AIRCRAFT >> OBSERVATION >> WC-135
SUBJECTS >> OTHER SUBJECTS >> Cargo - Transport
Catalog Number:
1987.192
Location:
5th Floor, E-Ring 7-8
Description:
This is documentation of the Weather Reconnaissance mission which is handled by the Military Airlift Command. Only one squadron is employed for this job, the 55th based at McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA. For many years the Weather Recon mission was part of a coordinated effort within the government to sample air masses to check for radiation effects within the upper atmosphere. This was a verification of testing of nuclear devices in the atmosphere prior to the Test Ban Treaty. Today, the role of the Weather Recon unit is to penetrate storm systems and to add to the real time knowledge of watery forecasters. The aircraft from the 55th operate around the world. Currently, seven WC-135 aircraft are in service with the 55th WRS. Pictured in 12667, originally a C-135B Stratolifter, converted in 1965. Special equipment on board includes the AN/ALQ-25 meteorological system, and an Atmospheric Research Equipment (ARE) suite. the WC-135 had taken over the mission from WB-47 and WB-50 aircraft from years past.