VW-4

• Origins as a Hurricane Hunter Squadron: VW-4, also known as "Hurricane Hunters," was originally established in 1952 by the U.S. Navy to track and study hurricanes in the Atlantic and Caribbean. • Squadron Nickname: The unit was nicknamed the "Hurricane Hunters," reflecting their specialized weather reconnaissance mission. • Aircraft Flown: VW-4 operated several aircraft types, most notably the Lockheed WC-121N Super Constellation (nicknamed "Willie Victor"), specially equipped for weather reconnaissance. • First Mission: The squadron’s first operational mission was flown in August 1953, tracking Hurricane Barbara. • Role in Disaster Warning: VW-4's data collection was crucial for forecasting hurricanes and issuing timely warnings, saving countless lives and property throughout the Atlantic hurricane seasons. • Dangerous Flights: VW-4 crews routinely flew directly into the eyes of powerful hurricanes, facing extreme turbulence, strong winds, and heavy rain to gather vital meteorological data. • Global Deployments: While primarily focused on the Atlantic, VW-4 also deployed aircraft to the Pacific and other regions as needed for weather reconnaissance. • Transition to Jet Age: The squadron began transitioning to the Lockheed WP-3A Orion, a more modern turboprop, in the early 1970s. • Deactivation: The squadron was officially disestablished in 1975 as part of a reorganization of military weather reconnaissance assets. • Legacy: The legacy of VW-4 lives on in the continued weather reconnaissance missions of the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the current "Hurricane Hunters."