U.S. Disaster 2022: Hurricane Hunters going ‘Back to the Future’

09 April 2022 (15:08-UTC-07 Tango 06) 20 Farvardin 1401/07 Ramadan 1443/09 Jia Chen 4720

Just in time for another early/busy hurricane season?

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jessica Kendziorek, 05APR2022.

The Hurricane Hunters (53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron) based on Keesler Air Force Base, in Mississippi, decided to ‘go back to the future’ by painting their new WC-130J Super Hercules in retro Cold War through early 2000s style.

WC-130 Hercules, July 1977. USAF photo by Master Sergeant Curt Eddings.

A USAF WC-130 Hercules from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, ‘Hurricane Hunters’, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. USAF photo dated 1995.

About to drop a DropSonde during the 1995-96 Hurricane Season. USAF photo by Technical Sergeant John K. Mcdowell, December 1995.

On the right you can see a bare metal WC-130J waiting for its new retro ’90s look, on Robins AFB, Georgia. USAF photo by Kisha Foster Johnson, 05APR2022.

The 53rd WX Recon Squadron WC-130Js are undergoing depot level maintenance on Robins AFB, Georgia, and are being painted in the retro 1990s look before being sent back to Keesler AFB.

USAF photo by Senior Master Sergeant Jessica Kendziorek, 05APR2022.

You can compare the current paint scheme to the new retro look. USAF photo by Joseph Mather, 05APR2022.

In the background, the first WC-130J with the retro paint-job about to land at Keesler AFB. In the foreground, the modern Hurricane Hunters’ tail colors. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman, 05APR2022.

USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Kristen Pittman, 05APR2022.

This light grey Hurricane Hunter is being used as a MedEvac during a Homeland Security ‘Life Saver’ training event, in May 2004. USAF photo by Staff Sergeant Ramon Reynaldo.