54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Lockheed WC-130 in flight[a] | |
| Active | 1944–1947; 1951–1960; 1962–1987 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Weather Reconnaissance |
| Nickname(s) | Fireball (1951-1960) Vulture (1962-1973) Typhoon Chasers (1973-1987)[1] |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[b][1] |  |
| 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[c][1] |  |
| 54th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem[d][2] |  |
| 654th Bombardment Squadron emblem[e][1] | _-_Emblem.png) |
The 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, where it was inactivated on 30 September 1987.
The squadron was first organized as the 654th Bombardment Squadron in August 1944. Flying de Havilland Mosquitos, the squadron provided weather and photographic reconnaissance and radar countermeasure support for VIII Bomber Command until V-E Day. It returned to the United States and equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortress aircraft equipped for reconnaissance missions. Redesignated the 54th Reconnaissance Squadron it deployed to the Pacific, but arrived after hostilities had ended. It served until inactivating in 1947.
Redesignated the 54th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, the squadron resumed weather reconnaissance flights from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, including some supporting forces in the Korean War. It was redesignated the 54th Weather Reconnaissancee Squadron in 1956 before inactivating in 1960. The squadron was reactivated in 1962 and continued the Pacific weather reconnaissance mission until 1987.
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