The Navy Hurricane Hunters

While this isn't OUR history, we are sometimes asked about the Navy Hurricane Hunters. This unit deactivated in 1975. They last flew the WP-3 "Orion" aircraft, similar to what NOAA flies today into hurricanes. Most of the remaining photos we have on this page are official U.S. Navy photos from 1958-62, when the Navy was flying the "Super Constellation", or "Connie" for short.



This aircraft carried a crew of 22-28 persons (compared to our crew of six today!). It could remain airborne for 16-18 hours, and had two complete radar systems.



The flight meteorologist (center) points out the hurricane which the crew and plane are about to penetrate. The aircraft commander (right) and radar officer (left) check out the plans.



The aircraft flew a spiraling track into the eye. This differs from today's "Alpha Pattern", in which the aircraft flies directly to the eye, crabbing into the wind to keep the tracks straight.



The radar officer's position was on the right side of the photo above. Posted on the bulkhead (wall) in the center of the photo was a copy of ditching and bailout instructions, a reminder of the hazardous nature of this job.

This is a picture of a well-developed hurricane, as viewed on the Navy Hurricane Hunter aircraft radar. The dark spot near the top of the radar is the eye, a clear area. The thick, white bands are the "spiral bands" of thunderstorms, which feed into the hurricane. For this reason, these are also called "feeder bands". You can also see the eye is completely surrounded by clouds, which is what we term a "closed wall". Radar observations also include a description of the shape of the eye, and its diameter.

The crew gathered and analyzed data inflight. These crewmembers were wearing life jackets, complete with strobe lights attached to the right shoulder.



A close-up of the Navy "Hurricane Hunter" shoulder patch, at right.



The navigator's job was a tough one. He pinpointed the geographical location of the plane so that an exact "fix" on the eye of the storm could be relayed.



This is a closeup of the meteorological, or "aerographer" station, including the AN/AMR-1A radiosonde receiver in the lower right corner. Today's equipment is much more sophisticated, with computers which do much of the plotting for the weather specialists, and give them more time to analyze the information.



Then, as now, the crew reported the sea state. The observer looks at features on the water, and can estimate the strength of the winds at the surface of the water. This is the Beaufort Wind Scale, often used by sailors, but adjusted for observers in an aircraft. The winds in this photo were estimated as 70 knots (about 80 mph), just above hurricane force.



Two views of the interior of the fuselage, looking forward towards the cockpit. The photo on the left was taken in 1963, while the one on the right is from an unidentified aircraft.



All observations were reported over radio, which was a laborious procedure with often poor reception, and nearly impossible in regions of heavy weather. The radio operator has a separate station on the airplane. Today, our observations are passed by computer over a satellite link, almost instantaneously, but our crews are trained to use the radio in case the satellite link ever fails.



Flight engineers were also valued members of the crew. They monitored the health of the engines, fuel flow, etc., much as they do today.



The active duty Air Force and Navy "Hurricane Hunter" units enjoyed a friendly rivalry during the period when both shared the hurricane reconnaissance mission. One token of this rivalry was the "Hans Brinker Silver Skate Award", given to the unit which "skated", or flew the least, through the season. The award survived the transition from the active-duty to Air Force Reserve, and today holds a place of honor in the Hurricane Hunter conference room, next to a letter from the commanding officer of the Navy Hurricane Hunter unit VW-4 to the commanding officer of the Air Force 53rd WRS:

Dear Colonel Gibson,

While I am transferring the last of the U.S. Navy's World Famous Hurricane Hunters aircraft to other far less glorious commands, I realize again that our two fine squadrons will no longer be competing for the uncoveted Hans Brinker Silver Skate award. That competition between two dedicated professional hurricane hunting squadrons was always a blessing for us in keeping our crews and aircraft ready to fly. I shall miss it, as I will the challenge of penetrating the eyewall.

The common bond and comradery between our squadrons created by flying similar hazardous missions surfaced frequently when our crews met at deployed sites. I will always treasure the Certificate of Award and the Golden Chock presented at the 1975 Hurricane Conference as reminders of friendly rivalry we enjoyed.

The World Famous Navy Hurricane Hunters wish the World Famous Air Force Hurricane Hunters smooth sailing in the 1975 hurricane season and we pray for your safety.

Sincerely,

R.W.F. SIRCH
Commander, U.S. Navy
Commanding Officer



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