AFRC’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” from Keesler AFB, Miss., have flown their last mission of the 2005 Atlantic Ocean hurricane season—a record season with more than 145 missions covering 25 storms. (The unit also got displaced to Dobbins ARB, Ga., courtesy of Hurricane Katrina.) The Hunters flew their first storm of the season in May, responding to Hurricane Adrian off the coast of Central America. The last was Hurricane Epsilon earlier this month. Every mission the unit flew this season was in their new WC-130J Hercules, completing a conversion to the J model two years early.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.