compatriot) was a US military cloud seeding operation (running from 20 March until 5 July 1972) to extend

546-618: A single service with operational control of units providing the service. Action transferred overseas weather units to the command of the new service. On 7 January 1946, the service moved to Langley Field , Virginia. In early 1946, the AAF determined to place its technical services under the command of ATC. On 13 March 1946, AAF Weather Service was redesignated Air Weather Service and along with Air Communications Service , Air Rescue Service . and Air Pictorial Service , assigned to ATC Soon afterwards it moved to Gravelly Point , Virginia, where it

624-572: A suggestion was made that the classified air sampling program monitoring the moratorium and being conducted by at least five USAF commands be consolidated under a single manager and agency. AWS lobbied for the mission and submitted a plan in February 1961 naming itself the single manager. LeMay, now Air Force Chief of Staff , approved the plan on 31 August 1961; the next day the Soviet Union resumed nuclear testing. Headquarters Air Force authorized

702-693: Is a United States Air Force formation and its lead military meteorology center. It reports environmental situational awareness worldwide to the Air Force, the United States Army , joint warfighters, Unified Combatant Commands , the national intelligence community, and the Secretary of Defense . It is headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base , in Bellevue, Nebraska . The wing and subordinate weather squadrons collect, analyze, and generate

780-538: Is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing at Andersen Air Force Base , Guam , where it was inactivated on 30 September 1987. The squadron was first organized as the 654th Bombardment Squadron in August 1944. Flying de Havilland Mosquitos , the squadron provided weather and photographic reconnaissance and radar countermeasure support for VIII Bomber Command until V-E Day . It returned to

858-429: Is capable of staying aloft almost 18 hours at an optimum cruise speed of more than 300 mph (260 kn; 480 km/h). An average weather reconnaissance mission lasts 11 hours and covers almost 3,500 miles (3,000 nmi; 5,600 km). The crew collects and reports weather data as often as every minute. The Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer operates the computerized weather reconnaissance equipment, generates

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936-654: Is currently the weather reconnaissance platform for the 53rd WRS, part of the 403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command at Keesler AFB , Mississippi. Many of the WC-130s replaced in the weather reconnaissance mission were subsequently redistributed after de-modification to other AFRC and Air National Guard wings for use again in their original tactical airlift role or as training aircraft, while others were sold to foreign air forces. The WC-130 provides vital tropical cyclone forecasting information and

1014-588: Is released from the aircraft over water. As the instrument descends to the sea surface, it measures and relays to the aircraft a vertical atmospheric profile of the temperature, humidity and barometric pressure and wind data. The dropsonde is slowed and stabilized by a small parachute. Through use of the Advanced Vertical Atmospheric Profiling System (AVAPS), the Dropsonde System Operator generates

1092-979: Is the direct organizational ancestor of the 557th Weather Wing. By 3 May 1943, Flight Control Command had moved the headquarters of the Weather Wing to Asheville, North Carolina . Although responsibility for the AAF Weather Service was returned to the Air Staff in July, the wing remained in North Carolina. Although the AAF Weather Wing commanded weather activities in the United States, it had no authority over those in overseas theaters of operations. It influenced those units, however, by establishing procedures and standards for them to follow and by defining weather equipment requirements for

1170-562: Is the primary weather data collector for the National Hurricane Center , supplemented by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration 's WP-3D Orion . They penetrate tropical cyclones and hurricanes at altitudes ranging from 500 to 10,000 feet (150 to 3,050 m) above the ocean surface depending upon the intensity of the storm. The most important function of these reconnaissance aircraft

1248-403: Is to collect high-density, high-accuracy weather data from within the storm's environment. This includes penetration of the center or hurricane eye of the storm. This vital information is instantly relayed by satellite to the National Hurricane Center to aid in the accurate forecasting of hurricane movement and intensity. The Lockheed C-130 has been operated as a Weather Reconnaissance aircraft in

1326-607: The 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Anderson Air Force Base , Guam . Three veteran airlifters were transferred from the Tactical Air Command (TAC) and three obtained new. All were modified with the AMT-1 dropsonde system and assigned to the 54th WRS, where they remained until 1972. From then to 1987, when they were assigned permanently to the 53d WRS, the E-models were assigned to the operational demands of all

1404-588: The Korean War . It was redesignated the 54th Weather Reconnaissancee Squadron in 1956 before inactivating in 1960. The squadron was reactivated in 1962 and continued the Pacific weather reconnaissance mission until 1987. Weather reconnaissance for VIII Bomber Command prior to March 1944 was provided on an ad hoc basis. The 18th Weather Squadron , which provided the command with weather observation and forecasting services through detachments located on each of

1482-725: The Seek Cloud equipment from the Bs to the newer Hs, and the changeover occurred between June 1973 and July 1974. Four additional HC-130Hs were converted in 1975. A total of 15 HC-130H rescue Hercules were eventually modified with Seek Cloud equipment and designated WC-130H, replacing all 16 WC-130Bs in the weather reconnaissance squadrons. The WC-130H was equipped with the more powerful Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines rated at 4,910 shaft horsepower (3,660 kW) and had wing-mounted fuel tanks that provided an additional 2,720 US gallons (2,260 imp gal; 10,300 L) of fuel, extending

1560-1146: The United States Air Force , especially by its Air Force Reserve Command . As of May 2014, 10 are in the USAF's inventory, all belonging to the reserve. On September 27, 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced it had awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for two Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft configured for use as hurricane hunters to replace its aging Lockheed WP-3D Orion aircraft, with service entry planned in 2030. [REDACTED]   United States [REDACTED]   United States Data from 403rd Wing, USAF Reserve General characteristics Performance Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era Related lists Air Weather Service The 557th Weather Wing

1638-576: The Warner Robins Air Materiel Area (WRAMA) and were transferred to the 53rd WRS at Ramey Air Force Base , Puerto Rico, for use in the Hurricane Hunter mission. The first of thousands of such missions for the just-designated WC-130 was flown on 27 August 1965 into the eye of Hurricane Betsy , the most destructive hurricane in recorded history to that time. In the aftermath of Hurricane Camille in August 1969 and

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1716-558: The Weather Research and Forecasting model and the Unified Model . The 557th Weather Wing is organized into a headquarters element consisting of staff agencies, two groups, three directorates, and five solar observatories. The 1st Weather Group , with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, aligns stateside weather operations with the Air Force war-fighting initiative overseeing Operational Weather Squadrons. Each of

1794-524: The monsoon season over Laos, specifically areas of the Ho Chi Minh Trail . Operating WC-130A aircraft flying out of Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base , the operation seeded clouds with silver iodide, resulting in the targeted areas seeing an extension of the monsoon period an average of 30 to 45 days. As the continuous rainfall slowed down the truck traffic, it was considered relatively successful. The 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron carried out

1872-434: The "horizontal data" measurements (also known as "Recco"), and acts as flight director inside the storm environment. The weather officer also evaluates other meteorological conditions such as turbulence, icing, visibility, cloud types and amounts, and ocean surface winds. The ARWO uses the equipment to determine the storm's center and analyze atmospheric conditions such as pressure, temperature, dew point and wind speed to create

1950-557: The "vertical data" (also referred to as "Drops") needed by the NHC, receiving, analyzing and encoding the data for transmission by satellite. Between May 2007 and February 2008, all ten WC-130J were equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR or "Smurf"), which continuously measures the surface winds and rainfall rates below the aircraft, mounted in a radome on the right wing outboard of

2028-573: The 2nd Weather Squadron: Det. 1, Learmonth, Australia; Det. 2, Sagamore Hill, Massachusetts; Det. 4, Holloman AFB, New Mexico; and Det. 5, Palehua, Hawaii. The Operations, Training and Evaluation Directorate (A3) delivers technical training for the career field, oversees the development of career field training plans and computer-based tutorials on new equipment, is constructing the first formal AFWWS Technical Training Program, and coordinates standardization and evaluation visits of wing units. The Communications Directorate (A6) provides overall direction for

2106-584: The 53d WRS and three in the Air Force Reserve. Even so, the IWRS system went operational in the WC-130H in 1988 and remains standard equipment. Manned weather reconnaissance continued to be reduced when AWS finally divested itself of its flying mission in 1991 by inactivating the 53d WRS and transferring both the mission and its few remaining aircraft assets to the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). But

2184-399: The 53rd, 54th , 55th and 56th Weather Reconnaissance Squadrons . The -E and -H models have had the greatest longevity in service, 28 and 32 years respectively. Of the seven original weather reconnaissance squadrons, four of which received the WC-130 at some point, only the 53d WRS remains active, now assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). The WC-130J model, introduced in 1999,

2262-581: The 7th Group. The mission expanded to include chaff dispensing , night photographic missions, and scouting targets for last minute weather information shortly before bomber forces were to attack them. The speed of the Mosquito provided it a certain amount of protection from enemy fighters, but shortly after the squadron was activated, it began to receive opposition from Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe jet fighters and its reconnaissance missions began to operate with friendly fighter cover. The squadron also operated

2340-407: The 802d Group from the 50th Fighter Group , where they had gained experience on fast multi-engine planes with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings . The 654th mission focused on supplementing the long range aerial reconnaissance mission of the 7th Photographic Group on missions where its two crewmember Mosquitos could perform better than the single seat Lockheed F-5 Lightnings and Supermarine Spitfires of

2418-409: The AMT-1 dropsonde system. Two were based for the dual missions on a rotational basis at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base , Thailand , with a third at Anderson AFB for maintenance and crew changes. Missions were flown by crews of the 54th WRS and included synoptic weather reconnaissance to all areas of SEA. All three reverted to C-130A standard in 1971 after their replacement by upgraded models. With

Lockheed WC-130 - Misplaced Pages Continue

2496-578: The AWS flying mission still strong in MAC Headquarters, AWS proposed to Headquarters Air Force in March 1972 that its 16 WC-130Bs be replaced by a like number of the available HC-130Hs. The request was approved in December 1972 but altered a month later. AWS was ordered to retain three of the Bs and could give up the other 13 in return for 11 HC-130Hs. $ 4.5 million was budgeted for WRAMA to transfer

2574-662: The Air Force Weather Agency was redesignated as the 557th Weather Wing and was aligned under the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command , Twelfth Air Force . On 29 October 2019, the 557th Weather Wing was transferred to the USAF Air Combat Command's Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber). 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Korean War Vietnam War The 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron

2652-544: The Information Revolution early in the 1980s with tools that provided state-of-the art computing at the lowest echelons to gather, process, and disseminate weather data. In concert with Air Force communicators, Air Force Weather constructed communications networks that enabled weather information to be disseminated around the world in moments. Today, the Air Force Weather Agency, through its Weather Product Management and Distribution System at Offutt AFB, employs

2730-533: The National Hurricane Operations Plan of five sorties per day from Keesler AFB and two from deployed locations. Weather data instrumentation and the dropsonde delivery and recording systems are mounted in the aircraft on removable pallets at the front end of the cargo compartment, giving the aircraft a standard cargo mission capability also. The aircraft is not equipped for aerial refueling , but with wing-mounted auxiliary fuel tanks

2808-769: The Office of the Chief of the Air Corps. This responsibility was given to the Weather Section, Office Chief of Air Corps, which was replaced by the Weather Section, Training & Operations Div, Air Corps on 20 June 41; the Director of Weather, Directorate of Technical Services, Operations Staff, Army Air Forces on 9 Mar 42; the Weather Unit, Assistant Chief Air Staff, Operations Commitments & Requirements (renamed

2886-546: The Office of the Director of Weather was created on the Air Staff to provide policy and guidance for Air Force Weather. The Air Force designated Air Weather Service a field operating agency and reassigned it to Headquarters United States Air Force in 1993. On 15 Oct. 1997, Air Weather Service was redesignated the Air Force Weather Agency and moved to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. On 27 March 2015,

2964-494: The Signal Corps and operationally testing the equipment. In July 1945, after the defeat of Germany, but while the war with Japan was still in progress, the AAF Weather Service and the AAF Weather Wing were combined and the wing was redesignated AAF Weather Service . This reorganization followed the successful examples of Air Transport Command (ATC) and Army Airways Communications System , concentrating responsibility in

3042-502: The Southern United States. The squadrons also train enlisted and officers. The 2nd Weather Group, with headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, delivers terrestrial, space and climatological global weather information to Joint combatants, Department of Defense (DoD) decision-makers, national agencies, and allied nations for the planning and execution of missions across the complete spectrum of military operations through

3120-453: The United States and equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress aircraft equipped for reconnaissance missions. Redesignated the 54th Reconnaissance Squadron it deployed to the Pacific, but arrived after hostilities had ended. It served until inactivating in 1947. Redesignated the 54th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron , the squadron resumed weather reconnaissance flights from Anderson Air Force Base , Guam, including some supporting forces in

3198-583: The United States was centralized in the Army Air Forces Weather Service, headed by the Director of Weather on the Air Staff. However, in 1943 the AAF reorganized to move as many operations out of Washington, D.C., as possible, and responsibility for the AAF Weather Service was transferred to Flight Control Command , which organized and activated the Weather Wing, Flight Control Command to manage this responsibility. This wing

Lockheed WC-130 - Misplaced Pages Continue

3276-476: The WB-50s be replaced by B-47s that were being phased out by SAC, and when Gen. Curtis E. LeMay gave his support for the proposal, modification of 34 WB-47Es in 1963 for the AWS was approved and the re-activation of three discontinued weather recon squadrons scheduled for 1962. In the meantime a bilateral moratorium with the Soviet Union on the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons was starting its third year when

3354-405: The WC-130H's radius of action at maximum cruise speed (230 knots (260 mph; 430 km/h) (KIAS), 350 knots (400 mph; 650 km/h) (KTAS)) to 2,250 nautical miles (2,590 mi; 4,170 km). A contract was awarded Tracor Aerospace on 29 September 1987 to build and install 20 IWRS suites but two days later the 54th WRS was inactivated, leaving only ten WC-130s in service, seven with

3432-474: The Weather Division, Assistant Chief Air Staff, Operations Commitments & Requirements on 9 March 1942. Within the United States, the 1st , 2d , and 3d Weather Squadrons were organized. Each handled a region that was congruent with the area of responsibility of one of the three wings assigned to General Headquarters Air Force . On 24 July 1942, supervision of Army weather activities within

3510-506: The acquisition of five new C-130Bs factory-configured for the sampling mission to be delivered in April 1962 when AWS would become the air sampling single-manager. These became the first weather-mission C-130 aircraft. After the five C-130Bs became operational with AWS, conversions of six C-130Es followed in 1965 but as weather platforms. A dropsonde system was installed in all the C-130Bs and

3588-434: The bulk of Air Force Weather was realigned under the direct administration of the supported commands. Air Force Weather Agency and its predecessors have been essentially instrumental in protecting life and property at home as well. Since World War II, Air Force weather personnel have provided hurricane reconnaissance . In 1948, two Air Force weather officers issued the first tornado warning. Air Force Weather participated in

3666-433: The capability and safety of the WC-130 in its penetration of tropical cyclones on critical "fix" missions. The WC-130J carries a minimum crew of five: pilot/aircraft commander, co-pilot, combat systems officer , aerial reconnaissance weather officer and weather reconnaissance loadmaster. The 53d WRS maintains twenty air crews (ten full-time and ten part-time) to meet its capabilities obligations in support of requirements for

3744-521: The centralized weather support requirements of the DoD and other government agencies. Directs the planning, programming, budgeting, acquisition, and life cycle management for all standard weather systems and computer processing equipment. The Strategic Plans, Requirements and Programs Directorate (A5/A8) directs the planning, programming, budgeting, acquisition, and life cycle management for all standard weather systems and computer processing equipment. Equipping

3822-411: The command's bases, detailed observers who flew on aircraft of various heavy bomber groups of the command. Rather than continuing to rely on individual bombardment units to perform this mission, on 22 March 1944, Eighth Air Force formed the 8th Reconnaissance Group (Provisional) at RAF Cheddington . On 30 March, the unit was redesignated the 802d Reconnaissance Group, Special (Provisional) and in April,

3900-609: The designation of all C-130 weather variants was permanently changed to "WC-130" on 25 August 1965. Three WC-130As were created in Southeast Asia in 1967 and 11 more WC-130Bs were added in 1970 to replace the WB-47s, which had been abruptly retired from service in September 1969. The first of 15 WC-130Hs was converted in 1973 from rescue command and control aircraft (that had themselves been modified from C-130Es). Service life of some of these variants over-lapped as they operated with

3978-461: The devastation wrought by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 again demonstrated the need for "hurricane hunting" and state-of-the-art equipment to accomplish it, and the 53d was resurrected as a full-time unit of AFRC in 1993. The WC-130s were transferred back to it but the H-models were showing their age and between 1999 and 2005 all were replaced by the new, technologically-advanced J-variant. The WC-130J

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4056-410: The development of doctrine, policies and procedures, as well as professional, technical, and managerial expertise, for communication and information systems, information assurance, and information management for wing. They also provide communication and information policy, guidance, management, operations, software development, and maintenance of communications and computer systems and services to satisfy

4134-680: The drawdown of U.S. participation in the war in Southeast Asia, a number of extended-range HC-130H CROWN airborne controllers assigned to the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (a sister agency of the Air Weather Service in the Military Airlift Command ) became excess because of budgetary reductions. With Hurricane Camille still fresh in the minds of Congress and the American public and retention of

4212-566: The entire 66-plane fleet, accelerated the process, which scheduled a complete phaseout by 1963. AWS fought against the decision, however, and the proposed permanent shutdown of AWS's flying mission alarmed high-level operational commanders worldwide, including the admiral commanding the United States Pacific Command . The commander of the Strategic Air Command , General Thomas S. Power , recommended that

4290-422: The following sub-types: Five new C-130Bs factory-configured for air sampling were delivered to the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at McClellan Air Force Base , California, in 1962. After operational testing and evaluation, three were distributed to the 54th, 56th, and 57th WRS and the 55th deployed one of its remaining two to Eielson Air Force Base , Alaska. In 1965 all had dropsonde systems installed at

4368-415: The group moved to RAF Watton . The group's operational element was the 8th Reconnaissance Squadron (Provisional), which had been organized on 23 March 1944. On 9 August 1944, the 802d Group was discontinued and its mission was transferred to the regular 25th Bombardment Group with three operational squadrons. The 654th was primarily equipped with de Havilland Mosquitos , whose pilots had mostly entered

4446-485: The internet to rapidly disseminate weather data around the globe. Working with the other national agencies, Air Force Weather has been instrumental in the development of modern meteorological technologies, such as the deployment of NEXRAD , the Next Generation Radar, in the 1990s. Air Force Weather continues to refine and develop forecasting models relevant for modern military operations. In April 1991,

4524-532: The manned weather reconnaissance role. Since that year the Air Force and Air Force Reserve have operated a total of 50 WC-130s in five variants. The WC-130J Weatherbird is the current weather data collection platform for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron . Only one WC-130 has been lost during operational missions, H-model 65-0965, on 12 October 1974, flying in Typhoon Bess northeast of The Philippines. A former weather recon aircraft, H-model 65-0968,

4602-524: The mission. Headquarters Air Force had always considered aerial weather reconnaissance an expendable luxury when budget cuts were necessary or when funds were needed for expensive programs. In 1958 its desire to field a large ICBM deterrent force resulted in the shutdown of two AWS squadrons, followed by three more in March 1960. The problems with the WB-50, brought to a head in May 1960 by fuel leaks that grounded

4680-488: The nation's development's severe storm forecasting centers. With its early adoption of emerging computing and communications technologies, Air Force Weather was at the fore of the Space Age . In the 1960s, Air Force Weather began assimilating weather data collected from meteorological satellites . Air Force Weather, as the single agent for all the DoD, began solar observations and forecasting. Air Force Weather endorsed

4758-406: The number four engine. The WC-130J provides data vital to tropical cyclone forecasting. The WC-130J usually penetrates hurricanes at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet (3,000 m) to collect meteorological data in the vortex, or eye, of the storm. The aircraft normally flies a radius of about 100 miles (87 nmi; 160 km) from the vortex to collect detailed data about the structure of

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4836-535: The operation to "make mud, not war." In 1974, a newly converted WC-130 (serial number 65-965) was sent to investigate Typhoon Bess . The crew departed Clark Air Base in the Philippines with the callsign Swan 38 . Radio contact with the aircraft was lost on 12 October 1974, apparently as the aircraft was heading into the typhoon's eye to make a second position fix. There were no radio transmissions indicating an emergency on board, and search teams could not locate

4914-559: The operation, sustainment and maintenance of Air Force Weather's US$ 277 million strategic center computer complex, production network, and applications. The group is composed of the 2nd Weather Squadron , 2nd Systems Operations Squadron , the 2nd Weather Support Squadron, the 16th Weather Squadron, the 2nd Combat Weather Systems Squadron at Hurlburt Field , Florida, and the 14th Weather Squadron in Asheville, North Carolina. It also includes four solar observatories staffed by detachments of

4992-708: The operational weather reconnaissance squadrons. In 1989 they were upgraded with the Improved Weather Reconnaissance System ("I-Wars") utilizing the Omega Navigation System previously installed in WC-130H model and remained in regular operational service until retired in 1993. Three C-130A transports were obtained from TAC in 1966 during the Vietnam War to conduct Operation Popeye , a rain-making operation in Southeast Asia. In early 1967 they were modified for an additional weather reconnaissance mission by installation of

5070-474: The other 11 went into military service, three to the 54th to replace the WC-130As and the rest to the 53rd, which had transferred four of its five original B-models to other squadrons after receiving Seek Cloud retrofits. Efforts to develop forward-looking and side-looking weather radars were unsuccessful. The second batch of C-130Bs were in service only a few years before all were de-modified and turned over to

5148-459: The reserve forces. The WC-130Bs were powered by four Allison T56-A-7A turboprop engines rated at 4,050 shaft horsepower (3,020 kW), had a cruising speed of 350 knots (400 mph; 650 km/h), a radius of action of 1,200 miles (1,000 nmi; 1,900 km) with a payload of 25,000 pounds (11,000 kg), and a service ceiling of 30,000 feet (9,144 m). In 1965 the Air Force procured six E-model variants to replace six WB-47Es in

5226-561: The simultaneous shutdown of the WB-47 program, funds were appropriated to fund Project Seek Cloud , an upgrade of tropical storm reconnaissance capability by an increase in C-130 platforms and an upgrade in meteorological equipment. 12 additional C-130B transports were obtained from Pacific Air Forces and modified in 1970–1971 with the new equipment suite. One was soon transferred to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) but

5304-410: The squadrons produces forecasts for a specified area of the United States. The 15th Operational Weather Squadron , at Scott Air Force Base , Illinois, handles the Northern and Northeast United States; 25th Operational Weather Squadron , at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base , Arizona, handles the Western United States; and 26th Operational Weather Squadron , at Barksdale Air Force Base , Louisiana, handles

5382-421: The tropical cyclone. The information collected makes possible advance warning of hurricanes and increases the accuracy of hurricane predictions and warnings by as much as 30%. Collected data are relayed directly to the National Hurricane Center , in Miami, Fla., a Department of Commerce weather agency that tracks hurricanes and provides warning service in the Atlantic area. The WC-130 are exclusively operated by

5460-443: The weather force is mainly a function of the A8 directorate. They coordinate capabilities development conducted by three separate production centers and integrate them into a single Air Force Weather Weapon System. The Lt. Gen. Thomas Samuel Moorman Building, valued at US$ 26.7 million, is the headquarters for the 557th Wing, with 188,000 sq ft (17,500 m ). The three-story building, designed to support 1,100 people, and

5538-477: Was collocated with ATC headquarters. During the war, the AAF had developed weather reconnaissance units for scouting and route weather observation and reporting, but these units remained under the command of theater commanders or ATC. Once Air Weather Service became part of ATC, the time was ripe to place a weather reconnaissance unit under its command. In July 1946, it established the Air Weather Group (Provisional) at Morrison Field, Florida. In October, this group

5616-646: Was established during World War I . By 1937, the Army was supplementing the weather services of the United States Weather Bureau by operating thirty weather stations of its own in the United States and six more overseas. Because most of the Army stations were operated for the benefit of the Air Corps , on 1 July 1937, the Secretary of War transferred responsibility for Army weather services to

5694-404: Was later redesignated Military Airlift Command . Air Weather Service moved to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, in 1958, where it remained for nearly four decades. Air Force Weather, organized as the Air Weather Service from 1947 to 1993, continued to provide environmental awareness for both the Air Force and the Army. By 1991, Air Weather Service had divested itself of its major field structure and

5772-502: Was lost on 2 May 2018 while serving with the Puerto Rico Air National Guard on its final ferry flight to retirement. Two WC-130B models were lost to crashes after being sold to international customers, and another operational WC-130B aircraft was destroyed on the ground by a hurricane. In 1954 the Air Weather Service (AWS) replaced its WB-29 Superfortresses as its primary weather reconnaissance platform with

5850-410: Was reactivated in 1951 at Andersen Air Force Base , Guam . The squadron resumed its weather reconnaissance mission with WB-29s; upgrading to Boeing WB-50D Superfortresses in 1955. It often flew hazardous reconnaissance missions into tropical storms and typhoons to obtain accurate meteorological information. It was inactivated in 1960 due to budget reductions. The squadron was reactivated in 1960 with

5928-584: Was scheduled to become fully operational by 2011 as the staff moved in increments. Unless otherwise indicated, units are based at Offut AFB , Nebraska, and subordinate units are at the same location as their commanding group. 1st Weather Group 2nd Weather Group The 557th Weather Wing can trace its heritage to the organization of the Meteorological Service of the United States Army Signal Corps , which

6006-435: Was taken out of provisional status and became the 308th Reconnaissance Group , Weather. With the formation of the United States Air Force in 1947, Air Weather Service assumed the responsibility of worldwide weather reporting and forecasting for both the Air Force and the Army. In 1948, Air Weather Service moved to Andrews Air Force Base , Maryland, and was assigned to the newly activated Military Air Transport Service , which

6084-564: Was the first variant obtained new from the factory since 1965. Ten were procured and assigned to the 53d WRS, now the only manned weather reconnaissance unit in the Department of Defense. The new model encountered teething problems that delayed its Initial Operational Capability until just before the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season . Conversion of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules greatly enhanced

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