Weather Reconnaisance Photographic Information Sheet.
The photographs on this CD were selected from official United States Army Air Force/Air Force photographs contained in unit histories or other official records now on file with the Air Force Weather History Office, HQ Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, NE. It is only a representational sample of what we hope to make available at some future date when circumstances and resources permit.
These images are official government property and cannot be sold or copyrighted in and of themselves. If used for public display, heritage product or publication, either official or commercial, it is requested that there be a credit reading "Official Air Force photograph, courtesy of Air Force Weather History Office.”
Questions may be sent to HQ AFWA/HO, 106 Peacekeeper Dr., Suite 2N3, Offutt AFB, NE 68113-4039, by phone to (402)232-8682/3, by fax to (402) 232-8684 (or DSN 272-868X) or by e-mail at .
All photographs were save as TIFF format at 300 DPI to somewhere in the 8” x 10” size range. Except where noted, the photograph is identified by the photographic sequence number from the unit history it was extracted from. Any caption or other information is listed below.
1WxReconSqTest#2:
Officers of AAF Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (Test) No.1, 18 June 1943 at Truax Field, Madison, Wisconsin. FRONT ROW (Left to right): 2d Lt. Graham Jr. St. John, 2d Lt. Anthony W. Monaco, Jr. (on D/S from ATC), 2d Lt. George W. Vickers, 1st Lt. Herbert I. Butler (on D/S from ATC): 2d Lt. Irvin E. Arter, 2d Lt. Jesse Levy, Major Arthur A. McCartan, Capt. Horace J. Wheeler, Jr., 2d Lt. Jack T. Hague, 2d Lt. Lanier H. Patterson, 2d Lt. Boyd A. Sanderson. MIDDLE ROW (Left to right): 2d Lt. Albert K. Owen, 2d Lt, Joseph Cohen. 2d Lt. Wilson C. Lott, 2d Lt. George L. Axford, 2d Lt Sherman Pruitt, Jr., 2d Lt. Brian E. Minter, 2d Lt. Robert L. Bledsoe, 2d Lt. John S. Lider. 2d Lt. Stewart C. Yorks, 2d Lt. Wilbur G. Grisham, 2d Lt William Ivey. BACK ROW (Left to right): 2d Lt Leonard W. Peters, 2d Lt. John G. Pearson, 1st Lt. Doak A. Weston, 1st Lt. Frederick W. Marr, 1st Lt. Edward L. Erickson, 2d Lt. Robert B. Lawrence, 2d Lt Dexter M. Green, 2d Lt. Thomas A. K1avon, Jr., 2d Lt. James P. Dalton, 2d Lt. Hugh C. Dunn, 2d Lt Clair T. Cullinan.
#1-AWS-JulDec51: A WB-29 in flight
308WRG-RB29: One B-29 was painted with a proposed paint scheme during the Jan-Mar 49 period while the Group was at Fairfield-Suisun (now Travis) AFB. It was an embellishment of the “standard” AWS regulation markings. So far as is known, 717 was the only aircraft painted in these markings.
RB29: An RB-29 in flight; the frontispiece for the 1947 AWS History
WxRecce-1927: An Army Air Corps pilot and Army Signal Corps forecaster beside a DeHaviland DH-4 at Scott Field in 1927 following the daily, early-morning flight to gather weather data.
ColorWB-50: A color photograph of a WB-50 aircraft at McClellan AFB, sometime in the early-mid 1960’s.
ColorWB-47E: A color photo of a WB-47E (no other information available at this time).
#12-1WxReconSq-JanDec45: The last B-25 of ROBIN Flight, 1st Weather Reconnaisance Squadron, Air Route (Medium), 311th Reconnaisance Wing, on the ramp at Kindley Field, Bermuda, in August 1945.
2nd Weather Reconnaisance Squadron, Air Route (Medium)
#3-FebDec44: A B-25D, with Lt Col James B. Baker at the controls, while the unit was training at Key Field, Meridian, MS.
#2B-JanNov45: Operations Area for “B Flight”2 WRS in Chabua, India where they flew weather reconnaisance missions over Burma for the Hump Airlift. Note the APQ-13 weather radar on the tower, back left of the photo.
#3A-JanNov45: 3 B-25D’s on the hardstand at Kurmitola AB, India, “D Flight,” 2 WRS. D Flight flew weather recce missions over the Assam Valley for ATC. From the radomes visible under the aircraft, it appears the two planes on the right have an AN/APQ-13 weather radar installed.
53rd Weather Reconnaisance Squadron Folder
#10-JulDec54: Capt Francis Wilson, Captain Charles Fliescher and Mr. Edward Murrow, CBS News. Mr. Murrow and a crew from his TV show “See It Now” filmed Capt Wilson’s WB-29 crew from Flight A, 53 WRS, Kindley AFB, Bermuda, on a penetration of Hurricane Edna on 9 September 1954.
#12-JanMar52: WB-29 #1974 “Ramp Vamp” in maintenance at Kindley AFB, Bermuda
#17-Aug44Aug45: Refueling a Weather B-17 at Grenier Field, July 1945
#1-AugDec45: Weather Mission over North Atlantic, August 1945
#1-JanMar47: B-29’s of the 53rd Reconnaisance Squadron at Morrison Field, Florida.
#23-Aug44Aug45: 1 Lt Lucas B. Cochran, Asst. Sq. Wx. Officer and Captain F. W. Marr, Sq. Wx Officer and Plans & Training Officer, 53 Wx Sq, Grenier Field, June 1945
#24-Aug44Aug45: Sgt Charles R. Cleveland, Squadron Weather Equipment Technician, Grenier Field, 5 May 45.
#2-AugDec45: Aerial view, Area C, Grenier Field, Vermont; 17 Aug 45
#3A-Mar46: The B-17 Hanger shed at Kindley Field, Bermuda.
#3B-Mar46: Three Weather B-17’s on the ramp at Kindley Field, Bermuda.
#3-Oct-Dec46: Operations Office, 53rd Weather Reconnaisance Squadron, Flight A, Grenier Field, Vermont.
#9-JanMar52: Lt Col Stanley Hand (53 SRS/CC) congratulates MSgt J. T. Dyess and his ground crew on a 614 flying hour engine; (l-r) kneeling, A1C Ray Charleston, A2C Richard Pryor, standing: SSgt Douglas Norris, A2C Donald Russel, A2C Edwin Sischo, SSgt John Reda, MSgt Dyess, Lt Col Hand, Capt Russell Ver Nooy, Asst. Maint. Officer and MSgt Nicola Albano, Line Chief
This set is part of a group of photographs of a 1954 mission flown from Kindley Field, Bermuda; the specific storm and date is not referenced.
#28-JulDec52: Final instructions for the crew by Capt Vohs, AC: (l-r) 1 Lt David Rundle, weather officer, Capt Russell A. Very Nooy, co-pilot, 1 Lt Frank M. Laprezioso, navigator, 1 Lt Thomas B. Bolt, radar operator, SSgt Victor Poulin, flight engineer, SSgt Kenneth L. Virdell, flight engineer, A1C Paul E. Murphy, scanner, TSgt Richard G. Morrison, radio operator, A2C Robert F. McGann, radio operator, SSgt Joseph T. Petrovas, dropsonde operator.
#28A-JulDec52: Flight Crew and maintenance crew personnel conduct an external check on the reconnaisance aircraft; (l-r) A2C Thomas J. Bailey, MSgt Andrew R. Kososky, Captain Lester J. Vohs, Captain Russell A. Ver Nooy and SSgt Victor J. Poulin.
#30A-JulDec52: The pilots, Vohs and Ver Nooy, discuss the developing weather pattern with Aerial Weather Observer 1 Lt. David R. Rundle
#30-JulDec52: The aircraft navigator, 1 Lt Frank M. Laprezioso, and the radar operator, 1 Lt Thomas B. Bolt begin to track the aircraft immediately after takeoff.
#31A-JulDec52: Captain Vohs at the controls.
#31-JulDec52: SSgt Poulin, flight engineer, at his panel.
#32-JulDec52: The WB-29 in flight
#33A-JulDec52: Dropsonde operator SSgt Joseph T. Petrovas prepares to release the instrument which, as it descends through the storm, will radio back to the aircraft vitally needed weather information.
#33-JulDec52: Weather observer 1 Lt Rundle, directly assisted by the navigator and radar operator, determines the storm position and ferocity, and seeks to uncover the storm’s intention.
#34-JulDec52: Radio Operator SSgt Paul R. Singer warns civilization’s ships, planes, cities and states to be on guard against nature’s show of force.
54th Weather Reconnaisance Sq.
#16-JulDec56: Crew checking emergency equipment at the aircraft (no names provided)
#17-JanMar47: Crew getting ready to load up on “La Boheme,” a B-29 at Morrison Field, FL.
#25A-SepDec46: 54 RS-VLR Wx B-29 taxiing out for takeoff at Morrison Field, Florida.
#8-JanJun57: 1 Lt Roger L. Bentson, A2C Douglas E. Poe and A2C Kenneth N. Craft examine the APN-82 (radio navigation) antenna installation.
#4-JulDec57: An aircraft radar picture of Typhoon Lola on 13 Nov 57 near Guam.
#2-9WRW-JulDec69: This photo, from the July – December 1969 history, is of one of the last WB-50’s assigned to the 54 WRS. It was flown back to the US in 1963. It is in the 1969 history because a newly assigned 54 WRS pilot, recalled for the Pueblo Crisis, had flown it back to the US in his previous 54 WRS tour. From the markings it appears that it flew through 19 named typhoons.
55th Weather Reconnaisance Squadron
#6-JulAug45: A B-24 from the 55th Reconnaisance Squadron, Long Range, Weather at Harmon Field, Guam, developed a “run-away” propeller on take-off roll and the pilot braked and turned off the runway. No crew-members were injured and the aircraft was surveyed as unrepairable.
#22A-JanMar47: 55 RS (VLR) Weather B-29 on display at Morrison Field, Florida for Army Day, 12 April 1947
#22B-JanMar47: 55 RS (VLR) Weather personnel in formation at Morrison Field, Florida for Army Day, 12 April 1947
#8A & 8B-AprJun47: 55 RS (VLR) Weather B-29 on display at Fairfield-Suisun AFB for Army-Air Force Day, June 1947.
#3A-OctDec51: 55th Strategic Reconnaisance Squadron (Medium) Weather, McClellan AFB, CA. Crew #3 in front of their WB-29; Capt Robert P. Gormly, Lt Martin Scheinkman, Lt Gerald A. Couture, TSgt Frank J. Chartrand, MSgt Frankovitch, Sgt Marvin E. Post, SSgt Charles J. Helmer, MSgt Henry J. Kozlowski, TSgt John P. Priestle, TSgt Roane, TSgt Spofford, Sgt Richard L. Wyatt.
#12-JulDec55: First WB-50 received by 55 WRS from Lockheed Services (no specific date listed in the history but November 1955 is the first month WB-50 flying time is recorded).
#2-JulDec55: Lt Col Roger A. Stevenson, 55 WRS/CC, with map illustrating the weather reconnaisance tracks flown by 55 WRS crews.
#37-JulDec55: A WB-50 taxiing out for takeoff.
Subfolder for 7 Oct 46 Hurricane (unnamed) photographs. The crew flew their B-29 over the hurricane, in the Gulf of Mexico, at 31,000 feet out of Morrison Field, FL.
Crew Photo
Maj Paul H. Fackler, Aircraft Commander
Captain Arnold A. McCarley, Weather Officer
Captain Homer E. Brown, Navigator
Captain Alvin K. Funderberg, radar operator
1 Lt W. D. Kelly, scanner
1 Lt Richard Comer, Public Relations Officer and Observer
1 Lt John Andrew, flight engineer
2 Lt Jack Williams, photo technician
TSgt L. R. Campbell, crew chief
TSgt Jack C. Ray, radio operator
56th Weather Reconnaisance Squadron
#10A, 10B & 11A-JanMar52: 56th Strategic Reconnaisance Squadron (Medium) Weather, Yokota AB, Japan; Skit at squadron party
#3-JulDec52: Headquarters for 56 SRS, Yokota AB, Japan
58th Strategic Reconnaisance Squadron (Medium) Weather
#1-OctDec51: WB-29 #2229 after the first snow of 11 Oct 51 at Eielson AFB, AK.
#8-AprJun52: WB-59 #7744 skidded into a snow-bank at the end of a short runway after an emergency landing, required by multiple engine and system failures, at Moses Point, AK, on 2 April 1952. There was only one minor injury when the plane impacted the snow-bank and one broken ankle on evacuation.
#22-AprJun52: Aircrew of the 600th Ptarmigan mission (cumulative total for the 375 and 58 SRS units). Ptarmigan was a polar weather mission that has to reach at least 80 degrees north latitude (preferably 90 degrees/geographic North Pole).
514th Reconnaisance Squadron (VLR) Weather
#4-OctDec50: The ground crew of RB-29 45-21838 “Typhoon Goon” just before the aircraft was returned to the US for conversion as a WB-29.
9th Weather Reconnaisance Group/Wing
#2-JulDec62: The first AWS WB-47E assigned to the 55 WRS at McClellan AFB, CA.
#2-JanJun63: A 55 WRS WB-50 taxiing out at McClellan AFB, CA.
#2-JanJun64: A WB-47E, which were assigned to the 53rd, 54th, 55th, and 56th Weather Reconnaisance Squadrons during this period
#3-JanJun64: An RB-57 of the 57WRS at Avalon Airfield, Australia (near Melbourne).
#4-JanJun64: One of five C-130B’s assigned to AWS during 1964. They were used for weather reconnaisance and as support aircraft during that time. The 54, 56 and 57 WRS each had one and the 55 WRS had 2, one each at McClellan AFB and Eielson AFB.
#5-JulDec64: WB-47’s and one WB-57 on the ramp at McClellan AFB in 1964.
#14JulDec64: Lt Meade and A1C Collins with the 57 WRS wallaby mascot.
#10JulDec71: TSgt (ret) Lee Mensiger, a retired USAF AWS forecaster and president of the Albuquerque International Plastic Modelers Society, presents 58 WRS commander Col Click D. Smith with a scale model collection of every aircraft operated by the 58 WRS.
#2-JanMar71: On Mar 16, a class from Hamura School visited the 56 WRSq at Yokota AB, Japan. Escorts are Capt Robert Marzano, AWRO, Captain Joseph Holt, Squadron Navigator, TSgt Jeffery Frank, Crew Chief and TSgt Russell Breidinger, 56 WRSq Safety NCO