Rollin Barefield

The 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the "Typhoon Chasers," was a United States Air Force unit primarily active in the Pacific theater. Established in 1944, the squadron was tasked with gathering crucial meteorological data by flying into typhoons and severe weather systems, greatly enhancing weather forecasting for military operations. During its service, the 54th operated various aircraft, including the WB-29 and WC-130, and played a vital role during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The unit was inactivated in 1987, but its legacy endures in the continued tradition of military weather reconnaissance.