‘Hunters’ flying hurricanes duty

For the last several days, five airmen from the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, or 'Hurricane Hunters,' have flown six missions in their specialized WC-130J in and out of Hurricane Irma, which is expected to make landfall in Florida on Sept. 9. "Irma has potential to do a lot more damage, unfortunately," said Maj. Jonathan Brady, aerial reconnaissance weather officer, otherwise known as an airborne meteorologist, based with the squadron from Keesler AFB, Miss. The Hunters are up for Irma now, and have flown at least two missions into Hurricane Katia, which is off the coast of Mexico. The squadron anticipates flying into Hurricane Jose, which is following Irma’s footprint, in the next few days. (Source: Military.com 09/07/17)