The Hurricane Hunter

A Failure to Communicate

2011-01-08T10:56:00.001-08:00

December 5, 1945

Lost in The Bermuda Triangle Part 5

That Flight 19 completed the first part of their navigation assignment and the glide-bombing task at Chicken Rocks we can be fairly certain. And to give you a better geographical perspective of the target practice area, those shoals and rocks are located about 16 miles north by northeast of North Bimini Island.

Following their bombing and strafing exercise Flight 19 was to continue east on the course of 091 degrees and at mile 67 the flight’s location would be northwest of the Berry Island chain and north of Great Harbor. At that point they should turn left and take a heading approximately north-by-north northwest on a course of 346 degrees for 73 miles. Following that heading they would cross the Grand Bahama Island and at mile 73 they would be over open waters some 21 miles west by northwest of the western tip of Little Abaco Island.

Then making their final turn for home they would take a heading of 241 degrees. Then some 45 miles later they would cross West End Point of the Grand Bahama Island and had they continued along that path they would arrive back at NAS Ft. Lauderdale sometime after 5:00 pm.

That was the course laid out for Flight 19’s training exercise that afternoon and it was followed as far as Chicken Rocks. Exactly what happened after they completed their bombing and strafing exercise is up to interpretation.

During the inquiry a fishing boat captain seemed to confirm the timing at Chicken Rocks when he told of seeing 3 or 4 planes flying east at about 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

Taking the fishing boat captain at his word, he said 3 or 4 not 4 or 5. He said he saw 3 or possibly 4 planes grouped together. Of course it’s always possible that one plane could be hidden behind another but assuming that he was correct that there were only 3 or 4, where was the other plane? Could that have been a distraction and added time to the second part of that first leg of the navigation problem? If they had to go in search of the wayward plane and then resume the course of 091 degrees how far off course would that have put them in relation to their starting point? Was cross winds or head winds a factor?

During the hearings it was determined that it was around 3:40 when various monitoring stations discovered that something was wrong with Flight 19. Had the flight been on schedule at 3:40 they should have been some 10 or 12 minutes into the north course, which would have put them over open waters. At that time chatter coming from Flight 19, transmitting on 4805 kc, someone asked Powers, one of the student pilots, what his compass read. Powers then said, “We must have got lost on that last turn.”

It would be reasonable to assume that the reference to “that last turn” was their turn to the north on the course of 346 degrees. The next question is, since they should have been over open waters at that point, how did they know that they were lost? I suspect they had drifted south of the 091 course and were more than likely flying over the eastern part of the Great Bahama Bank.

However, before we look at the geography I’d like to go back to the arrival of Lt. Charles Taylor at the Ft. Lauderdale NAS Operations office. Taylor asked the duty officer to replace him on the flight and was turned down. The hearings gave no satisfactory answer so we are left to speculate. The man was troubled by something, probably something out of his past. Now Taylor had just transferred to NAS Ft. Lauderdale from NAS Miami where he had flown many hours in and around the Florida Keys. Perhaps he was not comfortable flying into a new area, the Bahamas, or might he have possibly bought into the Bermuda Triangle syndrome. Could he have had a premonition about Flight 19 getting lost? If that was the case and the fear factor kicked in, it might give us some insight into Taylor’s state of mind. If he was in a near panic and Flight 19 had gotten down into the north end of the Berry Island chain, he could have possibly confused one of those islands with one similar to an island he had seen in the Keys.

To assist in the Power’s dilemma Lt. Cox, Fox Tare 74 heard the call and asked the person calling Powers to identify themselves. Fox Tare 28 came on the air and said both of his compasses were out, said he was trying to find Ft. Lauderdale, that he was over land, but it was broken. He also said, “I’m sure I’m in the Keys, but I don’t know how far down and don’t know how to get to Ft. Lauderdale.”

Had Taylor been completely coherent and actually thought he was in the Keys you would think he could identify the land he was flying over. After all he had flown many hours in the area while based at NAS Miami. And by extension he should have known that Ft. Lauderdale was just north of his old base.

Of course the talk about the compass problem might be valid for a number of reasons, instrument installation, calibration or something other than a man made error. It could be a more basic problem, the area itself is known to have a built in variation between true north and magnetic north. But assuming the flyers had their charts they would have to know that at the end of that first leg they needed to make a turn to the left, and that would simply put the sun on their port wing. Of course that is logical thinking and from the talk coming from the pilots of Flight 19 logic, at some point, had taken a powder.

To be continued)

Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Amazon book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.

Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

www.tombarnes39.com

www.RocktheTower.com

http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com

A Failure to Communicate

2011-01-08T10:48:00.000-08:00

December 5, 1945

Lost in The Bermuda Triangle Part 5

That Flight 19 completed the first part of their navigation assignment and the glide-bombing task at Chicken Rocks we can be fairly certain. And to give you a better geographical perspective of the target practice area, those shoals and rocks are located about 16 miles north by northeast of North Bimini Island.

Following their bombing and strafing exercise Flight 19 was to continue east on the course of 091 degrees and at mile 67 the flight’s location would be northwest of the Berry Island chain and north of Great Harbor. At that point they should turn left and take a heading approximately north-by-north northwest on a course of 346 degrees for 73 miles. Following that heading they would cross the Grand Bahama Island and at mile 73 they would be over open waters some 21 miles west by northwest of the western tip of Little Abaco Island.

Then making their final turn for home they would take a heading of 241 degrees. Then some 45 miles later they would cross West End Point of the Grand Bahama Island and had they continued along that path they would arrive back at NAS Ft. Lauderdale sometime after 5:00 pm.

That was the course laid out for Flight 19’s training exercise that afternoon and it was followed as far as Chicken Rocks. Exactly what happened after they completed their bombing and strafing exercise is up to interpretation.

During the inquiry a fishing boat captain seemed to confirm the timing at Chicken Rocks when he told of seeing 3 or 4 planes flying east at about 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon.

Taking the fishing boat captain at his word, he said 3 or 4 not 4 or 5. He said he saw 3 or possibly 4 planes grouped together. Of course it’s always possible that one plane could be hidden behind another but assuming that he was correct that there were only 3 or 4, where was the other plane? Could that have been a distraction and added time to the second part of that first leg of the navigation problem? If they had to go in search of the wayward plane and then resume the course of 091 degrees how far off course would that have put them in relation to their starting point? Was cross winds or head winds a factor?

During the hearings it was determined that it was around 3:40 when various monitoring stations discovered that something was wrong with Flight 19. Had the flight been on schedule at 3:40 they should have been some 10 or 12 minutes into the north course, which would have put them over open waters. At that time chatter coming from Flight 19, transmitting on 4805 kc, someone asked Powers, one of the student pilots, what his compass read. Powers then said, “We must have got lost on that last turn.”

It would be reasonable to assume that the reference to “that last turn” was their turn to the north on the course of 346 degrees. The next question is, since they should have been over open waters at that point, how did they know that they were lost? I suspect they had drifted south of the 091 course and were more than likely flying over the eastern part of the Great Bahama Bank.

However, before we look at the geography I’d like to go back to the arrival of Lt. Charles Taylor at the Ft. Lauderdale NAS Operations office. Taylor asked the duty officer to replace him on the flight and was turned down. The hearings gave no satisfactory answer so we are left to speculate. The man was troubled by something, probably something out of his past. Now Taylor had just transferred to NAS Ft. Lauderdale from NAS Miami where he had flown many hours in and around the Florida Keys. Perhaps he was not comfortable flying into a new area, the Bahamas, or might he have possibly bought into the Bermuda Triangle syndrome. Could he have had a premonition about Flight 19 getting lost? If that was the case and the fear factor kicked in, it might give us some insight into Taylor’s state of mind. If he was in a near panic and Flight 19 had gotten down into the north end of the Berry Island chain, he could have possibly confused one of those islands with one similar to an island he had seen in the Keys.

To assist in the Power’s dilemma Lt. Cox, Fox Tare 74 heard the call and asked the person calling Powers to identify themselves. Fox Tare 28 came on the air and said both of his compasses were out, said he was trying to find Ft. Lauderdale, that he was over land, but it was broken. He also said, “I’m sure I’m in the Keys, but I don’t know how far down and don’t know how to get to Ft. Lauderdale.”

Had Taylor been completely coherent and actually thought he was in the Keys you would think he could identify the land he was flying over. After all he had flown many hours in the area while based at NAS Miami. And by extension he should have known that Ft. Lauderdale was just north of his old base.

Of course the talk about the compass problem might be valid for a number of reasons, instrument installation, calibration or something other than a man made error. It could be a more basic problem, the area itself is known to have a built in variation between true north and magnetic north. But assuming the flyers had their charts they would have to know that at the end of that first leg they needed to make a turn to the left, and that would simply put the sun on their port wing. Of course that is logical thinking and from the talk coming from the pilots of Flight 19 logic, at some point, had taken a powder.

To be continued)

Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Amazon book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.

Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

www.tombarnes39.com

www.RocktheTower.com

http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com

Flight 19 Lost, Scramble a Rescue Team

2011-01-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

December 5, 1945
Lost in The Bermuda Triangle Part 4
At 5:50 pm several land based stations had triangulated Flight 19's position as being well off the coast of Florida but the weak radio reception and interference from radio stations in Cuba meant neither the pilots or the stations could be certain of that information.
Fox Tare 28 asked for another weather check at about 6:20 and not long after that, in his last decipherable transmission, he was heard asking his colleagues to close formation. He informed them they would need to ditch unless they reached land in the next few minutes. He advised the other pilots that when the first plane dropped below ten gallons of fuel they would all descend together. That was the last message heard from any of the members of Flight 19.
Earlier in the afternoon when it became obvious the flight was indeed lost, numerous air bases, aircraft and Coast Guard Vessels were alerted and dispatched to search for the Avengers and guide them back if they could locate them. A PBM-5 Martin Mariner took off at 7:37 pm with a crew of 13 from Banana River Air Station at Cocoa Beach to join the search. The PBM radioed a routine message several minutes after takeoff, but was never heard from again. The plane apparently exploded 23 minutes after takeoff and at 7:50 pm a tanker reported seeing a mid-air explosion then flames leaping 120 ft high and burning. They searched the area for survivors, but found none.
Navy investigators spent months examining thousands of pages of testimony from people involved and anyone that could shed light into the disappearance of Flight 19 and the Mariner. They concluded that the Flight 19 Avengers became lost and ditched in rough seas after running out of fuel, and that the Mariner exploded in mid-air, possibly caused by a fuel fume buildup inside the cabin of the plane.
Aircraft and ships carried out what has been described as one of the most rigorous searches in history for the Flight 19 Avengers and the Mariner, but without success.
Back at the NAS Ft. Lauderdale operations office three men, the duty officer, flight operations officer and Lt. Cox stood around talking. In order to put the whole story into context it would be good if we had the names of the duty officer and flight operations officer, but unfortunately we do not. After all the investigations, inquiries and hearings the identity of two of the principles in the case are still unknown to us.
Why their names were not made prominent in the final report is a question. And since that is the case, it’s just possible that somewhere earlier in the hearings those two names were set aside and didn’t reappear in the final report. Again that’s just a guess, but I suspect that some on that the panel of judges, hearing the case, believed that two out of those three officers present at the operations office that afternoon were culpable to some degree. On the surface it might be concluded that the flight operations officer and duty officer were both slow to react to the current events – but when all the evidence came out in court would their slow reactions be reasoned to be prudence or negligence? I suspect that JAG probably figured that prosecuting the case would end up in a draw, but even so the proceedings alone might tarnish the reputations and careers of the two officers involved.
On the other hand the third officer, Lt. Cox first known as Fox Tare 74, was a man of action and from the time he heard that garbled radio message between pilots of Flight 19 he was concerned enough to put out a blind radio call saying, “This is Fox Tare 74. Will the plane or boat calling Powers please identify yourself so someone can help you.” Then with the tenacity of a bulldog he didn’t let go while he was trying to piece the problem together in the air or when he returned to base and talked to his colleagues in the operations office.
Every article written about Flight 19 is done in hindsight and in most cases there is an element of speculation. I’m going to weigh in on the conversation and add my two cents to the dialogue. It is my belief that Lt. Cox, Fox Tare 74, reacted a lot like Lt. Krieger would have. And while I am also guessing, with my personal experience, I do have a point of reference.
To give you some idea about Lt. Krieger’s personality and also illustrate the typical finish to a bombing and strafing exercise over those same Rocks I’ll recount something that happened and I observed from my gun turret. After we had completed our bombing and strafing assignments the skipper, in order to regroup for the next leg of our course said, “Flight 14 will climb to 3, 000 feet and rendezvous over the Rocks.”
We climbed out to 3,000 feet and from our position we could look down and see that several planes had not followed. The skipper opened his mike and in an irate tone said, “Flight 14 from Flight 14 leader, I gave an order to rendezvous over the Rocks at 3,000 feet. And in case you don’t understand what rendezvous means, I’ll tell you. It’s a French word that means come together. Now come on up and join me. We need to reform before we can move on to the next leg of our assignment.”
Now chances are that was about the situation Flight 19 found itself in following their bombing and strafing run at Chicken Rocks on the afternoon of December 5, 1945.
The question is, who was in charge? Was it Taylor, Powers or one of the other students that made the call for Flight 19 to reassemble and continue on a course of 091 degrees for the next 67 miles?
(To be continued)

Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Amazon book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com

Flight 19 Leader Charts Deadly Course

2010-12-25T10:43:00.000-08:00

December 5, 1945
Lt. Cox' words fall on deaf ears at Ft. Lauderdale Operations Office.

Upon returning to Fort Lauderdale, Fox Tare 74’s pilot, Lt. Robert Cox, went to the operations office and related as much as he could remember of the conversations with Flight 19 to the duty officer and requested permission to take the ready standby aircraft out to search for the flight. When he got no answer, he then made the same request to the flight operations officer who replied, "Very definitely, no."
The three officers continued to discuss the problem and they figured a key factor was the time of Fox Tare 28’s first transmission indicating that he was lost had occurred at 4:00 o’clock. They knew by that fact that the leader could not possibly have gone on more than one leg of his navigation problem and still gotten to the Keys by 4:00 o’clock. Then studying a wall map of the area the three officers figured it was likely that Flight 19 was lost somewhere near the Great Bahama Bank and not the Keys.
The duty officer then called Air Sea Rescue to instruct Fox Tare 28 to fly 270 degrees and simply fly towards the sun, taking the part about wild compass readings out of play. Of course that was standard procedure for planes lost off the East Coast of Florida and it was drummed into all students. However, the fact that the Flight 19 leader believed he was over the Keys makes those instructions sound, at least in his mind, like he would be flying out into the Gulf of Mexico.
It was apparent though that at least one of the student pilots didn’t believe they were in the Keys and remembered that general rule, because Air Sea Rescue picked up a message that was said to be strident in tone that, “If we fly 270 degrees we could hit land.”
At 4:39 pm, the Ft. Lauderdale operations officer contacted Air Sea Rescue a second time and explained further that his operations officers believed that Flight 19 must be lost over the Great Bahama Bank. His plan was to dispatch the Lauderdale standby plane, guarding 4805 kc, on course 075 degrees to try to contact Flight 19. And if the communications improved during that flight it would be a good indication that they were closing the distance and that their location theory was sound.
At 4:45 pm, Fox Tare 28 announced, "We are heading 030 degrees for 45 minutes, then we will fly north to make sure we are not over the Gulf of Mexico."
None of the ground listening stations had made contact or fixed any useful bearings on Flight 19, and IFF got no response either. The lost flight was asked to broadcast continuously on 4805 kc. The message was not responded to but a short time later when asked to switch to 3000 kc, the search and rescue frequency, Fox Tare 28 yelled, "I cannot switch frequencies. I must keep my planes intact."
There were no transmissions for almost ten minutes when suddenly Fox Tare 28 opened his mike and said, "Change course to 090 degrees for 10 minutes." Almost immediately after that message at least two of the students adamantly disagreed with their leader. They were sure that they were not over the Keys and let it be known. "Dammit, if we could just fly west we would get home” the first voice said.
“Head west, dammit," barked the second voice.
Some time after the strident dissent of the students and the fact that the last two course corrections by Lt. Taylor had not resulted in spotting land at 5:16 pm, Fox Tare 28 opened his mike and called out, “We’ll take a heading of 270 degrees until we hit the beach or run out of gas."
To this day, it appears that geography and navigation did not come naturally to Lt. Taylor for he was far from the Florida Keys. We have to assume that the islands Taylor mentioned must have been some where in the Bahamas. And Taylor’s actions, following his own instinct were actually guiding the flight farther and farther off course. During that time the weather was deteriorating and radio contact became more intermittent, the five planes were probably in one of two areas. They were in that wide expanse of ocean south of Grand Bahama Island or they had somehow gone farther north and got past Little Abaco Island and were heading out into the Atlantic.
At about 5:15 pm Lieutenant Taylor said he was flying west and would do so for the time being, but at the same time worried that they were running out of gas. He requested a weather check at 5:24.
Near that same time back in the NAS operations office weather reports indicating a bad turn in the weather, along with that last transmission from Flight 19 advising that they would be flying west, prompted the duty officer to indicate at 5:36 pm, that they had missed the window of opportunity to send the standby plane out to join the search.
(To be continued)
Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Amazon book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com

Flight 19 -- Compass and Navigation Problem

2010-12-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

December 5, 1945
Ft Lauderdale Naval Air Station
Assuming Flight 19 continued on the prescribed course of 091 for 67 miles they would have made their turn to the north on course 346 at approximately 3:25 pm. Now if they were on course and on time when they made that turn, by 3:40 pm they should have been coming up on Grand Bahama Island.
However, at about 3:40 Fox Tare 74, a senior flight instructor at Ft. Lauderdale, was moving his training squadron into formation near the Ft. Lauderdale airfield when he heard what he believed to be a distress call from a boat or aircraft. One man was transmitting on 4805 kc to Powers, which happened to be the name of one of the Flight 19 students. The transmissions were broken up, but the voice seemed to be asking Powers what his compass read. There was no answer until someone, possibly Powers, said, "I don't know where we are. We must have got lost after that last turn."
During the next fifteen minutes garbled and broken radio messages could be heard between the pilots of Flight 19. Adding to the poor reception of the voice transmissions was normal atmospheric conditions along with a Cuban radio station using a frequency close to 4805. In any event at some point after the student leader’s “lost” transmission Lt. Taylor took over the lead position of Flight 19.
Fox Tare 74 was monitoring the garbled conversation and became concerned enough to put out a blind transmission. “This is Fox Tare 74, will the plane or boat calling Powers please identify yourself so someone can help you.”
He got no response to that call, but a few moments later a voice came on the air asking, “Are there any suggestions?”
Fox Tare 74 tried again, and the voice was identified as Fox Tare 28.
Fox Tare 74 asked, “Fox Tare 28 Are you in trouble?”
“Both my compasses are out and I’m trying to find Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I’m over land, but it’s broken. I’m sure I’m in the Keys but I don’t know how far down and I don’t know how to get to Ft. Lauderdale," said the unsure voice of Flight 19’s leader.
“Fox Tare 74 to Fox Tare 28 if you are in the Keys put the sun on your port wing and just fly up the coast until you get to Miami. Ft. Lauderdale is 20 miles farther, your first port after Miami. The air station is directly on your left from the port."
After a few moments Fox Tare 74 asked, "What is your present altitude? I will fly south and meet you."
Fox Tare 28 replied, "I know where I am now. I’m at 2300 feet, don't come after me."
Fox Tare 74 was not convinced. "Roger, you're at 2300 feet. Coming to meet you anyhow."
Minutes later, Fox Tare 28 said, "We have just passed over a small island. We have no other land in sight."
Most listening stations in the area had picked up on the possible problem and were riveted to the conversation, and most had serious doubts about Fox Tare 28’s actual location.
Fox Tare 28 opened his mike and asked, "Can you have Miami or someone turn on their radar gear and pick us up? We don't seem to be getting far. We were out on a navigation hop and on the second leg I thought they were going wrong, so I took over and was flying them back to the right position. But I'm sure, now, that neither one of my compasses is working."
Fox Tare 74 said, “Turn on your emergency IFF gear, or do you have it on?"
Fox Tare 28 said, “I did not, but I now have on emergency IFF. Does anyone in the area have a radar screen that could pick us up?"
At that point Air Sea Rescue was aware of the problem and making plans to assist in locating Flight 19. Ft. Lauderdale Operations notified NAS Miami and asked them and other stations to attempt to pick up the lost flight on radar or IFF signal with their direction finders.
Air Sea Rescue put out a call for all merchant ships in the area to be alert to Flight 19’s problem. Stand by Coast Guard vessels were told to prepare to put to sea. But there were delays in implementing the plan and Teletype communication with several locations was out and radio fixes were hampered by static and interference from the Spanish speaking broadcast stations from Cuba.

At 4:28, Air Sea Rescue called Fox Tare 28 and suggested that another plane in the flight with a good compass take over the lead. Fox Tare 28 gave a Roger, but from ground observers listening to fragmentary messages between the flight leader and the students the talk was only about their estimated position and heading. But it would appear from those conversations that no other plane was ever designated to take over the lead.
During that same period Fox Tare 74 was losing his signal and said, “Fox Tare 28 your transmissions are fading. What is your altitude?"
Fox Tare 28 transmitted a weak signal and said, "I'm at 4500 feet."
Fox Tare 74 had no further contact with Flight 19, but on his return flight to base he observed a very rough sea covered with white caps and streamers. The surface winds were westerly, at about 22 knots, and visibility was very good in all directions except directly west. That was probably a normal condition since one would be looking into the sun through shifting cloud formations.
(To be continued)
Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Amazon book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com

Flight 19 -- Navigation, Bombing and Strafing

2010-12-11T09:33:00.000-08:00

December 5, 1945
Ft Lauderdale Naval Air Station

Lt. Charles Taylor Late for Flight 19 Briefing
Sixty five years ago today and the tragedy of Flight 19 is still a subject of interest. We'll follow Flight 19 into the Bermuda Triangle using radio transmissions from the flight, hearing records and witness testimony along with some questions that were not asked at the inquiry.
December 5, 1945
NAS Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Flight 19 was to be a routine navigation, bombing and strafing exercise as part of the student pilot’s and aircrew’s operational training schedule. The flight consisted of five planes and 14 navy and Marine Corps aviators, five pilots, and nine radiomen or gunners. The planes were TBM Avengers, large single-engine torpedo bombers. Four of the planes were piloted by student pilots and the fifth by the flight instructor and leader, Navy Lt. Charles Taylor.
Prior to the flight, each plane went through a full preflight inspection that included engine, aircraft, fuel, safety equipment and ordnance, which included live ammunition and bombs.
The student pilots and air crewmen stood around the operations office waiting for their flight instructor to show up. As the clock ticked past 1:10 pm and still no instructor the crews began to show anxiety, knowing that they were going to be late. Their takeoff time was set for 1:45 pm and they still hadn’t had their briefing. At 1:15 Lt. Charles Taylor arrived and immediately asked the aviation training duty officer to find another instructor to take his place. Taylor gave no particular reason; he just stated simply that he did not want to take the flight out. His request was denied; and he was told that no relief was available.
Taylor didn’t plead his case further and reluctantly accepted the duty officer’s decision. Then once it was settled that he would be leading the flight, the crews picked up their life jackets and parachutes and trooped over to the briefing room. As soon as they settled into their chairs the briefing officer told them that today’s training flight would include a bombing and strafing exercise. The weather reports in the area were favorable and the sea was moderate to rough. The briefing officer stood beside a chalkboard and drew as he explained the navigation problem. They would depart NAS Ft. Lauderdale and take an easterly heading of 091 degrees for a distance of 56 miles to Hens and Chickens Shoals where they would practice low level bombing and strafing. Once the bombing exercise was completed they would continue on course 091 for 67 miles. They would then turn north and take a course of 346 degrees and fly for 73 miles. The third leg of the course would take them on a west-southwest heading of 241 degrees for a distance of 120 miles, which would complete the triangle and bring them back to NAS Ft. Lauderdale.

At 2:00 pm the pilots and crews boarded their planes, started their engines and by 2:10 pm the flight was in the air, led by one of the students. The instructor whose call sign was Fox Tare 28 stayed behind the other planes in a tracking position. Estimated Time of Arrival back at base was 5:23 pm. All five planes had enough fuel to remain aloft for five to five-and-a-half hours.
Flight 19 apparently arrived at their first objective, the bombing and strafing range located at Hens and Chickens Shoals, commonly called Chicken Rocks. That range was only 56 miles from Fort Lauderdale, and at normal cruising speed they would arrive at the Rocks in about 20 minutes. Thirty minutes was the normal time for the bombing and strafing exercise. After that target practice was completed they would regroup and then continue on the final 67 miles of the first leg.
Ft. Lauderdale tower picked up a conversation from Flight 19 near the end of the bomb exercise when someone said, "I've got one more bomb."
A second voice stated, "Go ahead and drop it".
That short report was taken down since it was general practice for base and other aircraft in the area to monitor radio conversations between the pilots. The short message was normal and a good sign that the bombing and strafing operation was completed successfully.
(To be Continued)

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Amazon book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com

The Bermuda Triangle and Flight 19 Part One

2010-12-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

This Week
2010 Hurricane Season Ended Nov 30, 2010
The Bermuda Triangle:
Flight 19 Part 1
Overview of the Bermuda Triangle
Hundreds of stories have been told about the Bermuda Triangle, sometimes called The Devils Triangle. That area of strange happenings begins at Bermuda and runs south to Puerto Rico, east to South Florida and back to Bermuda. Some expand that area to include the Outer Banks off North Carolina and Virginia. Of course those strange happenings inside the triangle didn’t begin in the 20th Century. They go back to at least 1492 when Christopher Columbus and his three ships the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria sailed through that area. Words from Columbus’s journal were that his compass went haywire and his crew saw strange lights in the sky. Those few words written in the Christopher Columbus journal might have been the beginning of what has now become the mystique of the Bermuda Triangle.
There are tales about missing vessels, missing airplanes and ghost ships – enough to chill the souls of the faint hearted. And writings on the subject range from paranormal, voodoo and supernatural, UFO’s, a black hole somewhere in the Bahamas as well as
time warp and third dimension theories.
Of all the strange happenings within the Bermuda Triangle Flight 19 has probably drawn more notoriety to the area than any other tragedy. Flight 19’s 14 men and five planes coupled with the 13-man crew and the PBM Mariner sent out to search for the others were all lost without a trace.
Those tragic losses immediately led to speculation into the paranormal possibilities of that fateful day. And the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle grew in proportion to the unanswered questions produced by subsequent investigations and hearings.
There is no doubt in my mind that prior to the hurricane warning system, started in 1945, the Bermuda Triangle got its share of unannounced hurricanes, that ripped through the area with no warning to inhabitants of the islands or ships at sea. Sea captains and crews new to the area were not capable of reading signs of looming danger such as sea swells, wind changes, cloud formations or barometric pressures, whereas the old seafaring skipper could generally read those markers and steer his ship out of harms way.
Of course when the warning system went into effect land bases as well as ships at sea were given warning bulletins advising of dangerous hurricanes their locations and movement directions. The system, while not perfect, at least, gives everyone a fighting chance to take evasive action of some kind.
There are several physical elements that should be considered when looking into a strange happening or disappearance inside the Bermuda Triangle. Here are three and there are others: The Sargasso Sea, the Gulf Stream and other Atlantic currents as well as the variation in compass readings between true north and magnetic north. And while those three natural problems won’t answer all the questions, they should be considered as part of all investigations into happenings inside the Bermuda Triangle.
The Sargasso Sea is named for saragassum a type of seaweed that covers the whole area and floats on or near the surface. The saragassum covered area of the Atlantic remains placid while the Gulf Stream and other currents swirl around its edges. How this strange bed of seaweed adapted to this off shore area baffles oceanographers as well as other scientists and it remains a mystery to this day.
This quiet sea attracts surface vessels both manned and unmanned. Sailing vessels have been becalmed and could not move. Small powerboats have had their propellers caught up in the seaweed. Some boats were eventually abandoned when the owner could not extricate the boat from the tangled seaweed. Derelict ships have been spotted and boarded to find no sign of life. Salvage crews have boarded and gotten the ship under weigh only to disappear themselves before reaching safe harbor.
Countless theories explaining the many disappearances have been offered throughout history, but the most practical seems to be environmental or possible human error. The majority of strange happenings within the Bermuda Triangle can be attributed to the area’s unique environmental features. It is important to note that the Bermuda Triangle is one of two places on earth that a magnetic compass does point toward true north. Normally it points toward magnetic north and the difference between the two readings can be as much as 20 degrees. If that compass variation is not understood and compensated for, calculations could put the ship or plane many miles off course.

The unpredictable Caribbean Atlantic weather pattern also has a role. Sudden thunderstorms, water spouts and hurricanes often spell disaster for pilots and mariners alike. Then one must consider the topography of the ocean floor that varies from extensive shoals around the islands to some of the deepest marine trenches in any ocean. The Gulf Stream is extremely swift and turbulent and produces strong currents over the numerous reefs, which means the ocean floor is constantly changing and that factor alone makes it capable of moving or even erasing evidence of a disaster.
But at the end of the day questions relating to ghost ships, missing crews and strange lights -- still go unanswered.

Mission and Schedule for Flight 19
December 5, 1945
NAS Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Flight 19 was to be a routine navigation, bombing and strafing exercise as part of the student pilot’s and aircrew’s operational training schedule. The flight consisted of five planes and 14 navy and Marine Corps aviators, five pilots, and nine radiomen or gunners. The planes were TBM Avengers, large single-engine torpedo bombers. Four of the planes were piloted by student pilots and the fifth by the flight instructor and leader, Navy Lt. Charles Taylor.
Prior to the flight, each plane went through a full preflight inspection that included engine, aircraft, fuel, safety equipment and ordnance, which included live ammunition and bombs.
The student pilots and air crewmen stood around the operations office waiting for their flight instructor to show up. As the clock ticked past 1:10 pm and still no instructor the crews began to show anxiety, knowing that they were going to be late. Their takeoff time was set for 1:45 pm and they still hadn’t had their briefing. At 1:15 Lt. Charles Taylor arrived and immediately asked the aviation training duty officer to find another instructor to take his place. Taylor gave no particular reason; he just stated simply that he did not want to take the flight out. His request was denied; and he was told that no relief was available.
Taylor didn’t plead his case further and reluctantly accepted the duty officer’s decision. Then once it was settled that he would be leading the flight, the crews picked up their life jackets and parachutes and trooped over to the briefing room. As soon as they settled into their chairs the briefing officer told them that today’s training flight would include a bombing and strafing exercise. The weather reports in the area were favorable and the sea was moderate to rough. The briefing officer stood beside a chalkboard and drew as he explained the navigation problem. They would depart NAS Ft. Lauderdale and take an easterly heading of 091 degrees for a distance of 56 miles to Hens and Chickens Shoals where they would practice low level bombing and strafing. Once the bombing exercise was completed they would continue on course 091 for 67 miles. They would then turn north and take a course of 346 degrees and fly for 73 miles. The third leg of the course would take them on a west-southwest heading of 241 degrees for a distance of 120 miles, which would complete the triangle and bring them back to NAS Ft. Lauderdale.
(To be continued)

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle – Amazon book page Click Here
Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Engine Failure Ends Chase for Hurricane IX

2010-11-27T09:12:00.000-08:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch – 2010 Inactive
Flashback 1945:
Hurricane Hunters Base Prepares for Hurricane
Tom's Books and Blogs

Hurricane IX Takes Aim at Bahamas and South Florida
The ninth event of the season appeared on September 12th in the South Atlantic east of the Leeward Islands and was designated Tropical Storm Number IX.
By the time the weather station at Martinique reported its presence late that same day the storm had already achieved full-blown hurricane status with sustained winds of 75 miles per hour and was moving in the direction of Dominica and Guadeloupe.
Our flight position was west of St. Croix when we got word of the storm. But Jackson and I were too busy checking out an overheating engine and trying to determine whether it was the engine or the instrument to pay much attention to the storm news. After a couple of tests we concluded that our number three engine was definitely running hot. And by the time I got back to the cockpit to report that fact the skipper and co-pilot had already observed the problem by way of the instrument panel.
Lt. Engle said, “Shep, why don’t you and the mechanics get busy on the overheating problem while I stay focused on the storm.”
Shep gave the skipper a high sign and the three of us commenced our trouble-shooting checklist. We went through all the procedures listed and then began the old tried and true method of enriching the fuel mixture.
The rich fuel mixture seemed to stabilize the temperature, but it was still running too hot for normal operations.
Shepherd finally said, “We could land at San Juan and take a look at the engine and see if there is anything we can do.”
Engle nodded. “Yeah, we could do that. On the other hand if we land, and shut down the engine to check it out, and for some reason we can’t restart it, we could wind up in the path of the hurricane.”
Shepherd nodded agreement. “Then, Skipper, if it’s all right with you I think it best to shut down number three before it does it for us.”
Engle nodded agreement and the co-pilot shut down the number three engine and feathered the prop. Then both pilots worked to trim the plane out for three-engine operation. Once that task was accomplished the skipper called over his shoulder to the navigator. “Bassett, figure us a direct route back to Miami. And Primrose, send a message to Masters Field Operations and tell them we’re having engine trouble and we are returning to base.” Then we settled in for a long and slow flight back home, listened to the reports as best we could and everyone on the plane was ticked off that we hadn’t had a chance to take a look at the Category 2 hurricane that was presently beating its way toward St. Croix and the Virgin Islands.
Our return flight to Miami was about as routine as any I’ve ever experienced and the landing would fit into that same category. Once we parked the plane we entered information on our three-engine operation into the logbook the skipper, Jackson and I made a routine inspection of the aircraft and turned our paperwork into maintenance. We were debriefed at the operations office then I ambled to the barracks and hit the sack.

The next morning I must have answered a dozen questions about our three-engine operation the day before, and that was just on my way to the chow hall. Eventually I got there picked up a tray and went through the line selecting my regular breakfast scrambled eggs, sausage, toast and coffee. I spotted Bill Hurley sitting at a table with three other guys. And as soon as I set my tray down Bill said, “I was by the hangar, Tom and your number three engine has already been pulled. One of the fellows, I think his name is Bertuccio, that was working on it said the problem was likely a bent pushrod.”
I shook my head. “I guess that means we’re out of action for the next day or two.”
“Looks that way,” Bill said.
I looked around the table and asked, “Have any of you guys seen the latest bulletin on the current storm?”
A redhead at the end of the table said, “Yeah. I stopped by operations and was told the storm has been upgraded to a Category 3 with winds at a 130 miles per hour and it’s located north of the Dominican Republic and is presently tracking west.”
Bill Hurley frowned. “If it stays on that course we’re in the cross hairs.”
“That’s their thinking over at operations,” the redhead said, “and they’re already making plans to move our planes out of here.”
I shook my head. “Well, so long fellows. Looks like I’m not going anywhere.” I had heard about enough and gulped down the rest of my coffee. “See you guys later,” as I turned in my tray and then hurried along the path leading to the hangar. I suppose I was hoping Bill was wrong and by some miracle the crew would fit the new engine on and off we’d go north with the others.
Of course that had to be wishful thinking. When I got to the hangar and walked inside I could see that the number three engine had been removed and was now mounted on a stand in front of the plane. I turned around and as I made my way to the operations office I noticed that there were only three Privateers on the line, which probably meant that two were on missions tracking the storm. The activity around the other three indicated to me that they were doing pre flight inspections in order to get out of Dodge.

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle – Amazon book page Click Here

Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Miami to the Eastern Caribbean

2010-11-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch – Inactive
Searching the Caribbean
Tom's Books and Blogs

Excerpt from The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle
A Closeup Look at a Tropical Storm
The Quonset Huts we used as barracks were located north of the main hangar. Those huts reminded me of my stay at San Diego’s North Island and the only detail missing in that picture was the dense morning fog.
Our barracks talk was spiked with a lot of humor, most of it coming out of our Mississippi jester, a guy named Farrell. That fellow could comment and make a joke about almost anything. Sex and perversion seemed to be his specialties and any mention in that area would set Farrell off telling a string of jokes on the subject and his side-splitting humor would have everyone within earshot laughing his ass off. The only ones annoyed by the laughter were the poker players in the back of the room. Every now and then when the laughter got too raucous an irate player would yell, “Hey you guys knock it off I can’t concentrate on the cards.” A quick retort usually came in the form of, “Stick it in your ear.” Or, “Piss off.”
Other than routine training and test flights that followed an engine change five out of our six-plane squadron could usually be found parked on the apron in front of the hangar and control tower.
I had just gotten to the barracks when someone poked his head inside the door and yelled, “Ok. Anybody in here on the regular rotation duty roster hit the deck and make your way to the plane. We’ve got a rumble out in the Western Caribbean.”
Bill Hurley grabbed his gear and as he headed to the door called to me and said, “See you in about a dozen hours, Thomas.”
“Have a good trip,” I said as he gave a high sign and strode out the door.
The rumble Bill and his crew flew out to observe was the second event of the season, and so dubbed Tropical Storm II, which never attained winds of much more than 50 mph. It developed from a depression in the Western Gulf of Mexico near the Yucatan Peninsula. The storm proceeded at a slow pace toward the northwest and made landfall in South Texas in an area between Brownsville and South Padre Island late on July 21st where it was immediately downgraded to a tropical depression. It continued to soak the area with rains overnight before petering out the following morning.
Our crew had an early morning call the day our regular rotation was posted on the board. It would be a routine observation flight, and according to our briefing we would be flying southeast crossing the lower Bahamas near Turk Island then north of Puerto Rico to the vicinity of Guadeloupe where we would reverse course and return by way of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, across Port Au-Prince, Haiti, the eastern tip of Cuba near Guantanamo Bay and back to Miami. Those were the thoughts going through my mind as we taxied out to the runway and turned into takeoff position.
First Pilot Lt. Robert Engles headed our crew, Co Pilot Lt (jg) Alvin Shepherd, Navigator Lt. Bert Bassett, Plane Captain Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class Hal Jackson, and Radioman 2nd Class Al Primrose and I was First Mech.
The skipper pushed down on the brake pedals, moved the throttles forward. Then as he backed off the brakes, we started to move slowly down the runway. With full fuel tanks the plane struggled at first before it began to take a life of its own and roll effortlessly down the runway.
This was my first flight in quite a while that I wasn’t designated as plane captain. Of course on these long-range flights they needed someone in a more senior position either first class or chief to be designated as plane captain. I could care less about the ranking and what was going through my mind was a complete rehash of the check off list. Had I done everything I could to make the flight safe?
Once we got up to speed the plane lifted off the runway. Moments later the skipper called out to the co-pilot, “Gear up.”
The landing gear folded into place and once we got into a routine climb attitude I made my way aft for the post takeoff inspection. I moved along the catwalk through the bomb bay and stopped beside the starboard waist hatch. I glanced down at the clear blue Atlantic waters just as the skippers voice crackled into my earphones. “Gentlemen, I have just been informed that we should scrap our briefing information, then take a more south by southeast direction and head toward the St. George’s Island and Granada. Seems there’s a tropical storm cooking up in the Eastern Caribbean.”
Hot dang, I thought as I made my way back to the flight deck. I looked around and could see excitement in the eyes of the rest of the crew. Finally it looked like all of our practice runs were about to pay off.
Immediately after Bassett set our new course heading Lt. Engles picked up his mike and said, “Put on your oxygen masks, we’re going up top and see if, at that altitude, we’re able to spot anything with the radar.”
When we reached 20,000 feet I looked out the waist hatch and the sea looked white with only an occasional plot of blue water mixed in. I had no doubt that the sea was roiling. The sky above was bright blue and was broken only by a few scattered cirrus clouds four or five thousand feet above our present altitude. My thoughts turned to the storm itself. Something I had read within the last week or two was how old time sea captains had figured out ways to judge the location of a storm center and then maneuver his ship out of harms way. Of course what we were doing was just the opposite. We had reached the altitude of about 29, 000 feet when all of a sudden the skipper got on the horn and said, “We’ll begin descending, since we haven’t spotted anything on the radar. Think we’ll go down and take a closer look at the waves and swells and see if they can tell us anything.”
I chuckled; the old man must have read the same thing I did. Sometime in the last day or two I read that waves and strong swells travel ahead of a storm and give a kind of warning that can’t be spotted from high altitudes. I glanced at my watch and walked forward to talk to Jackson. As soon as I approached he said, “Tom I think it’s time to transfer some fuel out of the belly tanks into the mains.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said as I turned toward the cockpit, the skipper looked back at me then pointed forward and toward a buildup of cumulonimbus clouds in the distance. Then he smiled and glanced at the co-pilot. “Looks like we’re getting into the neighborhood.” Then he turned to me and asked, “What were you going to say, Tom?”
“Jackson thinks it’s about time to top off the main tanks. Transfer some fuel out of the belly tanks and unless you have a different opinion we’d like to take care of it right away.”
“Ok by me,” the skipper said as he turned to the copilot, “Shep keep an eye on the fuel gauges.”
I immediately walked back and stood beside Jackson at the instrument panel and opened up the transfer process. When we finished the job I returned to the cockpit and reported, “According to our gauges the mains are just about to capacity.”
Shep gave me thumbs up and smiled. “Good going, guys we didn’t get so much as a cough.”
The clouds were still far in the distance, but were boiling skyward. I took the opportunity to make another inspection of the interior and also looked out at the engines for any possible oil leaks. When I got to the waist hatches I took a pair of binoculars and looked down at the ocean. And even with my limited knowledge of oceanography I could tell that something was brewing somewhere in the distance and it probably wouldn’t be too long before we’d have a fix on that storm.
The skipper made another announcement telling us to put on our oxygen masks that we were going up top again and see if we could get a better look from above. By the time we got close to the storm we had reached an altitude near 28, 000 feet and were, in fact, above the storm. I’m not sure exactly what I expected to see, but this first storm didn’t fulfill my expectations. Maybe I was looking for swirling clouds that were well defined. We could see the swirling motion of the winds all right but there were so many clouds obscuring the main body that we never got a look at the center or eye to the storm. However, there was no doubt that the Tropical Storm we were looking down on had the potential of turning into a full-blown hurricane.
We spent almost an hour doing observation and taking instrument readings and measurements, plotting the exact location and direction the storm was moving in before Lt Engle announced, “Fellows we’ve done about all we can do out here so we’re heading home.”

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle – Amazon book page Click Here

Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Hurricane Warning System -- A Beginning

2010-11-13T08:41:00.000-08:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch
1945 Hurricane Season Beginsb>

Hurricane Watch Friday, November 20, 2010 am PDT
There is no tropical weather activity in the Caribbean area at this time.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, November 18, 2010 am PDT
There is no tropical weather activity in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico at this time.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, November 17, 2010 am PDT
All quiet in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, November 16, 2010 an PDT
Tropical rain and thunderstorm activity persist in an area of the southwestern Caribbean. Will it develop into a tropical depression? We'll have to wait and see.

Hurricane Watch Monday, November 15, 2010 am PDT
Yesterday's rain showers and thunderstorms have dissipated, leaving the tropics in the clear.
November 30th is the official end of the 2010 Hurricane Season and we'll keep the watch until then.
Beginning December 1st we'll do stories relating to weather facts and the Bermuda Triangle.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, November 14, 2010 am PDT
Rain showers and thunderstorm activity cropped up in a low pressure area of the southwestern Caribbean. The system has potential for development, however for the present time it poses no threat.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, November 13, 2010 am PDT
Following almost a week of quiet in the tropics, an area of disturbed weather has shown up on Satellite pictures of the Southern Caribbean. We'll watch and wait.

First Storm 1945 Hurricane Season:
As part of my daily routine I stopped by the operations office every morning, and on this day there was a lot of activity -- something was happening. I looked at the large hurricane advisory board and immediately realized what the hubbub was all about. It was the 20th day of June and the Miami Weather Bureau had just posted its first notice of the season. A tropical depression had formed north of Honduras and was growing in strength as it moved to the north-northeast.
I hadn’t thought much about it at the time since the activity was many miles away. But later that same day when word came that the first event of the season, a tropical depression had, in fact, grown into a tropical storm with winds clocked at 50 miles per hour and gusts up to 65 I began to pay close attention.
Aircrews were on a rotation basis and the luck of the draw dictated whether you got in on the chase or not. After confirming the news I hustled to the barracks and called out, “Hey, Primrose. Looks like something’s brewing in the Western Caribbean and the standby crew just took off to take a look. I kinda wish it had been us.”
Primrose chuckled. “I’m not sure about that. I’m thinking about those high altitudes and the fact that we’ll be freezing our arse off.”
“You’ve got a point, but I expect it’s like jumping into ice water – just hold your breath and if it doesn’t kill you in the first minute you’ll probably survive.”

As was later reported the Tropical Storm gained in strength as it moved north out of the Western Caribbean in a northeasterly direction past the western tip of Cuba. The storm continued in a north northeasterly direction across the Gulf of Mexico more than a hundred miles off the West Coast of Florida. As it crossed the warm gulf waters it grew in intensity to a Category 3 hurricane showing winds of 115 miles per hour. Then taking a bead on the North West Coast of Florida the first hurricane of the season made landfall after crossing Dead Mans Bay and slammed into a mostly unpopulated area of North Florida. Soon after coming ashore its wind intensity dropped off to that of a Tropical Storm as it proceeded in an east northeasterly direction across Northern Florida. The storm passed between Jacksonville and the Georgia State line where it made its way to the Atlantic in the vicinity of St. Mary’s, and Cumberland Island, Georgia. From there it proceeded up the East Coast as a Tropical Storm with winds around 60 miles per hour. It also carried heavy rains that caused some flooding in low-lying areas all along the East Coast.
By July 1st the storm had blown itself out over the cool waters of the North Atlantic, the sometime Hurricane and sometime Tropical Storm number I had traveled some twenty four hundred miles. And although it had made life miserable for hundreds of thousands of people there was one consolation – there were no fatalities as citizens were given a timely warning and they were able to prepare accordingly as the storm approached.

Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter. Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Squadron 114 -- Chase Hurricanes in the Caribbean

2010-11-06T07:47:00.001-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch
Map of the Caribbean

Hurricane Watch Friday, November 12, 2010 am PDT
Atlantic Basin, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico have no tropical storm activity at the present time.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, November 11, 2010 am PDT
No tropical storm activity in the Atlantic Basin, Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico.
Best weather report of the day is the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Northern Mexico and Southern California.
Calm seas and clear weather in the area allowed an embarrassed
cruise ship Carnival Splendor to be towed into San Diego Bay.
Without power, following an engine room fire, for three days the stranded cruise ship, with the help of the US Navy, and two Mexican tug boats, arrived at a safe harbor.
The several thousand passengers and crew will debark with no one the worse for ware. The dining experience was challenged as the US Navy, on short notice, could only deliver Spam for dinner.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, November 10, 2010 am PDT
Cloudiness and thunderstorms over Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Northern Leeward Islands. Heavy rains are expected to continue over these islands for the next day or two before the system moves out to the north.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, November 9, 2010 am PDT
Satellite pictures give no indication of tropical storm activity within the Atlantic basin, which includes the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
It's all clear folks.

Hurricane Watch Monday, November 8, 2010 am PDT
Tomas has faded out of existence leaving the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean without a storm system. There is some wet weather in the northeastern Caribbean, but other than that the Atlantic basin is quiet.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, November 7, 2010 am PDT
Tomas continues to produce heavy rains over portions of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and northern Lesser Antilles even as it moves away from land into the open Atlantic Ocean.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, November 6, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Tomas with its strong winds, thunderstorms and rain bands moved across Haiti leaving more grief for that land of earthquake victims.
Moving at about 15 mph the storm continued north and away from Haiti bringing its wind and rain to the Turks and Caicos Islands before bending to the northeast into an open Atlantic.

Follow the map pointer around the Caribbean.
The commander was generous with his time and answered another dozen questions. To finish off his presentation he went back to the map, and gave us an idea about where we would be flying. “Generally speaking it will be in the Caribbean area heading out to the southeast where we might cross the Dominican Republic toward the Lesser Antilles. A little farther east we'd cross Puerto Rico into the Leeward Islands and Barbados. If our mission takes us west we'd cross over Cuba maybe toward Honduras and Belize.” Then he held up his hand to shut off any further questions. "Now I suspect that this one briefing didn't answer all your questions, but that's all the time we have for now. If you have any further questions put them in writing and pass them along to your chief and I'll get back to you as soon as possible."
Once the briefing was officially over I walked out of the auditorium with Bill Hurley and he asked, "What did you think, Tom?"
"I don't know where to start, Bill. I can say this though, I've done a one eighty on the overall project. I now think it's a good idea."
"I agree with you, Tom and I suspect we're not the only ones the commander converted this morning."
“The basic premise seems to be solid," I said. "And there is no doubt that we need some kind of hurricane warning system."
"What do you think they could do even if they get a warning?"
"Well," I thought for a moment and said, “ I guess they could start by boarding up their windows and take stuff out of the yard that might blow around. Then if a water surge is predicted it would give them time to move up to higher ground."
"What did you think of that map?" Bill asked.
"Well, there's one thing for sure, it gives us a huge area to cover, which brings up a point I've been thinking about. With all that vast amount of ocean out there I just hope Squadron 114 has drawn a compliment of good navigators."
The briefing gave us lots of information about search patterns and the like, but little about hurricanes. I went to the library intending to fill in that gap. There were a number of books on the subject and as I began to read about hurricanes I realized that climatologist’s had been studying and writing about hurricanes for hundred’s of years. I was struck by several phrases they used a lot, tropical waves, storm surge; high and low pressure systems as well as the instrument used to measure those systems, the barometer. That's a gauge that measures barometric pressure - 29.53 inches at sea level seems to be the norm. Anything above that reading portends fair weather ahead and below seems to indicate foul. The point was made that when measuring storm potential the lower the pressure the stronger the storm.
Tropical storms form out of the warm waters near the Equator. And due to the earth's rotation storms spawned north of the Equator spin in a counter-clockwise direction while only a few miles south of that imaginary line the storms develop and spin in a clockwise direction. Hurricanes are fueled by warm ocean waters from below and steered by winds high above. Danger to sea-lanes and shipping is caused by high winds and tall waves moving ahead of the hurricane. When the storm is nearing landfall, the right front quadrant relative to the storms direction of travel is undoubtedly the deadliest part of the storm. Just by its presence, the hurricane is a force of intimidation and whether its winds are extremely high or not, the tall ocean waves forced by the storm surge preceding the hurricane is deadliest when it makes landfall during a period of high tide. Those wind whipped waves can cause flooding that is far more devastating than winds generated by most storms.
While looking at a chart of past hurricanes I spotted the one, the commander mentioned at the briefing, which probably got the attention of the folks in Washington. It was a category 3 that killed 390 people as it rumbled north along the Eastern Seaboard of the United states. And I suspect that is the reason we are in Miami preparing to search and locate some of those storms - and work toward some kind of warning system that will eventually save some lives.
Fully loaded with aviation fuel, our Privateers were capable of reaching all of the Eastern or Western Caribbean and then return to base in one non-stop flight. To the East the outer range was the vicinity of the Leeward Islands, the Lesser Antilles near Guadeloupe. In the west it would be the north shore of Honduras and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
The crews, down from Jacksonville, were familiar with most of the geography we were assigned to cover. Our regular navigation training flights were routinely charted into those same areas. A typical navigation problem might be to fly from Jacksonville past the Bahamas as far as Turk Island, turn west to Cuba and from there head northeast to base. And of course that was good practice, but once you throw a hurricane into the mix your navigation problems become a bit more complicated.
Squadron 114 was made up of six Privateers equipped with turbo supercharged engines and the best radio and radar equipment available. Most of our personnel below the grade of lieutenant were multi tasked. Flight crewmembers not assigned to fly on any given day had to report to the flight line for routine maintenance duty. The one constant in aircraft maintenance is unbuttoning engine cowling, changing spark plugs and adjusting or replacing a faulty carburetor. Keeping busy, even doing menial tasks, had its own reward in that it was a temporary distraction from our overall mission. Most of us had a sense of anxiety and some trepidation as we eased toward our first face-to-face confrontation with an actual hurricane.

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle book page Click Here

Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter. Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Tropical Disturbance, Tropical Storm and Hurricane

2010-10-30T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Watch
Introduction to Tropical Storms
And Then Comes the Hurricane

Hurricane Watch Friday, November 5, 2010 am PDT
The wide ranging tropical storm system Tomas is carrying some elements of hurricane winds, but in general the storm's most damaging parts are thunderstorms and heavy rains.
The system's path is lining up with yesterday's predictions with hurricane warnings for Haiti and parts of the Bahamas including the Turks and Caicos Islands. However, Tomas has already accounted for some loss of life in Haiti and a plane crash in Central Cuba. Hopefully the early hurricane warnings were taken seriously and will keep the loss of life to a minimum.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, November 4, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Tomas, in its move to the west, has prompted forecasters to issue hurricane warnings for Haiti and parts of the Bahamas including the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Heavy rain and thunderstorm activity in this system poses a potentially dangerous flooding situation for the people living in Haiti's tent cities.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, November 3, 2010 am PDT
The tropical system called Tomas has cycled through depression, tropical storm and hurricane – now it's back to a tropical depression status. What next? It's a guessing game. Hurricane Hunter aircraft have searched the system and find no true center, although there are thunderstorms, heavy rain and winds measuring about 35 mph.
Forecasters are expecting the storm to once again regroup and strengthen to a Category 1 Hurricane. The Hurricane Center has issued a Hurricane watch warning for parts of Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti.
Stay alert to this erratic and potentially dangerous storm system.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, November 2, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Tomas is spread over a wide area and generating winds of 50 mph with gusts to 65. Forecasters expect Tomas to strengthen and move in the direction of Haiti. But it is too early to plot a definite course at this time.
All islands in the Eastern Caribbean should stay alert

Hurricane Watch Monday, November 1, 2010 am PDT
Tomas weakens to a tropical storm, but is expected regain hurricane status later in the week. Just exactly where it's going is a bit iffy, several computer models have the storm moving to the northwest which would put Haiti in its path while others show a westward track with Central America the most likely target.
We'll have to wait and see.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, October 31, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Tomas, with its 100 mph winds and rain, caused chaos in Barbados and the Windward Islands leaving scores of damaged homes and downed power lines.
Tomas is now tracking toward the north northwest toward the Caribbean. Warmer waters in its path could mean a sustained growth and what has already proven to be a troublesome storm could mean danger to islands in its path.
Stay tuned to your weather channels.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, October 30, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Shary is not likely to make a direct hit on Bermuda, but it's still on track to deliver tropical storm force winds and rain to the island as it stays in open Atlantic waters.
In the meantime there is trouble to the south as yesterday's system off the Windward Islands has cycled through depression and tropical storm status, and late this morning into a full blown hurricane. All that growth happened within a 24 hour time frame.
Hurricane Tomas as a Tropical Storm ripped through Barbados with high winds and rain causing damage to buildings and power lines. The storm is expected to make a direct hit on the Windward Islands later today and then is expected to strengthen as it moves across open waters toward the Caribbean.
Satellites and Hurricane Hunters are following this, potentially dangerous, hurricane and transmitting data to the Miami Hurricane Center for analysis.
Stay alert, and watch your weather channel.

'Gentlemen welcome to Masters Field, Squadron 114.'
Following a long silence, the commander tapped on the mike and said, "Now you all have a general idea as to why we're here. We'll be conducting long-range patrol flights sometimes to a general area where hurricanes are known to originate. But for the most part we'll be going to a specific location where a weather station or a ship has given us data on low barometer readings, sea and wind conditions indicating a tropical depression or a coming storm. If a storm develops, our job will be to go out and find it, then follow along and take down all the data we can."
Then he looked at his notes and said, "Now, for your information we have a sister Squadron VPB 114 that is operating out of Boca Chica, Key West. And we will be coordinating some of our activities with them. They will also be searching weather patterns, but at generally lower altitude levels than our operation calls for. They will have meteorologists onboard and will be attacking the problem from a meteorological and scientific point of view.
He took a sip of water smiled and looked out at his audience. "I expect some of you have questions, and I think the best way to answer them is just to open this thing up to a Q&A session. Feel free to ask any thing you want to about the operation and I'll do the best I can to provide you with the answers."
A dozen hands shot up and the commander pointed to a guy in the middle of the room.
"Why are we here? I mean whose idea was it to go chasing hurricanes?"
"Actually it started with the National Weather Bureau. They approached the Navy and of course the Navy did a study and eventually put a pilot program together. That was the beginning and for a couple of seasons they used the PBM Mariner. But as it turned out, the plane was too slow and because of its bulky size vulnerable to winds when they got too close to the storms." The commander then looked at the questioner and shook his head. "I'll get you an answer in a bit. Last year we had a large storm that tripped along the Atlantic Seaboard doing considerable damage. That got the attention of the folks in Washington. They went back to the drawing board and determined that a warning system was needed. That's when they decided a land-based operation was the way to go. They chose the PB4Y-2 Privateer because of its durability, speed, and range and when fitted with the new turbo superchargers are capable of attaining very high altitudes. In theory, they figured the higher altitudes would give us wider coverage from our radar and maybe a better visual prospective of the storm from above. Now, to get back to your first question, why are we here? Meaning of course why am I here? It seems that logic won out there. As it happens the largest pool to draw from was our VB-4 OTU-2 outfit at Jacksonville. We had more planes and crews trained in Privateer operations than any other unit in the East."
Another hand shot up and the guy asked, "Why did they choose this small group and not some of the others. It's certainly not because of our rank and years of experience, because there's a dozen fellows back in our old outfit that outrank most of us.”
"Why it's because you are the expendables, didn't you know that?" Then he chuckled and said, "No, that 's not it at all, and we may not be the smartest either. They didn't pick you for your IQ, although they expected all of us to be smart enough. They actually picked you for your common sense, diligence and painstaking insistence to detail. For months your crew chiefs have been filing reports on the communications skills of the radio operators. The plane captain's were chosen for the consistent and dogged attention you paid to preflight checklists, onboard load limits, alert in flight inspections as well as the critical fuel transfers needed for long range patrols."
(To be continued)

Tropical disturbance, Tropical Storm – Hurricane
What was once just a collection of tropical clouds showing up on a weather satellite continues to grow in size. The overall shape becomes more circular, then the band of clouds begin to rotate around a center. When those wind speeds grow past 39 mph your ordinary tropical depression becomes a tropical storm. And without ever becoming a hurricane a tropical storm can inflict damage with its high winds and rain.
The next level of this extraordinary weather phenomenon is a hurricane, which is a tropical storm with a lot more punch. The air pressure will continue to drop and your satellite images will begin to show a clear and open center. Then what was only a cluster of clouds a few days ago has developed into what could become a monster hurricane.

Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

A Night at the Bloody Bucket and on to Miami

2010-10-23T08:28:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch
Scuttlebutt Lags Behind Reality
Building a Tropical Depression

Hurricane Watch Friday, October 29, 2010 am PDT
Yesterday's shower area has grown into Tropical Storm Shary and is expected to give Bermuda a day or two of stormy weather.
Another potential problem in the Atlantic is a tropical wave southeast of the Windward Islands and following the path of Shary that might prove troublesome within the next few days. Stay alert.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, October 28, 2010 am PDT
In the days since Hurricane Richard made landfall near Belize and then fell apart in the Southern Gulf of Mexico it was beginning to look like the 2010 Hurricane Season was at and end. But like Yogi Berra once said, 'It ain't over 'till it's over.'
During the past 24 hours the tropics seem to be coming alive, not with one or two but three areas of tropical activity.
At the present time however, only one looks to be troublesome and that is a tropical disturbance flirting with the Windward Islands. Should it develop into a tropical system it is expected to move northward, by this weekend, toward the Western Caribbean.
The other two shower areas are in the mid Atlantic between the Cape Verde Islands and Bermuda. None of the three potential areas of disturbance pose any danger to the United States at the present time.
But with three areas of potential disturbance cropping up so quickly there could be others, so stay alert.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, October 27, 2010 am PDT
The Atlantic Basin is quiet, however there are a few thunder showers left over from Richard in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico.
In the far eastern Atlantic a couple of shower areas show up on satellite photos, but forecasters are downplaying any quick development.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, October 26, 2010 am PDT
The remains of Richard is now in the southern Gulf of Mexico and nothing much left to be concerned about. The rest of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean are looking rather quiet.

Hurricane Watch Monday, October 25, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Richard made landfall Sunday evening about 20 miles south of Belize City with 90 mph winds and a battering storm surge with tall waves.
Richard's hurricane status was downgraded to a Tropical Storm since making landfall. The problem now is heavy rains that are causing some flooding problems for Belize. The rain producing storm will move across the Yucatan Peninsula during the early part of this week.
The only other tropical storm problem in the Atlantic basin is a weak system moving away from the African coast.
Stay tuned.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, October 24, 2010 pm PDT
Richard finally made a move into the warmer waters of the Western Caribbean where it grew into a Category 1 hurricane producing winds of 85 mph. Richard passes to the north of Honduras on a track heading for Belize, where it will make landfall this evening.
The rest of the tropics are quiet with the exception of a small system moving away from the coast of Africa and to the west.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, October 23, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Richard is slowly moving to the west at 4 mph with wind speeds of 45 mph and gusts to 55. This slow moving system will pass near Honduras as it crawls toward Belize and the Yucatan. It could strengthen some as it passes over open waters of the Western Caribbean. So far, this system's threat to land will be heavy rains producing flooding in some areas.
The weak system in the Eastern Atlantic is nearing Cape Verde but according to forecasters it poses no threat to land at the present time.

Scuttlebutt and The Bloody Bucket
Around the middle of May word leaked out that the squadron was breaking up and would be leaving Jacksonville within the week. That much seemed to be a fact, but one thing that the rank and file didn't know was who was going where, Whiting Field located near Pensacola or Masters Field, Miami?
Over chow several of us figured out why we had so many new airplanes
coming into our unit. We had already determined which of the new planes would be going to Miami -- but that didn't answer the crew question. Everyone could sense that it was going to be soon and a kind of shipping out party atmosphere took over the squadron and the local bars began to see a definite upturn in business.
Now every military base in the world has familiar hangouts to drink, carouse,
pick up girls and swap war stories. Jacksonville had its own brand of watering holes, which were generally called bloody buckets. The class of those bars were several cuts below the Silver Dollar and hard to define although the word raunchy does seem to fit.
When orders did come and assignments were handed out I was on the Miami list. And whether you liked the idea of chasing hurricanes or not the move still called for another drink and a bunch of like-minded guys slated for Miami piled into an old Ford and we shoved off to the nearest watering hole. The words misfits, mavericks, or nonconformists might all be used to describe that gang of pleasure seeking revelers. The official uniform of the day was white -- but to the man we wore blues.
We might have picked the raunchiest of all the bloody buckets to have our last fling. In every way imaginable we tempted fate and late in the evening when booze was flowing and we were well into our cups there was a knockdown drag out fight. Not between sailors, soldiers or Marines, and not even between a drunken sailor and a civilian 4-F that had wandered into the wrong place. No the honor belonged to the joint proprietors of the establishment - two very attractive ladies. Well, the ladies part might be argued. In any event the red head and the brunet had been carping at one another all evening. Apparently the dispute was over some guy, the ex boyfriend of one and current boyfriend of the other. Eventually the brunet took a poke at the red head, chased her out of the bar and into the front yard where most of the inebriated customers followed the action and were treated to a real whing ding of a brawl. The ladies were pulling hair, scratching, kicking, ripping at each other's clothes and using language that would put an old sea dog parrot to shame. I, for one, was just tipsy enough to enjoy the performance.
I could be wrong, but as I recall when the fight ended and the two combatants returned to the bar, our gang piled into the old Ford and headed back to the base. Now how the Shore Patrol or even the local cops didn't pick us up I'll never know, but they didn't. Somehow we managed to sneak in under the radar, hit the sack and the following morning we reported on time, hangover and all, for muster.
Everyone in the squadron was aware that we'd be moving, that was all predetermined, but the swiftness caught everyone off guard. For a change scuttlebutt hadn't kept up with the actual rapid deployment to Miami.
We barely had time to unpack our sea bags and settle into the barracks when our second in command called a general briefing. Everyone dutifully filed into the main auditorium, having not a clue about what to expect. The commander stepped to the microphone and said, "Gentlemen welcome to Masters Field, Squadron 114."
(To be continued)

Building a Tropical Depression
The spin of the earth, searing heat from the sun at the Equator, eighty degree ocean water temperature and even warmer air and a flock of high cumulus clouds are some of the elements that could make up a tropical depression. Then when there's just enough disturbance to funnel that warm moist air mixing upwards with it's water vapor condensing into vapor and then droplets. And when those water and air temperatures are just right thunderstorms and rain become active and that mass of clouds begins to spin. The earth's rotation then forces the clouds to spin in a counter clockwise direction north of the Equator and clockwise to the south.
The winds spin around a low pressure center and the disturbance begins to take shape, The thunderstorms organize and follow the circular motion of the system. When winds are sustained at a speed between 25 and 39 mph you can be sure you are witnessing a tropical depression.

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com

World War II and Wichita Blizzard

2010-10-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch
Before 1945 Hurricane season
Where hurricanes are born

Hurricane Watch Friday, October 22, 2010 am PDT
Conjecture... Speculation... Guessing... There is a tropical low in the Western Caribbean called Richard that's hanging around and producing rain, thunderstorms and some gusty winds of 35 to 40 mph. The system is almost stationary and driving the forecasters nuts. Will it move west toward Belize, or north passing west of the Caymans and into the Gulf of Mexico or will it make a right turn and shoot the gap between Cuba and the Keys?
The system could gather strength and become a hurricane or it could fall apart – I'm hoping for the latter

Hurricane Watch Thursday, October 21, 2010 am PDT
The tropical low located southwest of the Cayman Islands is hovering over a large area of the Western Caribbean. Forecasters are having a hard time trying to figure it out a direction it will take when it does begin to move.
For now there are many possibilities but nothing definite as to future direction.
Yesterday Hurricane Hunters called it Tropical Storm Richard and they could be right, for me, I'd rather wait and see.
There is also a tropical wave moving west from the coast of Africa which bears watching. Stay tuned.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, October 20, 2010 am PDT
The search is on for the next tropical depression. Satellite images, Hurricane Hunters and forecasters are all scouring the tropics for a reluctant Richard. Richard is the preselected name for the next tropical depression or tropical storm strong enough to claim the title. Presently there are two candidates, one in the Western Caribbean, another off the West Coast of Africa. They are both producing rain showers and show some signs of development. When?
We watch and wait.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, October 19, 2010 am PDT
No development in the tropics – ditto Monday's report.

Hurricane Watch Monday, October 18, 2010 am PDT
Watch the Southwest Caribbean for a tropical storm developing out of the rain and thunderstorm system hovering over the area.
Another system of rain and thunderstorms to watch is in the mid Atlantic between the West African coast and Eastern Caribbean islands.
Otherwise, the tropics are quiet

Hurricane Watch Sunday, October 17, 2010 am PDT
Paula has dissipated and the tropics are quiet. But forecasters continue to watch the warm waters of the Caribbean for possible development.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, October 16, 2010 am PDT
Paula has been reduced to a low level system of rain and thunderstorms that is tracking away from Cuba toward the Bahamas.
With the exception of a few rain and thunder systems in the Eastern Caribbean, the tropics are quiet for the moment. However, warm waters in the Western Caribbean might make it possible for another system to develop in that area.
Forecasters will be watching it.

World War II – The Cost of Victory:
On the war front, during the early part of 1945 things seemed to be going to hell in a hand basket. The country was still reeling from the Allied Army’s slugfest with the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge during the past winter. We had won that fight, but with such horrendous human losses it was hard to chalk it up as much of a victory.
The month of April was not kind: President Franklin D. Roosevelt died at Warm Springs, Georgia and everybody’s favorite War Correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed while covering the war in the South Pacific.
However, by late April our Allied Armies were racing across Europe and we were whipping the tar out of Hitler and his war machine. As I recall, it was about that time the fog lifted and we not only saw the sun with some regularity some really good news came by way of the morning paper. On May 7, 1945 the Jacksonville Journal’s banner headlines read:
Unconditional Surrender
Ends Great War in Europe

Of course that was welcome news, but the war in the Pacific was still going strong. We had taken the offensive and disrupted the enemy’s shipping lanes. The Marines were moving on the Japanese held islands and making some headway while at the same time taking heavy casualties.
Within our squadron planes were moving in and out while personnel seemed to remain in place. Then a rumor began making the rounds that our squadron would be moving to Whiting Field located in the Florida Panhandle not too far from Pensacola. A second rumor that quickly grew into general scuttlebutt was that the squadron was being split up and a small contingent was going to Miami to do some kind of weather reconnaissance that had to do with hurricanes. Nobody put much stock in what we thought to be a dumb idea, but the scuttlebutt was persistent and it soon became a general topic of conversation.
Sitting at the chow table one morning Bill Hurley, Al Primrose and I were talking about squadron activities. Our long-range missions flying out over the Atlantic and down into the Caribbean were still a big part of it. However, ferrying old Liberators over to Corpus Christi, Texas for major overhaul – or possibly the scrap heap was occupying quite a bit of time. Then there were the new Privateers all coming in with more sophisticated radar gear and engines that were fitted with turbo superchargers giving the planes the ability to fly at much higher altitudes.
I sipped my coffee and said, “I was plane captain of a four man ferry crew back in early April that flew to Wichita to swap one of our planes for the newer version. Everything was going well until we caught the tail end of a blizzard at Wichita.” Then I shook my head and grinned. “The first thing we had to do when we got on the ground was to borrow some cold weather gear because we were in shirt sleeves. And by the time we located our new plane and gave it a once over the skipper decided we would stay the night in Kansas. Next morning we did a full inspection of the plane and I did a physical check of the fuel on board with a dipstick. We took off from Wichita before nine o’clock and got to a point near Tifton, Georgia when we were advised by Jacksonville Tower that all Jacksonville area facilities were closed down due to weather. Moments later Navy Air Control ordered us to change course and head for Maxwell Field, an army facility, at Montgomery, Alabama, land and wait for further instructions.”
Primrose laughed. “Sounds like your routine trip to Wichita was full of surprises.”
“I guess you could say that, in any event we were treated well at Maxwell Field and the next day we flew back and actually landed at Jacksonville.”
(To be continued.)

Hurricanes and where they come from:
Hurricanes grow out of heat producing areas. Look at the equator as an area that contains all the elements from which a tropical depression could grow. From past history we know that to be a fact. When we look at the breeding grounds for storms that can menace the United States we have to look at the Atlantic near the equator, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico not so much as a breeding ground as it is a transport system that can carry the storms up to the Texas and Gulf Coast.
The storms heading toward the U.S. are more often than not spotted in one of three general areas. Off the West Coast of Africa, southeast of the Lesser Antilles and Barbados or the Western Caribbean somewhere in the vicinity of Swan Island which is located east of Belize and southwest of the Cayman Islands.
(Next week we put a few pieces together including thunderstorms and swirling winds.)

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

The Gathering of Hurricane Hunters

2010-10-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch and Updates
Jacksonville, Florida 1945
Facts about Tropical Storms and Hurricanes:

Hurricane Watch Friday, October 15, 2010 am PDT
After passing over western Cuba with its flooding rains Paula moves away from Cuba's north shore as a weakened tropical depression. The Florida Keys and South Florida received little more than a few extra showers from the system. What's left of Paula is moving in the direction of the northern islands of the Bahamas.
The nor'easter that slammed states from New York ti Main last night continues in some areas, but the weather will be improving throughout the day. .

Hurricane Watch Thursday, October 14, 2010 am PDT
The slow moving Paula is still hanging around western Cuba and its heavy rainfall is causing flooding in the area. Fortunately Paula is a compact system and could be in the process of falling apart. If this process continues the Keys and South Florida will only get a few showers out of the system.
At the same time the U.S. East Coast from the Carolina's north are getting another dose of local thunderstorms and rain that were not imported from the tropics.
Keep your rain gear handy for the next few days.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, October 13, 2010 am PDT
Paula's Category 2 Hurricane winds are 100 mph and extend only15 miles from the center making this a very compact storm. Paula made its turn to the north and the Yucatan Peninsula will be spared the brunt of the storm. Western Cuba will not be so fortunate and will soon begin to experience the wrath of the storm. The Florida Keys and South Florida are not expected to get a direct hit but they will feel the outer effects of the storm.
You folks living or traveling in the Keys and South Florida stay tuned to your local weather channel for unexpected changes.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, October 12, 2010 am PDT
A Category 1 Hurricane named Paula has emerged out of yesterday's system of rain and thunderstorms in the Western Caribbean. Paula is carrying sustained winds of 75 mph and is moving slowly toward the northwest in the direction of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Hurricane forecasters, at this point, have not decided the future direction of this storm. Should it stay on its present northwest course it will encounter the Yucatan, however some of the computer models have the storm turning in a more northerly direction, which could bring the Gulf of Mexico and Florida into play.
So everyone in the Western Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Florida areas should remain alert to potential storm warnings.

Hurricane Watch Monday, October 11, 2010 an PDT
Otto is still churning over the open waters of the northeast Atlantic. The tropical area from whence Otto came has a low pressure trough extending from the Cayman Islands to Nicaragua, which is producing heavy showers and thunderstorms. Forecasters have yet to decide where this one is going. We'll keep an eye on it for you.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, October 10, 2010 am PDT
Yesterday's Hurricane Otto is today's Tropical Storm. The weakened Otto is still generating 65 mph winds and is racing through the Atlantic at 35 mph in a northeasterly direction..
The other possible problem area in the tropics is the western Caribbean where a low pressure area is still holding the attention of the hurricane forecasters.
Stay tuned.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, October 9, 2010 am PDT

Rain laden Otto has grown from a disorganized system that dropped double digit inches of rain on the northeast Caribbean islands to what is presently a Category 1 Hurricane. Fortunately for those rain weary islands Otto is heading away from them and out to sea. Should it maintain it's current heading the Azores might be a target by the middle of next week.
In the meantime there is a low pressure area in the western Caribbean that appears capable of creating some tropical mischief within the next several days.
We'll keep an eye on it and announce any future development..tb

Squadron VB-4 OTU-2 Jacksonville, Florida early 1945:
All things being equal I should be on board a carrier heading into the South Pacific. Well, they’re not always equal nor fair either. Records got all bollixed up in San Diego and instead of shipping out with my mates I was sent to Jacksonville, Florida. And I wasn’t even assigned to a Navy base. No, I’m stationed at the Jacksonville Municipal Airport, for crying out loud.
Of course there was good reason for the Navy to choose Jacksonville Municipal, it has long runways and that fit the needs of our heavy bomber patrol outfit. I won’t even hazard a guess as to how this diverse group of guys wound up in Squadron VB-4 Operational Training Unit 2. Most of our personnel were back from the war in the Pacific. Some had seen action at Pearl Harbor, Midway, and the Coral Sea. A couple of guys had physically jumped from the deck of the sinking Aircraft Carrier Lexington. Most enlisted personnel had been trained in carrier-based operations as aircrewmen or line maintenance. They had worked on single engine aircraft like the TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, Douglas Dauntless dive-bomber, and fighters such as the F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat and F4U Corsair.
Our squadron’s aircraft was made up of four engine B-24 Liberators using the Navy designation PB4Y-1 and a single tail version of the Liberator called the PB4Y-2 Privateer. Maintenance facilities consisted of one main hangar, a wide concrete apron and dozens of individual parking areas called boon-docks. Living quarters for enlisted personnel and officers were regular barracks built among a sprawling pine forest.
As an aviation machinist mate and certified air crewman my first duties with the squadron was working in a line maintenance crew and doing routine engine repair. The first hurdle a new guy had to jump was chasing back to the hangar for a couple of spare parts and a skyhook. Of course the skyhook didn’t exist and pretty soon you’d figure it was a ruse and you had become the butt of a joke.
At the time I joined the squadron the war was still raging in Europe and the Pacific with German U-Boats prowling off our Atlantic Coast. And while our squadron’s mission was to train crews in long-range patrol activities, a secondary mission was to keep an eye out for German submarines.
From the time I checked into the squadron I wanted to put in some flight time. In order to qualify for flight pay (flight skins) an air crewman needed to put in a minimum of four hours flight time per month. Of course the frugal Navy used that time to train men for their specific duties. As an aviation machinist mate my flight training was to prepare me for the job of plane captain. The plane captain is charged with pre-flight inspection of the aircraft along with in flight duties and once you got back to base, a post flight inspection. There was a long checklist you had to follow, but in general it consisted of going over maintenance reports, a visual inspection of the plane, confirming the amount of fuel on board and reporting the results to the first pilot. It was most important to be consistent and go over every item on the checklist in careful detail. Once I had gone through the required training period and was thoroughly checked out in both the Liberator and Privateer my name was placed in the instructor’s pool. I was never sure why, because I was outranked by most aviation mechanics in the squadron.
While in the air the plane captain would move around the craft checking gauges, temperatures and pressures. For long-range flights careful attention had to be paid to fuel onboard – where it was stored and when necessary transferred from one tank to another.
The easiest way to get on the skipper’s shit list was to screw up on fuel transfer and starve an engine or two. The transfer procedure was actually quite simple, if you went by the book. If you didn’t it could be a problem. I chose to go by the book.
(To be continued)
The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle book page Click Here

Facts About Tropical Storms and Hurricanes:
Beginning next week we are going to present some facts about hurricanes, high and low pressure systems, cloud formations, water and air temperature and how these parts of a weather system all come together in order to spawn a tropical depression that may or may not grow into a tropical storm and possibly a hurricane. These facts will be presented in lay terms so we can all understand. It is my intention to get as many of you hooked on hurricanes as I can. Some of the information you store away in your memory bank might one day save your life. tb

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

The Gathering of Hurricane Hunters

2010-10-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch and Updates
Jacksonville, Florida 1945
Facts about Tropical Storms and Hurricanes:

Hurricane Watch Saturday, October 9, 2010 am PDT

Rain laden Otto has grown from a disorganized system that dropped double digit inches of rain on the northeast Caribbean islands to what is presently a Category 1 Hurricane. Fortunately for those rain weary islands Otto is heading away from them and out to sea. Should it maintain it's current heading the Azores might be a target by the middle of next week.
In the meantime there is a low pressure area in the western Caribbean that appears capable of creating some tropical mischief within the next several days.
We'll keep an eye on it and announce any future development..tb

Squadron VB-4 OTU-2 Jacksonville, Florida early 1945:
All things being equal I should be on board a carrier heading into the South Pacific. Well, they’re not always equal nor fair either. Records got all bollixed up in San Diego and instead of shipping out with my mates I was sent to Jacksonville, Florida. And I wasn’t even assigned to a Navy base. No, I’m stationed at the Jacksonville Municipal Airport, for crying out loud.
Of course there was good reason for the Navy to choose Jacksonville Municipal, it has long runways and that fit the needs of our heavy bomber patrol outfit. I won’t even hazard a guess as to how this diverse group of guys wound up in Squadron VB-4 Operational Training Unit 2. Most of our personnel were back from the war in the Pacific. Some had seen action at Pearl Harbor, Midway, and the Coral Sea. A couple of guys had physically jumped from the deck of the sinking Aircraft Carrier Lexington. Most enlisted personnel had been trained in carrier-based operations as aircrewmen or line maintenance. They had worked on single engine aircraft like the TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, Douglas Dauntless dive-bomber, and fighters such as the F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat and F4U Corsair.
Our squadron’s aircraft was made up of four engine B-24 Liberators using the Navy designation PB4Y-1 and a single tail version of the Liberator called the PB4Y-2 Privateer. Maintenance facilities consisted of one main hangar, a wide concrete apron and dozens of individual parking areas called boon-docks. Living quarters for enlisted personnel and officers were regular barracks built among a sprawling pine forest.
As an aviation machinist mate and certified air crewman my first duties with the squadron was working in a line maintenance crew and doing routine engine repair. The first hurdle a new guy had to jump was chasing back to the hangar for a couple of spare parts and a skyhook. Of course the skyhook didn’t exist and pretty soon you’d figure it was a ruse and you had become the butt of a joke.
At the time I joined the squadron the war was still raging in Europe and the Pacific with German U-Boats prowling off our Atlantic Coast. And while our squadron’s mission was to train crews in long-range patrol activities, a secondary mission was to keep an eye out for German submarines.
From the time I checked into the squadron I wanted to put in some flight time. In order to qualify for flight pay (flight skins) an air crewman needed to put in a minimum of four hours flight time per month. Of course the frugal Navy used that time to train men for their specific duties. As an aviation machinist mate my flight training was to prepare me for the job of plane captain. The plane captain is charged with pre-flight inspection of the aircraft along with in flight duties and once you got back to base, a post flight inspection. There was a long checklist you had to follow, but in general it consisted of going over maintenance reports, a visual inspection of the plane, confirming the amount of fuel on board and reporting the results to the first pilot. It was most important to be consistent and go over every item on the checklist in careful detail. Once I had gone through the required training period and was thoroughly checked out in both the Liberator and Privateer my name was placed in the instructor’s pool. I was never sure why, because I was outranked by most aviation mechanics in the squadron.
While in the air the plane captain would move around the craft checking gauges, temperatures and pressures. For long-range flights careful attention had to be paid to fuel onboard – where it was stored and when necessary transferred from one tank to another.
The easiest way to get on the skipper’s shit list was to screw up on fuel transfer and starve an engine or two. The transfer procedure was actually quite simple, if you went by the book. If you didn’t it could be a problem. I chose to go by the book.
(To be continued)

Facts About Tropical Storms and Hurricanes:
Beginning next week we are going to present some facts about hurricanes, high and low pressure systems, cloud formations, water and air temperature and how these parts of a weather system all come together in order to spawn a tropical depression that may or may not grow into a tropical storm and possibly a hurricane. These facts will be presented in lay terms so we can all understand. It is my intention to get as many of you hooked on hurricanes as I can. Some of the information you store away in your memory bank might one day save your life. tb

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Gathering Hurricane Hunters 1945

2010-10-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

How Do You Develop a Hurricane Warning System?

2010-10-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch
Needed: Hurricane Warning System

Hurricane Watch Friday, October 8, 2010 am PDT
While remaining far away from any landmass, strengthening Tropical Storm Otto is located over the Atlantic but will continue to inundate Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with flooding rainfall today.
Otto is located some 300 miles at sea and while the rains will continue over the northeast Caribbean Islands high winds generated by the system will not reach those islands.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, October 7, 2010 am PDT
Heavy rains continue to fall on Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and they are expected to continue into Friday.
No other systems or waves to report in the Atlantic basin.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, October 6, 2010 am PDT
The tropics are alive and becoming active with the formation of a tropical depression. The depression took shape early this morning north of Puerto Rico near the central Caribbean Islands and east of the Bahamas. The movement of this system is to the north and has little chance of effecting the U.S. East Coast.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, October 5, 2010 am PDT
Islands in the northeastern Caribbean are still getting rain and thunderstorm activity due to the low pressure system hovering in the area.
Farther out in the Atlantic satellite images show two systems moving west. Forecasters haven't seen enough of these systems to make any solid predictions. So we watch and wait.

Hurricane Watch Monday October 4, 2010 am PDT
The 2010 Hurricane Season has had a few mid Atlantic hurricanes, but so far this season the headlines are being made with Rain. Matthew brought its heavy rains and thunderstorms out of the northeast Caribbean into Central America and southern Mexico. Rain thunderstorms, floods, mud slides and washed out bridges were the hallmark of Matthew. Then the almost tropical storm, or maybe it should be called wet Nicole was spawned in in the western Caribbean and headed north past central Cuba, the Florida Keys and crawled up the U.S. East Coast more or less duplicating the heavy rains and thunderstorms Matthew had taken to Central America.
Now just as Central America and the U.S. East Coast begin to dry out here comes a low pressure area out of the northeast Caribbean bringing heavy downpours to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands today and will likely move on to Haiti and the Dominican Republic tomorrow. Since we are definitely in a soggy season all I can do is suggest that you keep the rain gear handy.
One more thing, there's another system farther out in the Atlantic. Will this one be a tropical storm with high winds or can we expect more rain?

Hurricane Watch Sunday, October 3, 2010 pm PDT
No tropical activity at the moment although there are several areas of concern on the watch list.
Stay tuned.
Hurricane Watch Saturday, October 2, 2010 am PDT
Weekend in the northeast will begin to dry out just in time for another storm that is likely to move up the coast from the Carolina's.
In the western Caribbean, tropical activity is churning up thunderstorms and rain. Will the system develop into a tropical storm and move north? Something to keep an eye on, but so far it's wait and see.

Hurricane Warning System needed.
Seasonal predictions of hurricanes as to where they will originate and where they will travel – in general is a wasted effort. There is no science to back up long range hurricane forecast predictions although there is probably some value in using past performance records and current ocean temperatures to come up with a historic norm. Still forecasting a dozen tropical storms with four or five hurricanes thrown into the mix doesn’t tell you a thing about the origin or track of any one storm.
Of course we are way ahead of the game today with satellites spotting early tropical waves and systems alerting us to potential storm activity.
It wasn't always that way as we indicated in last week's post. Those early twentieth century hurricanes illustrated that unchecked and unannounced hurricanes can be devastating with respect to loss of life and property damage. Those facts were known for years but it wasn't recognized how an alert population could prepare and prevent much of the loss of life and even some of the property damage.
It was impossible to tell how a civilian population would react to a hurricane warning. There is the wind and rain factor as well as the powerful surge that is capable of wiping out coastal communities. However, some general rules had to be formulated and sent out to the population.
And while all that was true an advanced warning system that could advise residents in the landfall area when to expect the storm and the miles per hour wind strength of the storm had to be part of the warning.
It was that fast moving 1944 hurricane and a few good thinking heads in Washington that finally focused on the problem and came up with the basic idea for a warning system that hopefully could save lots of lives.

To act on the plan Washington orders military to develop a hurricane warning system:
Navy crews back from Pacific war chosen for task.
Scuttlebutt has it that a half dozen PB4Y-2 Privateers and crews will move from Jacksonville, Florida to Miami and form Squadron 114. The mission will be to fly around the Caribbean to places like Nassau, San Juan, Barbados, Jamaica and Cuba.
“Sounds like good duty to me, but what’s the catch?’
“You fly over – you don’t stop over.”
“Give me a break. You mean we can’t even fake engine trouble and stop by Havana for a bottle of rum and a case of gin?”
“Nope.”
“Then what the hell are we doing, passing out leaflets.”
“No. You’ll be searching for hurricanes.”
“Hurricanes! That is the dumbest idea I ever heard.”

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

September Surprises beg for Warning System

2010-09-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch
Hurricane Warning System Needed

Hurricane Watch Friday, October 1, 2010 am PDT
The rain storm called Nicole is still making its way up the East Coast. New England will feel the brunt of the storm this afternoon and is also expected to get some added wind along with the rain.
The storm has left a path of soggy ground in its wake, but present conditions indicate lowering flood waters and some clear sky’s.
In the Western Caribbean thunderstorms and rainy conditions could introduce a new tropical system within the next day or two.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, September 30, 2010 am PDT
The heavy weather system called Nicole is presently unloading its rain and flash flooding along the coastal areas of North Carolina and Virginia.
This system originated in the western Caribbean and Jamaica was first to experience its full force as it pelted the island with its destructive flooding leaving mudslides in its wake. Rushing water filled a number of streets and several bridges were simply washed away.
The mountainous area of central Cuba was next, then the Florida Keys and the east coast of Florida and Georgia.
The long stretch of this system is amazing. As it spreads its thunderstorms and water wrath a spotty tornado issue comes into play. We are told that the southern and serpentine shape of the jet stream is effecting the upper air flow and setting up the potential for tornado development.
Stay tuned to your weather channels and like I said yesterday batten down the hatches.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, September 29, 2010 am PDT

The tropical rain and thunderstorm system that passed over Cuba last night is now located over open waters between Cuba and the Florida Keys.
From the way it looks now Florida and the whole East Coast can expect a visit from this heavy rain system. All you folks in the path of this storm make your place as water tight as you can. As they say in the navy batten down the hatches.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, September 28, 2010 am PDT

Weather system in the northwestern Caribbean could be named Nicole today. Should this happen expect system to move north across Cuba carrying heavy rains and strong winds to Florida on Wednesday. It would then be expected to continue up the East Coast on Thursday and pour more rain on an already saturated area.

Hurricane Watch Monday, September 27, 2010 am PDT
Matthew is still hanging around the northern parts of Central America and southeast Mexico with its heavy rains and thunderstorms, making life miserable for everyone in the area.
Julia is still alive and churning up waters in the central Atlantic with no potential danger to any land mass at the present time.
Forecasters are monitoring and predicting a tropical development in the northwestern Caribbean. If this should become a reality models indicate it could impact a portion of the Gulf Coast by the middle part of this week.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, September 26, 2010 pm PDT
Tropical rain storm Matthew even as the system continues to diminish it's still churning up heavy rain and breezy conditions to parts of Guatemala and other nearby Central American countries as well as southern Mexico.
Lisa, the storm off the coast of Africa, that got little attention in the past week is still diminishing as she travels to the north and far away from the Cape Verde Islands.
Forecasters are monitoring a possible tropical system developing in the northwestern Caribbean. This is a wait and see situation that might develop by the middle part of next week.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, September 25, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Matthew made landfall on Friday afternoon over eastern Nicaragua, pounding the area with torrential rain and powerful winds. This weekend, Matthew will move toward Honduras, Belize and Guatemala bring gusty winds, and heavy rains with a potential for flooding. As of 5 am EDT, Matthew was located 35 miles east-southeast of La Ceiba, Honduras. Maximum-sustained winds are 50 mph.
The two other tropical systems Julia and Lisa are still alive, but are no threat at the present time.
The western Caribbean area, just vacated by Matthew, seems ripe for tropical storm development and is being closely watched by ACCU Weather and other forecasters.

Seven Deadly Reasons For a Hurricane Warning System.

Galveston 1900
On August 27th this weather system was detected over the Eastern Caribbean and reached Cuba as a tropical storm on September 3rd. It moved northward and was spottted in the Gulf of Mexico on the 5th. As it moved across the Gulf it intensified and by the time the storm reached the Texas coast and the Galveston area late on September 8, it had grown to a Category 4 hurricane. In years to come it would be known as the deadliest hurricane in United States history. A storm surge raised tides of 8 to 15 ft that inundated Galveston Island, as well as the nearby Texas coast. These tides were largely responsible for the estimated 8,000 deaths. Property damage was estimated at $30 million.
Atlantic-Gulf Hurricane 1919
Detected near the Lesser Antilles on September 2nd this storm moved west-northwestward for several days, passing near the Dominican Republic on September 4th and growing to hurricane strength as it struck the Bahamas on the 5th and 6th. It turned to the southwest on September 7th and moved into the Florida Straits. The hurricane grew in strength becoming a Category 4 storm and passed just south of Key West, Florida. It continued west by west-northwest as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane at Corpus Christi, Texas on September 14. A storm surge of up to 12 ft inundated Corpus Christi causing major damage to the coastal areas. The death toll was estimated at 600 to 900 people. Of these, more than 500 were lost on ten ships that either sunk or were reported missing. Damage in the United States was estimated at $22 million.
Great Miami Hurricane 1926
This tropical wave was first reported 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles on September 11th. The system moved quickly westward and intensified to hurricane strength as it passed north of Puerto Rico on the 15th. Winds were reported to be nearly 150 mph as the hurricane passed over the Turks Islands on the 16th passing the Bahamas on the 17th. The Miami Weather Bureau had no way of tracking the storm and as a consequence no warning was issued until midnight on September 18th and with no warning signals they were able to alert only a fraction of the South Florida residents.
The center of the Category 4 hurricane slammed Miami Beach, crossed Biscayne Bay and and hit downtown Miami during the morning hours of the 18th. The hurricane produced the highest sustained winds ever recorded in the United States up to that time, and the barometric pressure fell to a low 27.61 inches of mercury as the eye passed over Miami. A 15 foot storm surge overwhelmed the community of Coconut Grove. Many casualties resulted when people came outdoors during the lull in the storm as the eye passed overhead and not aware that only half the storm had passed. Every building in the downtown district of Miami was damaged or destroyed. As the storm continued west communities on the south side of Lake Okeechobee were flooded by a lake surge and many killed.
Next was Ft. Myers: The storm was still carrying winds of 130 plus miles per hour as it rushed through Ft. Myers taking the lives of two dozen people on the West Coast and causing millions of dollars in property damage. The storm tracked northwest from Ft. Myers across the Gulf of Mexico where it made landfall between Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama before it fell apart on September 22nd.
The great hurricane of 1926 ended the economic boom in South Florida and would be a $90 billion dollar disaster had it occurred in recent times. With an extremely transient population across southern Florida during the 1920s, the death toll is uncertain. By some accounts there were more than 800 people missing in the aftermath of the storm.
San Felipe-Okeechobee Hurricane 1928
The hurricane was likely spawned east of the Cape Verde Islands was first detected over the Atlantic on September 10th. It moved westward through the Leeward Islands on the 12th and turned to the west-northwest, making a direct hit on Puerto Rico on the 13th as a Category 4 hurricane. The storm continued west-northwestward through the Bahamas and made US landfall near Palm Beach, Florida on September 16. It continued through the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee area before it turned north and east back to the Florida East Coast on the 17th and continued on to North Carolina on the 19th. It then moved inland and north to eastern Great Lakes on September 20.
The 1926 hurricane caused heavy casualties and extensive destruction along its path from the Leeward Islands to Florida. The worst tragedy occurred at Lake Okeechobee in Florida, where the hurricane caused a lake surge of 6 to 9 ft that inundated the surrounding area. 1,836 people died in Florida, mainly due to the lake surge. An additional 312 people died in Puerto Rico, and 18 more were reported dead in the Bahamas. Damage to property was estimated at $50,000,000 in Puerto Rico and $25,000,000 in Florida.
Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane 1935
This Tropical Storm was first detected east of the central Bahamas on August 29. Moving slowly to the west it passed south of Bimini Island on September 1, and once over open waters reached hurricane strength and turned west-southhwestward. And by the time the storm reached the Florida Keys on September 2, it had become a monster Category 5 hurricane. After roaring through the Keys, the hurricane turned northward almost parallel to the Florida west coast where it dropped down to a Category 2 hurricane on the 4th. It then took a northeastward tack and crossed the southeastern United States to the Atlantic coast and into the Atlantic near Norfolk, Virgina on September 6. It continued north in the Atlantic and the last report when the storm was detected on the 10th heading into the North Atlantic.
The combination of winds and tides were responsible for 408 deaths in the Florida Keys, primarily among World War I veterans working in the area. Damage in the United States was estimated at $6 million.
New England Hurricane 1938
This storm was first spotted in the tropical Atlantic on September 11 although it may have formed a few days earlier. Moving west-northwest, it passed north of Puerto Rico on the 18th and 19th, with the possible strength of a Category 5 hurricane. On the morning of September 20th it was located it was located 100 to150 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. At that point, the hurricane accelerated its forward motion to an estimated and unheard of 60 to 70 mph. It made landfall at Long Island on September 21st and slammed Connecticut that afternoon as a Category 3 hurricane.
U.S. Coast Guard station on Long Island measured a minimum pressure of 27.94 in. Storm surges of 10 to 12 ft inundated portions of the coast from Long Island and Connecticut eastward to southeastern Massachusetts with the most notable surges in Narragansett Bay and Buzzards Bay. Heavy rains before and during the hurricane produced flooding, most notably along the Connecticut River.
The storm continued north and weakened over southeastern Canada on September 22.This hurricane struck with little warning and was responsible for 600 deaths and $308 million in damage in the United States.
Atlantic Hurricane 1944
This hurricane was first detected northeast of the Leeward Islands on September 9. It moved west by northwest through the 12th, then turned northward on a track that brought the storm near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on the 14th. The hurricane moved rapidly to the north-northeast, moving across eastern New England and into Canada by September 15. This hurricane was of Category 3 intensity at landfalls at Cape Hatteras, Long Island, and Point Judith, Rhode Island, and Category 2 as far north as the coast of Maine.
The 1944 hurricane was light on land casualities, only 46, in the U.S. compared to some of the hurricanes and $100 million in damage. What really got Washington's attention was the havoc it caused on World War II shipping. Five ships, a U. S. Navy destroyer and minesweeper, two U. S. Coast Guard cutters, and a light vessel, sank due to the storm causing 344 deaths. The total loss of life was 390.
The heavy loss of life alone begged for a hurricane warning system and finally someone in authority paid attention.
In 1943 and 1944 the U.S. Navy and the National Weather Bureau attempted to develop a hurricane warning system. The first airplane used in the exercise was the PBM-5 Mariner Sea Plane. By the end of the 1944 season and following the heavy loss of military men and equipment due to the unannounced storm it was determined that development of a full scale Warning System was imperative. The airplane they were currently using, the Martin Mariner with its maximum speed of 210 miles per hour, a service ceiling of 19, 800 feet and a range of 2, 200 miles was not capable of locating hurricanes and collecting the data needed to determine size, strength and direction of a storm. What was needed was a full scale sea and ground communications network and a plane that could fly faster, higher and had a longer range than the Mariner; fortunately the navy had such a plane in its inventory.
(To be continued)

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Bermuda Awaits Egor and Two Unnamed Hurricanes

2010-09-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch and Updates
September Hurricanes 1926 and 1945

Hurricane Watch Friday, September 24, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Matthew is moving west toward Central America. And should it continue on its present path battering waves and powerful winds, flooding and rainfall will likely be the biggest impact to those Central American countries.
However, some of the forecasting models are painting a different picture showing Matthew making a turn to the north. So for now it's wait and see.
Lisa and Julia still show up on the radar in the East Atlantic, but for now they seem to be on the quiet side.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, September 23, 2010 am PDT
The 2010 hurricane season may have been written off by some, but like Yogi Berra says, 'It ain't over till its over.'
In the past couple of weeks Igor and Karl have gotten all the headlines leaving two weak sisters Julia and Lisa out of the spotlight. And while those two systems are still alive they are both quietly fading away.
Presently there is a low pressure area over the south central Caribbean that has the potential of becoming a tropical storm by early this weekend. It's still too early to predict, but you folks in south Florida should pay attention to your local weather stations for updates.

Hurricane Update Wednesday, September 22, 2010 am PDT
Current tropical storm conditions are quiet with no waves or systems to report.

Hurricane Update Tuesday, September 21, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Igor will be moving past Newfoundland today with 75 mph gusty winds and rain as it races northward to the Labrador Sea as a powerful oceanic storm.
In the tropics Lisa has formed far off the coast of Africa in the Eastern Atlantic, but at present poses no problem to any land mass.
What is of more concern to the US and Central America is a tropical wave entering the Western Caribbean from the Atlantic. History has proven that this is the time of year for tropical storms to flourish in that part of the Caribbean. Keep the watch.

Hurricane Update Monday, September 20, 2010 am PDT
Bermuda spared full frontal assault as Igor passes west of the Island. Wind gusts up to 90 mph and heavy rains caused extensive property damage and power outages throughout the island.
Igor is now moving away from the Bermuda area toward the northeast and into the open Atlantic. High wave activity from Bermuda to the US East Coast will soon begin to diminish.
Heavy rains extending from Brownsville to Houston are still causing floods, power disruption and snarled traffic in some areas of South Texas

Hurricane Watch Sunday, September 19, 2010 am PDT
Bermuda is already feeling the outer winds of Hurricane Igor. And while the storm is likely to remain a Category 1 hurricane the length of time it's hurricane force winds batter the island the more damage it will cause.
Sunday is going to be a very long day for you folks in Bermuda and since Igor has a long reach the northeast coast of the United States will get high waves and turbulence battering your sea-walls and shores.
Julia, the storm that has been tracking Igor is now weakening as it moves in a more northerly direction in the open Atlantic.
A tropical wave southwest of the Cape Verde Islands is a system of interest that should be watched during the next few days.
Karl is no longer a threat, but the rain system that was pushed to the north from Karl is soaking southwest Texas in the general area of Kingsville and Corpus Christi.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, September 18, 2010 am PDT
Hunker down and expect the worst Bermudans, Igor is coming. You can expect tropical storm force winds beginning this evening. And because of the slow movement and large size of Igor that could mean you will have several days of tropical storm conditions. Sunday is likely to be the worst day as hurricane conditions batter the island with high winds, heavy rain, pounding surf and flooding.
The US East Coast can expect high surf and windy conditions.
Despite weakening, the remnants of Karl will continue to lash southern Mexico this weekend. The worst was yesterday when Karl made landfall near Veracruz, Mexico just before noon as a Category 3 hurricane. With winds of 115 mph it toppled trees, power lines, and destroyed buildings in the State of Veracruz.
Officials closed the Laguna Verde nuclear power plant and evacuated workers and residents from surrounding areas along the Gulf Coast.
The storm has since weakened over land and faded to a tropical rainstorm early today.

1926 – 1945: The Beginning of an Early Warning System.
Let's go back to 1926 and compare it to a similar storm in 1945.
There were eleven storms during the season of 1926 beginning on July 22nd with a hurricane that was spawned near the Leeward Islands and the season ended its activity in the Western Caribbean on November 16th..
The storm that interested me was first spotted in the Eastern Caribbean around September 11th and rushed into Miami from the Bahamas on September 16th. That Category 4 hurricane was the worst of the season and it struck Miami with 140 mph winds. The storm surge overwhelmed the city, smashing boats, buildings and drowning scores of men, women and children. Then as if that weren't enough the calm eye of the storm proved fatal for many who thought it was over came out in the open. Unaware that they were in the eye of the storm with the worst yet to come. It came without warning and the second half of the storm was worse than the first. That monster storm surge left some 300 people dead in Miami and the South East Coast of Florida and did millions in property damage.
Then it raced across the Everglades and pounded Ft. Myers on the 17th still carrying winds of 137 miles per hour and taking the lives of two dozen people on the West Coast and causing millions more in property damage. The storm tracked northwest from Ft. Myers across the Gulf of Mexico where it made landfall between Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama before it fell apart on September 22nd.
When you look at the records it's amazing how similar the 1926 hurricane season was to the season of 1945.
The total number of hurricanes in September of 1926 was 3 in 1945 the number was 3. But more specific the 1926 hurricane that hit the Miami area, had an estimated wind speed between 140 and 150 mph. In 1945 number IX was clocked at 139 mph with gusts to 150 mph. Both had strong storm surges that did enormous damage. But here’s something that is different. The number of deaths in the Miami area in 1926 was 300 plus whereas in '45 Hurricane number IX caused only 4 and that included a fireman that was killed while fighting the Richmond hangar fire.
And while the Hurricane Hunters were only in the early stages of work at developing a Hurricane Warning System, just the awareness and sharing of tropical storm information throughout the Caribbean Island community made a huge difference in the loss of life.

Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

New York Harbor -- Another View

2010-09-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch Updates
Remember 9/11

Hurricane Update Friday September 17, 2010 an PDT
Hurricane Karl with 120 mph winds will make landfall on the Mexican coast later today. Preparations should be made for expected high winds and heavy rains. Igor is a major hurricane that will be in the Bermuda area late Sunday.

Hurricane update Thursday, September 16, 2010 am PDT
ACCU Weather dubs the current tropical storms The Three Amigos.
Karl heads for Mexico, Igor for Bermuda and Julia for the fishes. (Julia is far out in the Atlantic and is weakening.)
Karl's heavy rains threatens disastrous flooding in eastern Mexico late this week.
Expect heaviest rains early Saturday morning as it makes landfall in northern Veracruz state, Mexico.
Igor is skirting the Eastern Caribbean Islands and aiming at a possible weekend date with Bermuda. At the same time the US coastal areas can expect residual high waves from Igor..
At present Julia is no threat, but don't ignore a possible resurgence.

Hurricane Update Wednesday, September 15, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Karl will soon hit Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and will make its second Mexican landfall, possibly as a Category 1 hurricane early this weekend.
The Category 4 Hurricane Igor is on track to threaten Bermuda by this weekend.
Residents and visitors in Bermuda have been warned to prepare for the heavy storm.
Julia, following the path of Igor, is now a Category 4 Hurricane and is located west of the Cape Verde Islands.
All three tropical systems are capable of heavy damage to life and property – stay alert.

Hurricane Update Tuesday, September 14, 2010 am PDT
Favorable weather conditions in the Atlantic will continue to support a strong and possible dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Igor that is carrying winds of 135 mph as it moves toward the west. Igor is expected to turn to the northwest and stay in the open sea, but its outer reaches are expected to brush the eastern Caribbean Islands with winds, rain and high surf.
Category 1 Hurricane Julia, the fifth hurricane of the season is located west of the Cape Verde Islands. Satellites will follow Julia's trek to the west.
The tropical system in the Western Caribbean is expected to bring stormy conditions to the Yucatan and it could gain strength in a move toward the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Hurricane Watch Monday, September 13, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Igor is now a Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds. Igor is several hundred miles east of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and is moving west. However, the storm is expected to turn to the northwest and eventually pass some miles west of Bermuda, which could also bring the US East Coast into play.
Other tropical activities a system called Julia is located in the vicinity of the Cape Verde Islands. Another system of rain clouds and heavy thunderstorm activity is moving west through the Caribbean in the vicinity of Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Both those tropical systems are expected gain strength in the next few days.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, September 12, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Igor is expected to continue its trek to the west and possibly strengthen today while becoming a strong hurricane early Monday morning.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, September 11, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Igor is expected to gain hurricane status late Sunday or Monday as it moves west across the Atlantic at 21 mph.
The storm system in the Eastern Caribbean could also strengthen when it gets over open waters.
We'll watch and wait.

New York, New York
I was in the New York Central Library researching the life and times of the legendary Doc Holliday, and needed a break. I walked to 42nd Street and Time Square and boarded the southbound IRT subway to South Ferry. I was about to take one of the most exciting rides I know and it was also the best buy. The Staten Island Ferry cost a nickel, what a wonderful treat, what a great buy. You’ve taken the subway to South Ferry, on the southern tip of Manhattan, paid your nickel and boarded the ferryboat for the short ride to Staten Island. It seems only seconds away from the dock when you notice your first sea gull making a leisurely turn in the sky, then a breath of salt air mixes with the sights and sounds of an active harbor. You’re not just on a short trip, you are at sea, on a voyage of discovery. Someone, probably a tourist, sees her first and points off to the right saying, 'There she is.'
Look to starboard and there, standing tall with torch held high, for all to see, the greatest symbol of liberty in the world. The Statue of Liberty, that lady standing in New York harbor beckoning to one and all. The thrill and murmur of excitement races through the crowded deck, many have lumps in their throats and tears in their eyes.
Now if that’s the way Americans feel, and I believe it is, think of the masses that saw her for the first time from the decks of savior ships from distant lands. What are their reactions, those on their way to Ellis Island, emigrants, with hopes and dreams of a new and better life?
That lady in the harbor has seen their tears and joys, happy faces by the thousands, as the picture is played and replayed over and over through the years.

Lady Liberty was there on the morning of September 11, 2001 to see the barbarians crash their hijacked planes
into the tall twin towers.
The innocent jump to escape the flames in endless numbers
and they all had names.
The first responders fire and police
rushed to the square and into the Towers
and were met by a blast of heat
and the sound of thunder as the buildings crumble.
But the barbarians were not quite done,
for next it was Washington and the Pentagon.
But cell phones rang on Flight 93.
Then American Patriots made a plan
and on the signal 'Let's Roll' they took a stand,
the barbarians finally lost control,
Flight 93 turned away from its Capitol or White House goal
to nestle in an open field. The place –
a memorial to all the Patriots, heroes and victims
of that fatal day.
Lady Liberty saw it all through tear stained eyes
the towers fall,
the Pentagon,
the barbarians end –
in an open field in Pennsylvania,
the state where our Liberty all began
and on that day to be born again.

Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Washington Orders and Duke Howard Review

2010-09-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Watch: Updates
Develop a Hurricane Warning System
Hurricane Hunters Review

Hurricane Watch Friday, September 10, 2010 am PDT
The system called Igor that is moving west across the Atlantic will likely intensify over the weekend and become our next hurricane. A disturbance in the Western Caribbean in the area of the Windward Islands bears watching.
Otherwise the tropics are quiet.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, September 9, 2010 am PDT
Hermine is still pouring rain over parts of central Texas and flooding areas, forcing evacuations and closures of major stretches of highways, including portions of I-35.
What remains of tropical storm Gaston is spreading rain squalls across the Eastern Caribbean and may regroup to cause more problems in the area.
What is more of a fact in that area a wave trailing Gaston called Igor has formed in the Atlantic and is now located south of the Cape Verde Islands. Forecasters are confident that Igor will become a hurricane in the next day or two.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, September 8, 2010 am PDT
The rains of Hermine are continuing in Texas and causing heavy flooding. To keep safe please stay off flooded roads.
The system is moving in the direction of Oklahoma and Missouri and you can expect the heavy rains to continue for several days.
The storm called Gaston is scattered as it moves over the eastern Caribbean Islands. Will it regroup after it crosses the islands and moves into the open sea? Forecasters are not sure, we'll just have to wait and see.
In the meantime a large wave is moving west from the African coast that might become a threat over the next day or two.
Stay tuned.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, September 7, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Hermine carrying 60 mph winds made landfall in northeastern Mexico at about 8:30 pm Monday some 40 miles south of Brownsville.
Hermine is bringing heavy rains and high winds to the southern and coastal Texas area. The storm is expanding northward toward central Texas and will be arriving in the Dallas and Fort Worth area early Tuesday evening.
Tropical Storm Gaston has been downgraded and it may or may not make a comeback. However, the system in its present state is still spreading rain and thunderstorms across a wide area of the Atlantic including the Leeward Islands..

Labor Day:
Hurricane Watch Monday September 6, 2010 am PDT
As predicted, an area of the western Caribbean and southern Gulf of Mexico have produced a tropical depression, which grew quickly on Sunday afternoon into Tropical Storm Hermine. The system is carrying winds of 45 mph with gusts into the 50's. Hermine is tracking to the northwest and is expected to make landfall in the Brownsville, Texas area.
Storm warning have been issued for the northern Mexico and southern Texas coastal areas. Conditions are such that Hermine could strengthen into a Category 1 storm before making landfall.
In the meantime the system called Gaston is moving west across the vast Atlantic in the direction of the Caribbean islands and has some growth potential.
Watch and wait

Hurricane Watch Sunday, September 5, 2010 am PDT
Earl has finished its run, Fiona is gone but we need to follow the ups and downs of Gaston as it skips west over the Atlantic. Gaston's present size is no threat, however, warm waters it will encounter in the Caribbean, within the next day or two, could change all that. So don't take your eye off Gaston – not yet anyway.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, September 4, 2010 am PDT
Tropical Storm Earl passed Cape Cod and Nantucket, Mass., Friday night, and next will make landfall over Nova Scotia this morning and move across Canada today.
Other activity in the Atlantic Basin: Fiona is still a weak tropical system expected to pass west of Bermuda.
Gaston has been downgraded to a weak system, but hasn't gone away we should stay alert to other waves moving west from the African coast..

Washington Orders Military to Develop Hurricane Warning System.Navy vets back from Pacific War chosen for task.
Squadron 114 was formed at Masters Field, Miami and their area of operations would cover the Caribbean, parts of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.
In early 1945 the war was just winding down when orders were received in Jacksonville to re deploy six PB4Y-2 Privateers to Miami and form Squadron114 with the express purpose of developing a hurricane warning system. Rank and file think it’s a joke until a common sense briefing points out the potential life saving effects the system.
Orders were to search out potential storm systems and follow their progress. Once the storm grows to hurricane strength The Hurricane Hunters will report storms movement and strength to the Miami Weather Bureau. Then warning bulletins will be issued to threatened areas.
Lost in the Bermuda Triangle tells about Flight 19 flying out of Ft. Lauderdale on December 5, 1945. The flight leaders disorientation leads to the loss of five TBM Avengers along with 14 crew members.
Hurricane seasons come and go and more often than not they are remembered by one horrific storm system such as an Andrew or Katrina. However, using a yearly count there are staggering statistics on deaths and destruction in the United States alone.
The Galveston, Texas hurricane of 1900 killed between 6, 000 and 10, 000 people. The Lake Okeechobee hurricane in 1928 produced 1836 human casualties. And there were significant numbers in the teens, twenties and thirties. Then when 390 people were killed in New England during the storm of 1944.
Finally Washington began to pay attention, and the order to develop a Hurricane Warning System was passed along to Jacksonville and Squadron VB-4 OTU-2.

'The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle,'
Review by Duke Howard:
What can I say about "Tom's Hurricane Hunters" and "Lost In The Bermuda Triangle" that hasn't already been said and said beautifully. What I can say is that when I read the two stories the word triangle reminded me of another triangle, one of greater importance to all. The one I speak of is the universal and everlasting triangle, "The Triangle of God, Nature and Man" and their interaction. Here in Tom's remembrance the emphasis is on two thirds of that interaction: Man and Nature. To me this interaction takes on the form of one great pugilistic contest played out in a cosmic ring where two worthy adversaries, Man and Nature meet to test each others strength, knowledge and staying power. Nature enters her heavy hitter, Hurricane with her winds and rain and Man enters Tom Barnes and the Navy backed by their training, planes and technology. In the early rounds, Tom and his Navy buddies are hammered, knocked down but never out. And like most true Fighting Men they rise to fight another day; they never give up. The battle is continuous, the rounds are endless, but with each round, Man learns more about this beast from the sea with its awesome force and catalytic power with the hope that someday, he will know enough to counter, defend and even nullify this monster of Nature. And if that day comes and it surely will, we can all look back and say: "It began with those brave men of Squadron 114, the original Navy Hurricane Hunters."
A must read for all of you interested in Man's on going struggle with Nature....Duke Howard, author of "The Damnation of Mercy Kilwick."

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle book page Click Here

Tom's Books and Blogs:
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Jacksonville, Wichita, Corpus Christi and Miami

2010-08-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.

This Week
Hurricane Watch
More Parts to a Hurricane Warning System
Jacksonville and Miami

Hurricane Watch Friday, September 3, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Earl's Cat 2 storm winds were clocked at 85 mph are weakening and the storm is moving away from North Carolina as it tracks north.
Gusty winds and rain are still forecast for all coastal areas north of North Carolina and across Nova Scotia.
Fiona is still a weak tropical system expected to pass west of Bermuda.
Gaston has been downgraded to a weak system, but hasn't gone away.
We watch and wait.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, September 2, 2010
The governors of North Carolina and Virginia have declared a state of emergency as Hurricane Earl approaches the east coast of the United States.
Earls 100 mph winds winds are expected to touch the Outer Banks of North Carolina tonight as Hurricane Earl will cause flooding, and rough surf to the beaches. Earl will continue north bringing heavy rains and wind as far north as Boston and Cape Cod. Beach communities all along the East Coast will feel Earls wrath.
The east coast of Florida will continue to experience dangerous rip currents that will affect its beaches through Friday.
And don't lose sight of tropical storms Fiona and Gaston. Fiona is likely to stray off toward the North Atlantic and possibly brush Bermuda with some wind and rain.
Gaston is quite another story as it moves west from Africa, it is expected to begin causing problems to the Caribbean Islands by next week. This one could be dangerous.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, September 1, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Earl is expected to pass within 100 miles of North Carolina's Outer Banks on Thursday night, causing strong surf conditions and destructive winds. The storm has prompted officials to issue evacuation orders along the North Carolina coastal area. All coastal areas to the north need to be aware that Earl is heading your way.
The following storm Fiona is weak, but is still causing heavy wind and rains in the eastern Bahamas.
There is a wave moving west from the coast of Africa that will bear watching.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, August 31, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Earl a Category 4 storm has caused extensive wind and rain damage to the northeastern Caribbean Islands and is currently located north of Puerto Rico and moving to the northwest. Earl is expected to pass just east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and later skirt the the eastern Bahamas. The storm is not expected to touch the US East Coast, but it's effects are being felt from Florida north to Cape Hatteras. As Earl moves north expect high tides and stormy weather all along the coast.
Bad News, Good news.
While Earl could cause a low surge, high waves and riptides along coastal areas it will also break the heatwave presently covering the area.
Tropical Storm Fiona continues to follow in the wake of Earl with two or more systems following Fiona.
All you folks along the Eastern Seaboard stay alert to quick weather changes.

Hurricane Watch Monday, August 30, 2010 am PDT
Earl is on schedule and is now hitting the Leeward Islands with 100 mph winds and rain. Earl is reaching out and effecting Puerto Rico and other Eastern Caribbean Islands.
Hurricane Danielle's wind force has diminished and it remains at sea, but its high waves and powerful surge is being felt along the northern part of the East Coast.

August 29, Sunday pm PDT Update.
Earl, a Category 1 Hurricane will blow through the Leeward Islands tonight and tomorrow. Batten down the hatches folks.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, August 29, 2010 am PDT
While Hurricane Danielle is still far out at sea in the North Atlantic the surge of ocean wave activity is being felt on the shores of the East Coast and warnings of strong rip tides should be announced.
Tropical Storm Earl has just been upgraded to Category 1 Hurricane status and islands in the Eastern Caribbean should be aware of coming storm activity.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, August 28, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Danielle with its 135 mph winds is over the open Atlantic and it it continues on present path will miss Bermuda by about 200 miles to the east sometime Saturday evening. Earl is moving westward at the quick pace of 20 mph and is expected to pass northeast of the Leeward islands sometime Monday

Back to 1945 and a few excerpts from my book:
The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle
Da Plane, Da Plane. Not exactly, we won’t stop at Fantasy Island; our mission is to spot tropical storms. And when we spot one we’ll follow along and take down all the data, then keep an eye on the storm and see what develops.
We’ll be flying the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer.
What’s a Privateer? Well, it’s a beefed up B-24 Liberator Bomber with a few modifications, a single tail assembly and seven feet were added to the nose to provide the extra deck space we needed. Then to fill other special needs they added a turbo supercharger to each engine and belly tanks fitted into the bomb bay for additional fuel. The Privateer was not only durable it also had longevity and flew virtually all the Hurricane Hunting missions from 1945 to 1952.
Home Base -- Masters Field
By the time Squadron 114 arrived in Miami Masters Field was a part of a complex known as the Naval Air Station, (NAS) Miami and it consisted of three separate fields Opa Locka, Miami Municipal Field and Masters Field. During World War II those airfields were used for training various flight crews including SBD Dauntless dive-bombers, TBF Avenger torpedo bombers and F4F Wildcat fighters.
Our highflying Privateers were capable of reaching all of the Eastern or Western Caribbean and then returning to base in one non-stop flight. To the East the outer range was the vicinity of the Leeward Islands, the Lesser Antilles near Guadeloupe. In the west it would be the north shore of Honduras and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

My First Privateer:
Jacksonville, Florida VB4 OTU-2
Within our squadron planes were moving in and out while personnel seemed to remain in place. Then a rumor began making the rounds that our squadron would be moving to Whiting Field located in the Florida Panhandle not too far from Pensacola. A second rumor that quickly grew into general scuttlebutt was that the squadron was being split up and a small contingent was going to Miami to do some kind of weather reconnaissance that had to do with hurricanes. Nobody put much stock in what we thought to be a dumb idea, but the scuttlebutt was persistent and it soon became a general topic of conversation.
Sitting at the chow table one morning Bill Hurley, Al Primrose and I were talking about squadron activities. Our long-range missions flying out over the Atlantic and down into the Caribbean were still a big part of it. However, ferrying old Liberators over to Corpus Christi, Texas for major overhaul – or possibly the scrap heap was occupying quite a bit of time. Then there were the new Privateers all coming in with more sophisticated radar gear and engines that were fitted with turbo superchargers giving the planes the ability to fly at much higher altitudes.
I sipped my coffee and said, “I was plane captain of a four man ferry crew back in early April that flew to Wichita to swap one of our planes for the newer version. Everything was going well until we caught the tail end of a blizzard at Wichita.” Then I shook my head and grinned. “The first thing we had to do when we got on the ground was to borrow some cold weather gear because we were in shirt sleeves. And by the time we located our new plane and gave it a once over the skipper decided we would stay the night in Kansas. Next morning we did a full inspection of the plane and I did a physical check of the fuel on board with a dipstick. We took off from Wichita before nine o’clock and got to a point near Tifton, Georgia when we were advised by Jacksonville Tower that all Jacksonville area facilities were closed down due to weather. Moments later Navy Air Control ordered us to change course and head for Maxwell Field, an army facility, at Montgomery, Alabama, land and wait for further instructions.”
Primrose laughed. “Sounds like your routine trip to Wichita was full of surprises.”
“I guess you could say that, in any event we were treated well at Maxwell Field and the next day we flew back and actually landed at Jacksonville.”
Our crews, down from Jacksonville, were familiar with most of the geography we
were assigned to cover. In the past a typical navigation problem might be to fly from Jacksonville past the Bahamas as far as Turk Island, turn west to Cuba and from there head northeast to base. And of course that was good practice, but once you throw a hurricane into the mix your navigation problems become a bit more complicated.
Squadron 114 was made up of six Privateers equipped with turbo supercharged
engines and the latest radio and radar equipment available.

For The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle book page Click Here

Tom's Books and Blogs:
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

The Base, The Planes and The Hurricanes

2010-08-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch
Hurricane Warning System
Flashback: Miami 1945
PB4Y2 Privateer
Summary 1945 Hurricane Season

Hurricane Watch Friday, August 27, 2010 am PDT
Warning to shipping lanes in the North Atlantic area. Dangerous Danielle is now a Category 4 hurricane moving up the central Atlantic is expected to pass well east of Bermuda Saturday night. Bermuda and the US North East Coast can expect residual sea swells and high wave intensity caused by the storm Tropical Storm Earl following in Danielle's path is forecast to intensify while a third system is forming farther south that could emulate the other two..

Hurricane Watch Thursday, August 26, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Danielle and yesterday's system, now Tropical Storm Earl will move along nearly the same path in the open sea between Bermuda and the US Eastern Seaboard.
Expect heavy weather on both sides of these storms.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, August 25, 2010 am PDT
The tropics seem to be primed for tropical storm activity as Hurricane Danielle continues her trek north in the mid Atlantic. Bermuda could be in play, but Danielle will probably pass west of Bermuda staying in the open sea. There is a system that we need to keep an eye on in the south eastern Atlantic, which could quickly develop into a tropical storm.
Frank is causing fewer problems to the West Coast of Mexico as it moves away from land.
The tropical storm season is upon us so you can expect storms to crop up anywhere in the Caribbean within the next several days.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, August 24, 2010 am PDT
Danielle became a hurricane Monday afternoon and will likely intensify over the next few days. As of 5 am. EDT Tuesday, Danielle was over open waters and centered some 1,110 east of the Lesser Antilles and moving north by northwest at 20 mph. Maximum sustained winds were estimated at 100 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane.
Florida is awash with thunderstorms and rain while several tropical systems are cropping up in the Caribbean.
Meanwhile on the Pacific side of Mexico Tropical Storm Frank is churning up the coast and spreading misery in the form of heavy rains and some flooding in a wide area.
So in the next few days it could be like Betty Davis said in one of her films, 'We may be in for a bumpy ride.'

Hurricane Watch Monday, August 23, 2010 am PDT
If you have been reading Hurricane Watch for the past few weeks you'll be aware that Joe Bastardi of AccuWeather has been predicting that the current Atlantic Hurricane Season would ramp up starting Aug. 20. I expect Joe has been following a number of current weather factors as well as historical precedence.
Take a look at the 1945 Hurricane Season chart below in the body of this post and you'll see a piece of history that might have factored into Joe's theory.
In any event it will give you an idea of how Mother Nature tends to repeat herself over the years. After all those are the same stats that determined hurricane seasons begin every year on June 1st and end November 30th, .
Tropical Storm Danielle is now moving to the northwest over open waters and winds have strengthened to 60 mph. The storm could become a hurricane within 24 hours.
Meanwhile on off the west coast of Mexico Tropical Storm Frank is active in the Pacific and will bring heavy rains to parts of Mexico.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, August 22, 2010 am PDT
At 5:00 am. EDT a depression in mid ocean west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands and as reported Saturday afternoon is still tracking west-northwest at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds this morning of about 35 mph.
This system is expected to gather strength and become a tropical storm within the next day or two.
We watch and wait.

Afternoon update:
Hurricane Watch Saturday, August 21, 2010 pm PDT
From ACCU Weather
An area of low pressure southwest of the Cape Verde Islands organized into Tropical Depression 6 Saturday afternoon. This feature is expected to strengthen further into Tropical Storm Danielle this weekend and a hurricane early next week.
As of 4:30 pm. EDT, the depression was located less than 600 miles west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands with motion to the west-northwest at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds are estimated at 30 mph.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, August 21, 2010 am PDT
Ditto from yesterday.

Hurricane Watch Friday, August 21, 2010 am PDT
Unstable weather in the eastern Atlantic is likely to organize sometime in the next several days. We should pay attention to it
While the western Caribbean is expected to see some tropical storm activity a tropical depression just formed off the Mexican shore in the Pacific.
There is good reason to believe that we can expect tropical storm activity to organize in several areas of the Atlantic basin within the week.

Washington Orders Military to Develop Hurricane Warning System.
Navy vets back from Pacific War chosen for task.
Squadron 114 was formed at Masters Field, Miami and their area of operations would cover the Caribbean, parts of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.
In early 1945 the war was just winding down when orders were received in Jacksonville to re deploy six PB4Y-2 Privateers to Miami and form Squadron114 with the express purpose of developing a hurricane warning system. Rank and file think it’s a joke until a common sense briefing points out the potential life saving effects the system.
Orders were to search out potential storm systems and follow their progress. Once the storm grows to hurricane strength The Hurricane Hunters will report storms movement and strength to the Miami Weather Bureau. Then warning bulletins will be issued to threatened areas.
Hurricane seasons come and go and more often than not they are remembered by one horrific storm system such as an Andrew or Katrina. However, using a yearly count there are staggering statistics on deaths and destruction in the United States alone.
The Galveston, Texas hurricane of 1900 killed between 6, 000 and 10, 000 people. The Lake Okeechobee hurricane in 1928 produced 1836 human casualties. And there were significant numbers in the teens, twenties and thirties. Then when 390 people were killed in New England during the storm of 1944 Washington finally paid attention.

1945 Squadron 114 Base of Operations
Prior to World War II South Field, which would later be known as Masters Field was a component of the Pan American Airways system. Those Pan American passengers arriving at South Field that were taking international flights would be processed through the terminal building on the east side of the airport and shuttled via 27th Avenue to Pan Americans seaplane base at Dinner Key.
During World War II Masters Field was to become a part of a complex known as the NavalAir Station, (NAS) Miami and it consisted of three separate fields Opa Locka, Miami Municipal Field and Masters Field. Those airfields were used for training various flight crews including SBD Dauntless dive-bombers, TBF Avenger torpedo bombers and F4F Wildcat fighters.
1943 and 1944 were the first two years the US Navy and the National Weather Bureau attempted to develop a hurricane warning system. The first airplane used in the exercise was the PBM-5 Mariner Sea Plane. By the end of the 1944 season it was determined that the Mariner with its maximum speed of 210 miles per hour, a service ceiling of 19, 800 feet and a range of 2, 200 miles was too limited in its ability to locate and fly near enough to a hurricane to collect the data needed to determine size, strength and direction of a storm. What was needed was a plane that could fly faster, higher and had a longer range; fortunately the navy had such a plane in its inventory.
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
With only slight modifications an added turbo supercharger to each engine and belly tanks fitted into the bomb bay for additional fuel the plane filled the bill. And as it turned out the Privateer became the first real Hurricane Hunter during the season of 1945. The plane was not only durable it also had longevity and flew virtually all the Hurricane Hunting missions from 1945 to 1952.

Privateer Specifications:
Engine: Four 1350-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-94 radial engines.
Weight: Empty 27,485 lbs, Max Takeoff 65,000 lbs.
Wing Span: 110 ft.
Length: 74 ft 7 in.
Height: 30 ft. 1 in.
Maximum Speed: 237 mph.
Service ceiling (with turbo superchargers) 29,000 ft.
Range: 2, 800 miles.

1945 Season -- Tropical Storms and Hurricanes:

Number Storm Activity Dates Maximum Winds

I Hurricane 20 June – 1 July 115 mph Category 3

II Tropical Storm 19 – 22 July 52 mph

III Tropical Storm 1 – 4 August 57 mph

IV Tropical Storm 17 – 21 August 69 mph

V Hurricane 24 – 29 August 138 mph Category 4

VI Tropical Storm 29 August 1 September 57 mph

VII Tropical Storm 3 – 6 September 40 mph

VIII Tropical Storm 10 – 12 September 57 mph

IV Hurricane 12 – 20 September 38 mph Category 4

X Hurricane 2 – 5 October 98 mph Category 2

XI Hurricane 10 – 16 October 98 mph Category 2

Pan Am Clippers, Privateers and old South Field were all part of International Aviation and Hurricane Hunters History.
Miami Municipal Field no longer serves as an airport; likewise the former Masters Field is now the site of Miami Dade County Community College. The Opa Locka base remains, as an airport servicing civilian aviation needs.

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

The Base, The Planes and The Hurricanes

2010-08-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch
Hurricane Warning System
Flashback: Miami 1945
PB4Y2 Privateer
Summary 1945 Hurricane Season

Hurricane Watch Saturday, August 21, 2010
Ditto from yesterday.

Hurricane Watch Friday, August 21, 2010 am PDT
Unstable weather in the eastern Atlantic is likely to organize sometime in the next several days. We should pay attention to it
While the western Caribbean is expected to see some tropical storm activity a tropical depression just formed off the Mexican shore in the Pacific.
There is good reason to believe that we can expect tropical storm activity to organize in several areas of the Atlantic basin within the week.

Washington Orders Military to Develop Hurricane Warning System.
Navy vets back from Pacific War chosen for task.
Squadron 114 was formed at Masters Field, Miami and their area of operations would cover the Caribbean, parts of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.
In early 1945 the war was just winding down when orders were received in Jacksonville to re deploy six PB4Y-2 Privateers to Miami and form Squadron114 with the express purpose of developing a hurricane warning system. Rank and file think it’s a joke until a common sense briefing points out the potential life saving effects the system.
Orders were to search out potential storm systems and follow their progress. Once the storm grows to hurricane strength The Hurricane Hunters will report storms movement and strength to the Miami Weather Bureau. Then warning bulletins will be issued to threatened areas.
Hurricane seasons come and go and more often than not they are remembered by one horrific storm system such as an Andrew or Katrina. However, using a yearly count there are staggering statistics on deaths and destruction in the United States alone.
The Galveston, Texas hurricane of 1900 killed between 6, 000 and 10, 000 people. The Lake Okeechobee hurricane in 1928 produced 1836 human casualties. And there were significant numbers in the teens, twenties and thirties. Then when 390 people were killed in New England during the storm of 1944 Washington finally paid attention.

1945 Squadron 114 Base of Operations
Prior to World War II South Field, which would later be known as Masters Field was a component of the Pan American Airways system. Those Pan American passengers arriving at South Field that were taking international flights would be processed through the terminal building on the east side of the airport and shuttled via 27th Avenue to Pan Americans seaplane base at Dinner Key.
During World War II Masters Field was to become a part of a complex known as the NavalAir Station, (NAS) Miami and it consisted of three separate fields Opa Locka, Miami Municipal Field and Masters Field. Those airfields were used for training various flight crews including SBD Dauntless dive-bombers, TBF Avenger torpedo bombers and F4F Wildcat fighters.
1943 and 1944 were the first two years the US Navy and the National Weather Bureau attempted to develop a hurricane warning system. The first airplane used in the exercise was the PBM-5 Mariner Sea Plane. By the end of the 1944 season it was determined that the Mariner with its maximum speed of 210 miles per hour, a service ceiling of 19, 800 feet and a range of 2, 200 miles was too limited in its ability to locate and fly near enough to a hurricane to collect the data needed to determine size, strength and direction of a storm. What was needed was a plane that could fly faster, higher and had a longer range; fortunately the navy had such a plane in its inventory.
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
With only slight modifications an added turbo supercharger to each engine and belly tanks fitted into the bomb bay for additional fuel the plane filled the bill. And as it turned out the Privateer became the first real Hurricane Hunter during the season of 1945. The plane was not only durable it also had longevity and flew virtually all the Hurricane Hunting missions from 1945 to 1952.

Privateer Specifications:
Engine: Four 1350-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-94 radial engines.
Weight: Empty 27,485 lbs, Max Takeoff 65,000 lbs.
Wing Span: 110 ft.
Length: 74 ft 7 in.
Height: 30 ft. 1 in.
Maximum Speed: 237 mph.
Service ceiling (with turbo superchargers) 29,000 ft.
Range: 2, 800 miles.
1945 Season -- Tropical Storms and Hurricanes:

Number Storm Activity Dates Maximum Winds

I Hurricane 20 June – 1 July 115 mph Category 3

II Tropical Storm 19 – 22 July 52 mph

III Tropical Storm 1 – 4 August 57 mph

IV Tropical Storm 17 – 21 August 69 mph

V Hurricane 24 – 29 August 138 mph Category 4

VI Tropical Storm 29 August 1 September 57 mph

VII Tropical Storm 3 – 6 September 40 mph

VIII Tropical Storm 10 – 12 September 57 mph

IV Hurricane 12 – 20 September 38 mph Category 4

X Hurricane 2 – 5 October 98 mph Category 2

XI Hurricane 10 – 16 October 98 mph Category 2

Pan Am Clippers, Privateers and old South Field were all part of International Aviation and Hurricane Hunters History.
Miami Municipal Field no longer serves as an airport; likewise the former Masters Field is now the site of Miami Dade County Community College. The Opa Locka base remains, as an airport servicing civilian aviation needs.

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Lingering System and Flashback to 2008

2010-08-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch updates
Link to ACCU Weather
Flashback 2008 Multiple Storms

Hurricane Watch Friday, August 21, 2010 am PDT
Unstable weather in the eastern Atlantic is likely to organize sometime in the next several days. We should pay attention to it
While the western Caribbean is expected to see some tropical storm activity a tropical depression just formed off the Mexican shore in the Pacific.
There is good reason to believe that we can expect tropical storm activity to organize in several areas of the Atlantic basin within the week.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, August 19, 2010 am PDT
Louisiana got the most rain yesterday with downpours and flooding expected to continue today. However sloppy old depression 5 is expected to finally move out to the northeast and spread its misery over a wider area.
Other tropical storm areas to watch is the Southeast Atlantic and Western Caribbean. Light waves moving west from Africa show signs of development by the weekend and the southwest Caribbean conditions are ripe for a tropical depression to crop up within the next day or two.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, August 18, 2010 am PDT
Remnants of tropical depression 5 are still hanging around bringing heavy rains that threaten some areas with flooding in the lower Mississippi Valley.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, August 17, 2010 am PDT

The remnants of tropical depression 5 is still hanging around the lower part of Mississippi, but will continue to soak the central Gulf Coast today.
Other parts of the Atlantic give rise to system development off the coast of Africa, also potential system growth in the vicinity of the Leeward Islands.
Keep in mind that we are closing in on late August, a time we might expect to see waves moving west from the African Coast toward the Caribbean.
We'll have to wait and see.

Hurricane Watch Monday, August 16, 2010 am PDT
Tropical system 5 continues to hang around the northeast Gulf Coast giving the area a rain soaking to remember.
Joe B. at ACCU Weather gives you chapter and verse on this system and what to expect next.
Click Here

Longing for an active Hurricane Season? Here's a piece of weather world nostalgia and action all in one place.

Gustav, Hanna, Ike and Josephine
2008 Hurricane Watch
Sounds like two couples going on a summer picnic. Not so this summer, it’s follow-the-leader and like in baseball you’ll need a scorecard to keep track. The 2008 hurricane season was quite normal before Fay and as most Floridians can attest, Fay could hardly be called normal. She hung around and settled in for a visit only to become an unwelcome guest. Eventually though she got the picture and moved along to lower Alabama and Mississippi.
Just as Fay was making her exit Monday August 25th a guy named Gustav came on the scene near Port Au Prince Haiti and moved west toward the vacation spots of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
By Saturday August 30th Gustav had turned to the northwest and as it headed for the Gulf of Mexico gained strength and wind speed. As a consequence western Cuba felt the wrath of Gustav’s 120 mph winds.
On that same day Tropical Storm Hanna was located 240 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico with 50 mph winds and moving to the west at 12 mph.
Sunday morning August 31st Gustav was located 470 miles southeast of New Orleans and carrying winds of 120 mph. Forecasters expected the worst that Gustav would increase to Category 4 hurricane.
At about that same hour Tropical Storm Hanna located 155 miles east northeast of Grand Turk Island was moving west-northwest at 8 mph showing winds of 60 mph.
During that day the mainstream media was in a frenzy and scurrying off to New Orleans – apparently heading off to cover another Katrina. Fortunately it didn’t happen.
On Monday morning Gustav, a Category 2 hurricane made land fall south of Houma, Louisiana, located 75 miles south southwest of New Orleans, at 10:00 am CDT carrying, lower than predicted, winds of 110 mph.
Of course even with the reduced wind speed Gustav did considerable damage along the coast of Mississippi and Louisiana. But it was nothing on the scale of the monster storm that had been predicted.
This time around the people of New Orleans got out of town and while they were inconvenienced – they were alive.
By late in the afternoon following Gustav’s morning show many of the bars on Bourbon Street were open for business.
In the meantime while Gustav traveled north toward Shreveport Tropical Storm Hanna with winds of 70 mph was located 385 miles southeast of Nassau.
Next in that Daisy chain of hurricanes Tropical Storm Ike was 1, 235 east of the Leeward Islands carrying winds of 50 mph.
Next in line is Tropical Storm Josephine located in the east Atlantic and is tracking west at about 12 mph.
Stay tuned
For The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Bermuda Storm and Two Hurricane Book Reviews

2010-08-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

This Week
Hurricane Watch
The Ship and the Storm
Duke Howard's review of the Hurricane Hunters

Hurricane Watch Friday, August 13, 2010 an PDT

Low pressure area still hanging around the northeast Gulf of Mexico. Expect more rain and flooding in some areas. Otherwise not much to report in the South Atlantic or Caribbean.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, August 12, 2010 am PDT
The tropical system in the northeast Gulf Coast could bring up to two inches of rain for the Florida Panhandle west to Lafayette, Louisiana.
For now other parts of the Atlantic basin are quiet. But weather forecasters are all looking for strong tropical storm activity to begin within the next week or two.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, August 11, 2010 am PDT

There is a tropical depression centered about 185 miles south of Apalachicola, Florida carrying winds of about 30 mph. The system is moving toward the northwest at 12 mph.
This depression could strengthen some as it moves toward the central Gulf Coast. However, residents and visitors should not be alarmed as the tropical depression will likely decrease before it makes landfall and bring no more destructive winds and rain than a typical summer storm.

Hurricane Watch Monday, August 9, 2010 am PDT
Colin has fallen apart in the North Atlantic, but a low pressure area is developing in the southeast Gulf of Mexico that could develop over the next day or two. South Florida can expect heavy rains during that period.
Stay alert.

Hurricane Watch, Saturday, August 7, 2010 am PDT

Colin, a weak tropical storm was centered about 230 miles south-southwest of Bermuda at 8 am EDT. The storm is slowly moving north at 4 mph.
Colin remains a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Conditions will deteriorate in Bermuda today as Colin approaches. Island residents and visitors should expect heavy rains and strong winds later in the day.
A tropical wave has formed in the southeast Atlantic that will bear watching over the next several days.
Stay tuned.

The Ship and the Storm
Jim Carrier tells the story of The Ship and the Storm by using crew accounts, passenger interviews, surviving crew relatives and official weather related records.
Anchored in the quiet waters of the Bay at Omoa, Honduras passengers excitedly board the Windjammer Cruise Ship Fantome. Feted with the finest cuisine and free flowing rum swizzle the fun and excitement is just beginning as the tall ship prepares to sail from one tropical paradise to another.
Two mornings later as the Fantomes’ guests finished their Bloody Mary and sticky bun breakfast a weather station on the West Coast of Africa was recording a drop in the barometric pressure. The Miami Hurricane Center labeled the system #46 and indicated in the margin that it was impressive.
One week later on the evening of October 17, 1998 while Fantome passengers partied tropical wave 46 was moving west past Barbados in the Windward Islands. A day later the National Hurricane Center predicts that tropical wave 46 will become a hurricane.
October 21st the day Fantome arrived at the island of Guanaja and Fantome passengers were still enjoying their cruise vacation. But change came the next morning and Captain Guyan March advises crew and passengers about the storm.
BULLETIN: 5AM EDT SAT OCT 24, 1998. MITCH STRENGTHENS RAPIDLY INTO A HURRICANE
Storm tracks in the direction of Cuba and the Cayman Islands and forecasters are calling Mitch a potentially dangerous hurricane.
Fantome was at Omoa, Honduras where locals advised Captain March to drop both anchors and stay in port. March consults his boss in Miami by phone and following a prolonged discussion with Windjammer Headquarters in Miami it was decided to cancel the Fantomes’ cruise. Passenger safety was uppermost in their minds and they discharged the passengers at Belize City. They didn’t consider Belize a safe harbor to ride out the storm so Fantome with 31 crewmembers aboard left Belize to try and outmaneuver the storm.
Hurricane Mitch was coming up on Swan Island and conventional wisdom as well as the National Hurricane Centers computer models predicts that the storm will turn to the northwest. Fantome headed southeast from Belize toward the Bay Islands north of Honduras and had the storm tracked to the northwest as was expected there would have been plenty of separation between the ship and the storm. But the monster storm called Mitch with a mind of its own defied convention and turned south where it continued to spin its Category 4 and sometimes 5 winds over the waters and islands destroying everything in it’s path. High winds and waves produced by the storm extended out some 200 miles from its center. Fantomes’ engines and Captain March’s skilled seamanship was no match for the tall waves and winds produced by Hurricane Mitch. Eventually the powerful waves broadside Fantome and breach the ships watertight bulkheads.
The story of The Ship and the Storm is tragically compelling.
Reviewed by Tom Barnes

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle
Duke Howard review:

What can I say about "Tom's Hurricane Hunters" and "Lost In The Bermuda Triangle" that hasn't already been said and said beautifully. What I can say is that when I read the two stories the word triangle reminded me of another triangle, one of greater importance to all. The one I speak of is the universal and everlasting triangle, "The Triangle of God, Nature and Man" and their interaction. Here in Tom's remembrance the emphasis is on two thirds of that interaction: Man and Nature. To me this interaction takes on the form of one great pugilistic contest played out in a cosmic ring where two worthy adversaries, Man and Nature meet to test each others strength, knowledge and staying power. Nature enters her heavy hitter, Hurricane with her winds and rain and Man enters Tom Barnes and the Navy backed by their training, planes and technology. In the early rounds, Tom and his Navy buddies are hammered, knocked down but never out. And like most true Fighting Men they rise to fight another day; they never give up. The battle is continuous, the rounds are endless, but with each round, Man learns more about this beast from the sea with its awesome force and catalytic power with the hope that someday, he will know enough to counter, defend and even nullify this monster of Nature. And if that day comes and it surely will, we can all look back and say: "It began with those brave men of Squadron 114, the original Navy Hurricane Hunters."
A must read for all of you interested in Man's on going struggle with Nature...
Duke Howard, author of "The Damnation of Mercy Kilwick."

For Hurricane Hunters book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Storm Clouds West of Lagos

2010-07-31T09:09:00.000-07:00

This Week
Storm Systems Off West Africa
Tungee's Gold – Excerpt

Hurricane Watch, Friday, August 6, 2010 am PDT
One headline reads, 'Colin Roars Back to Life.'
Colin regained tropical storm status Thursday afternoon but is not considered to be much of a threat as it moves through Bermuda waters this weekend.

Hurricane Watch, Thursday, August 5, 2010 am PDT
Various hurricane forecasters seem to be hoping Colin, after being downgraded to a tropical low pressure area, will make a comeback to Tropical Storm status.
For me, since the low pressure area is located in the mid Atlantic and doing no harm – for now let's wait and see.
Otherwise the Atlantic Basin is quiet.

Hurricane Watch, Wednesday, August 4, 2010 am PDT
The short lived Tropical Storm Colin didn't maintain storm strength and is now considered a low pressure area. It has, however, maintained enough of the storm elements to bear watching as it continues to track west.

Hurricane Watch, Tuesday, August 3, 2010 am PDT
Moving through an open sea yesterday's system has developed into a Tropical Storm and this morning was named Colin.
The storm is tracking west-northwest at 23 mph and is likely to stay on that path for the next day or two. At present Colin poses no threat to land, however the residents along the US East Coast should pay attention to the tropical forecast this week.
Colin is expected to pass north of the Leeward Islands early on Thursday.
Stay alert.

Hurricane Watch, Monday, August 2, 2010 am PDT
Another tropical depression has formed in the south Atlantic but poses no threat to the United States at the present time. It does have potential for growth though as it moves to the northwest and enters favorable upper winds and water temperatures. Potential is there and we might see some tropical storm activity, within this system, in the next day or two.

Hurricane Watch, Sunday, August 1, 2010 am PDT
Weather systems moving west from Africa could prove troublesome by the time they reach the Caribbean.
Stay alert.

Hurricane Watch, Saturday, July 31, 2010
The Atlantic basin is quiet at the present time. There are, however, two features moving away from the African coast that could develop into systems within the next day or two. Should they continue on their westerly path they will be moving into the warm waters of the Caribbean and that could mean trouble.
We wait and see.

In 1998 the notorious Hurricane Mitch came out of Africa, and moved along a similar path the present features are following, before wreaking havoc in the Western Caribbean. But lets go back more than a century to the days of the slave trader and ride out a storm off the coast of Lagos, West Africa on board the slave ship MFC

Tungee's Gold: The Legend of Ebo Landing – Excerpt
... The timbers stretched and groaned as the sea began to run and swell, twisting the hull. And the winds whined through the rigging.
Fritz Cheny cracked the forecastle door and called down. "Port watch, lend a hand. We've got some furling to do."
"Aye, Fritz," Tungee replied as he turned to the men and called, "Port watch needed topside. Let's turn to." Then he had second thoughts about Blakely's spectacles. "And you, Mr. Blakely, I don't want you in the rigging tonight. Stay on deck and man the halyards."
As the men climbed the ladder and forced their way through the door, they were hit with a drenching and blinding rain. The sea lanterns attached to each mast and the one over the binnacle were barely visible. Every man going into the rigging that night knew they would have to climb by feel and instinct more than sight.
Captain Foster stood between the helm and mizzenmast shouting orders to Cheny who was standing between the mizzen and main. Jensen standing between the main and foremast relayed the word from that position. The noise made by wind, rain and the roaring sea made it impossible to hear orders in the top rigging when called directly from the bridge.
Tungee and Jeff hit the foremast first and since the orders were to furl all the rectangle sails, Tungee headed straight to the top to lend a hand with the sky sail and royal. He directed Jeff to help with the fore royal.
Gabe Toombs bellowed from the main. "Mr. Cahill, get back to the deck and grab Jensen. The spanker just blew out and Captain Foster wants you fellows to jury-rig something. We can't do without a spanker."
"I'm on my way, Mr. Toombs." Then he yelled to his crew, "This is a rough one, gentlemen. Hang on and I'll see you later."
Dobbs was half way up the forecastle ladder when he turned and realized Simms was in foul weather gear and following him to the deck. "You don't need to go on deck in this kind of weather, Oliver."
"What do you mean I don't need to be on deck?"
"You don't need to act like a hero."
"Hero, my arse. Its just part of me bloody job and I can damn well handle it."
"Ask Tungee or Cheny, they'll tell you that you ought not to be out there tonight."
Dobbs knew Simms was out to prove he could hold his own with the rest of the crew, handicap bedamned. Their friendship went back to Sydney, Australia and Dobbs knew Simms was a hard case. He could do crime of any sort and he was a bigot, but in those areas Dobbs tried to look the other way and they remained friends.
High winds beat the rain into the MFC's deck leaving it awash and slippery. Recognizing it was impossible to maintain one's footing, Dobbs called back down the ladder, "Hang on and be careful of your footing, Oliver."
"I can get along without a nanny, if you don't mind."
"All right you horse's arse. I've said me last on the subject." Dobbs then moved straight up the foremast and climbed quickly to the top. Perhaps if he moved fast enough he would discourage Simms and he wouldn't follow. But the one armed man paid no attention to his friend and simply began his methodical and tenacious climb into the rigging.
Barely able to hang on, he muscled his way up the foremast past the foresail, then the fore lower topsail.
Dobbs joined Farmer, McCoy and Thurston and the four of them spread across the yard of the upper topgallant.
Jeff finished his work up top and began to ease his way down the pole. It was impossible to see more than a dozen feet as the wind whipped sheets of rain through the rigging. Jeff squinted to focus on the object. He was sure it was a man in foul weather gear struggling to hang onto a yardarm.
The wind and rain slashed at the bodies of the top men and the old salts as well as novice crew members tenaciously fought to hang on.
Jeff yelled over the din. "Yo there. What's your problem?"
The man in the foul weather gear asked, "Are you calling me?"
"Yeah," Jeff said, recognizing the accent. "Is that you, Simms?"
"One and the same."
"What the hell are you doing up here?"
"I'm working the port side of this here fore upper topsail and what's it to you."
"Get back to the deck, Simms."
"What for, Nigger. You think a one armed white man might show you up."
"Cut the crap, Simms. You could be hurt up here. Get your ass back to the deck."
"Don't you worry, I can handle myself."
Jeff called out, "Mr. Cheny!"
"What's your problem, Randolph?"
"Simms is in the rigging. Do you think he should be up here in this gale?"
"Hell no. Oliver Simms!" Cheny shouted.
"Aye, Mr. Cheny."
"Get back to the deck, Simms."
"Never you mind about me, I can handle myself up here."
Simms had worked himself out the fore upper topsail yardarm. He stretched and leaned over the yard, grabbed hold of the short clew line and feverishly tugged at the sail. Then he lost his balance as the foot rope he was standing on swayed back and forth.
Cheny saw the man's problem from below. "Just hold what you've got, Simms."
Jeff Randolph worked himself down the fore upper topsail yard. He ran into the same problem Simms had and that was simply locating the elusive foot rope. "Hang on, sailor, I'll be there in a minute."
The one armed man had been able to secure just one foot on the foot rope, the other was irrationally kicking out at the darkness in search of the rope.
The MFC bucked like a wild bull and the masts circled with a centrifugal force that made it nearly impossible for healthy seamen to hold their own, let alone an impaired one armed man.
Jeff Randolph inched his way out the yard and strained to move into a position near the stricken Aussie.
"Don't move, Simms. I'm almost there."
"I can't hold on much longer -- help me, Randolph. I can't find the bloomin' foot rope."
"Never mind that, just hug your chest close to the yard."
"Please, for God's sake, Randolph."
The wind swirled a solid sheet of water into the reefed sail causing the canvas to puff out. And with that jolt the clew line, held by Simms, ripped out of it's mooring and tore along the sail.
Jeff saw what was happening and made a desperate lunge for his mate.
The wind held Oliver Simms motionless for a long moment before he let go. Then he fell backwards, grimly holding onto the short clew line. Then a violent gust of wind picked him up and tossed him, screaming, into the darkness, where it dropped him in amongst the foamy waves.
"Mr. Cheny! Simms has gone over the side," Jeff wailed. "I'm sorry, I couldn't get to him."
"You did all you could. Now stop the self-pity or there will be two of you out there. Do you hear that, Randolph?"
"Aye, I'm all right, Mr. Cheny."
"You other men, up there, shape up. You know your jobs, now get on with them or you'll answer to me later," Cheny said brusquely. "Secure those sails and get you butt's back to the deck."
Captain Foster observed from the quarterdeck what had happened and hurried to Cheny's side. He said, "We could send out a long boat, I suppose, but we'd probably never get it back."
"The odds are no good, Skipper," Cheny yelled. "Risking a dozen to get one back makes no sense."
"That's my thinking, Fritz."
The usually talkative Dobbs hadn't said a word as he watched the scene unfold. And he didn't wait to complete the furling. He quickly dropped down from the mast and ran to the stern, looking over the vast ocean, hoping to spot his friend. Dobbs thought back to his mild admonishment aimed at keeping Simms below. I should have made a stronger case, he moaned.
Everyone in the rigging knew what had happened and a group gathered at the stern rail. They all strained their eyes as they looked out at the churning waters, desperately searching for something that might lend hope for Simms' survival.
Gene Blakely stepped up beside Tungee and asked, "What about a longboat. Couldn't we at least take a look?"
"It's awfully rough out there," Tungee told him, "but I suppose anything is possible."
Foster and Cheny walked up and heard the exchange. Fritz Cheny answered, "I think not, Mr. Cahill."
"There must be something we can do," Young Blakely said plaintively.
"We might launch a boat, but we'd never get it back."
Gideon Foster looked around at the men and said, "Maybe my not launching a boat seems too final and perhaps even cruel, but I don't want to lose any more of you out there."
Dobbs looked over the stern rail and scanned the waters. He was in a world by himself and called out in a last hopeless effort to will his friend back..."Oliver. Oliver."

Tungee's Gold: The Legend of Ebo Landing book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.comw
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

The Bonnie System and Flashback

2010-07-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

This Week
Bonnie the Weak
Hurricane Watch
Back to 2008 and 1945

Hurricane Watch, Friday, July 30, 2010 am PDT

Following a recent quiet period of tropical activity in the Atlantic, several waves have been spotted moving into the eastern Caribbean.

At the present time they pose no threat to the area, but to give you a look at their current positions let's go to the ACCU Weather map: Click Here

Hurricane Watch, Wednesday, July 28, 2010 am PDT

Quiet conditions still prevail in the tropical Atlantic. But how much longer is the pressing question?

Hurricane Watch, Tuesday, July 27, 2010 pm PDT

Quiet conditions continue in the tropical Atlantic.

Hurricane Watch Monday, July 26, 2010 am PDT

Bonnie be gone, and she has almost disappeared, leaving only rain showers in her wake, along with a southeast wind nudging oil slick waters nearer the Gulf Coast.

As to cleanup, vessels and equipment have returned to the oil spill site to resume operations. And they have an all clear signal as to any tropical storm activity in the near future. No waves, no depressions or systems can be spotted at the present time.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, July 25, 2010 am PDT

ACCU Weather: Thunderstorms will continue to be the main impact from Bonnie, which weakened to a tropical rainstorm Saturday afternoon while approaching southeastern Louisiana.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, July 24, 2010 am PDT
Following its brush with South Florida the tropical depression called Bonnie is struggling to maintain any thunderstorm activity near its center. The system is rapidly moving through the Gulf of Mexico at about 18 mph toward the northwest spreading rains and thunderstorms along the western Florida coast.
The wind activity is of no significance and the accompanying storm surge is weak. With its present course the system is expected to make landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River Saturday evening.

Flashback: to the July:2008 Hurricane Watch.
Hurricane Bertha, Cristobal and Dolly
Last Friday the remains of Hurricane Bertha was heading into the cold waters of the North Atlantic to die while the quick hitting Tropical Storm Cristobal was forming in the Atlantic about a hundred miles east of Charleston, S.C.
By Sunday morning Cristobal was located 105 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras, N.C. carrying maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour. The system remained about a hundred miles at sea moving at about 6 mph parallel to the coastline. It never made landfall although storm warnings were up from South Carolina to the southern coast of Virginia. Cristobal caused little wind damage, however the rains and flooding accompanying the storm caused some concern for lives and property near the coast.
Well, Hello Dolly. The welcome mat is not out, but Tropical Storm Dolly, spawned in the Western Caribbean and as of Monday morning was making its way north into the Gulf of Mexico. On that day Dolly was located 65 miles northeast of Progreso, Mexico and tracking to the northeast at 16 mph with winds of 50 mph.
Tropical Storm warnings were up from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Belize to Campeche, Mexico.
What a difference a day makes, actually its been two days, and during that brief 48 hour period Dolly had grown up to become a real pest. I expect the folks in South Texas could think of a more colorful word.
Dolly’s winds and high waves cause the evacuation from the oilrigs in the Gulf of Mexico and next come the residents and vacationers of South Padre Island.
Wednesday at 12:00 noon CDT Hurricane Dolly was centered 35 miles northeast of Brownsville Texas. Maximum sustained winds are holding at 100 mph and the storm is moving to the north-northeast between 3 and 7 mph. The central pressure is 28.56 inched of mercury. Storm warnings are still in effect for northeast Mexico, Brownsville, Texas and the Corpus Christi area.
Many Texans moved out ahead of the storm, but those that didn’t better prepare to hunker down and as Betty Davis once said, “It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Now here’s the way it was for the same general time frame back in 1945.
Excerpt from The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
I had just gotten to the barracks when someone poked his head inside the door and yelled, “Ok. Anybody in here on the regular rotation duty roster hit the deck and make your way to the plane. We’ve got a rumble out in the Western Caribbean.”
Bill Hurley grabbed his gear and as he headed to the door called to me and said, “See you in about a dozen hours, Thomas.”
“Have a good trip,” I said as he gave a high sign and strode out the door.
The rumble Bill and his crew flew out to observe was the second event of the season, and so dubbed Tropical Storm II, which never attained winds of much more than 50 mph. It developed from a depression in the Western Gulf of Mexico near the Yucatan Peninsula. The storm proceeded at a slow pace toward the northwest and made landfall in South Texas in an area between Brownsville and South Padre Island late on July 21st where it was immediately downgraded to a tropical depression. It continued to soak the area with rains overnight before petering out the following morning.
Tropical Storm II of the 1945 hurricane season’s life span was from July 19 to July 22 with top wins recorded at 52 mph.

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Masters Field and the Privateer

2010-07-17T07:56:00.000-07:00

This Week
Flashback to 1945
Masters Field and the First Hurricane Hunter

Hurricane Watch Friday, July 23, 2010 am PDT

ACCU Weather: Tropical Storm Bonnie will spread drenching rain and gusty thunderstorms from the Bahamas to South Florida today before entering the Gulf of Mexico this weekend.
The storm is currently located over warm, open waters between the Bahamas and Cuba, about 155 miles southeast of Miami, Fla., and is heading in a west-northwestward fashion. The track of the system should allow the center of circulation to pass through the Florida Straits, the waterway between Florida and Cuba, later today, brushing the Florida Keys.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, July 22, 2010 am PDT

A tropical depression has formed near the central Bahamas and a second depression is forming in the Bay of Campeche in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.
The system located over the Bahamas seems to be most likely to develop into a tropical storm.
We'll just have to wait and see.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, July 21, 2010 am PDT

Tropical storm forecasters seem to be pressing for a storm to form out of the system in the northeast Caribbean. I don't think it will happen, however, if a tropical storm forms out of that system it could impact South Florida within the next day or two.
If development should occur there is the potential it moving into the oil cleanup area and cause some problems.
This is a wait and see situation – but stay alert.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, July 20, 2010

A strong tropical wave near Puerto Rico will continue to move west northwest and the system will bring downpours and strong thunderstorms to Hispaniola, including Haiti.
Upper level winds may become more favorable for tropical development later this week.

Hurricane Watch Monday, July 19, 2010

From ACCU Weather: A tropical wave of low pressure will bring a big barrage of downpours and strong thunderstorms to Hispaniola, including Haiti, Monday night and Tuesday

A historical look at the the second month of the Atlantic hurricane season, shows some increase in the area that generally give birth to tropical storms and hurricanes.
We can expect some activity in the western Atlantic Ocean eastward from the Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas and the Southeastern United States.
The current surface water is warm enough to sustain a hurricane, but that is only one component in the growth of a tropical storm. And while past hurricane seasons do set a precedent we'll have to wait and see what actually happen in 2010.
Stay alert.

Hurricane Watch Saturday, July 17, 2010 am PDT
A tropical wave in the Western Caribbean is expected to bring rain to parts of Central America over the weekend.

Flashback: The first true Hurricane Hunter was the PB4Y-2 Privateer.

Back to 1945 and a few excerpts from my book, The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Da Plane, Da Plane. Not exactly, we won’t stop at Fantasy Island; our mission is to spot tropical storms. And when we spot one we’ll follow along and take down all the data, then keep an eye on the storm and see what develops.

We’ll be flying the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer.
What’s a Privateer? Well, it’s a beefed up B-24 Liberator Bomber with a few modifications, a single tail assembly and seven feet were added to the nose to provide the extra deck space we needed. Then to fill other special needs they added a turbo supercharger to each engine and belly tanks fitted into the bomb bay for additional fuel. The Privateer was not only durable it also had longevity and flew virtually all the Hurricane Hunting missions from 1945 to 1952.

Home Base -- Masters Field
Prior to World War II South Field, which would later be known, as Masters Field was a component of the Pan American Airways system. Those Pan American passengers arriving at South Field that were taking international flights would be processed through the terminal building on the east side of the airport and shuttled via 27th Avenue to Pan Americans seaplane base at Dinner Key.
By the time Squadron 114 arrived in Miami Masters Field was a part of a complex known as the Naval Air Station, (NAS) Miami and it consisted of three separate fields Opa Locka, Miami Municipal Field and Masters Field. During World War II those airfields were used for training various flight crews including SBD Dauntless dive-bombers, TBF Avenger torpedo bombers and F4F Wildcat fighters.
Our highflying Privateers were capable of reaching all of the Eastern or Western Caribbean and then returning to base in one non-stop flight. To the East the outer range was the vicinity of the Leeward Islands, the Lesser Antilles near Guadeloupe. In the west it would be the north shore of Honduras and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.
Our crews, down from Jacksonville, were familiar with most of the geography we
were assigned to cover. In the past a typical navigation problem might be to fly from Jacksonville past the Bahamas as far as Turk Island, turn west to Cuba and from there head northeast to base. And of course that was good practice, but once you throw a hurricane into the mix your navigation problems become a bit more complicated.
Squadron 114 was made up of six Privateers equipped with turbo supercharged
engines and the latest radio and radar equipment available.

Fast Forward to June 18, 2008
With modern technology and an almost constant overview available through satellite photos, hurricane forecasters can give us a snapshot at any given moment of the day.
This one is from earlier today and it pretty much sums up the weather patterns for all of this past week.
No Development in the Atlantic
Even though there are three tropical waves in the tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean a tropical development is not expected within the next 48 hours. Strong westerly flow in the upper atmosphere is found almost everywhere in these two bodies of water, and westerly flow aloft is not a favorable condition to tropical development. Until this flow slackens, do not expect any organization in tropical storms to occur. However, these tropical waves can produce thunderstorm activity, in fact, the tropical wave in the Caribbean may add moisture that leads to some thunderstorms across Florida on Wednesday.
By AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Mark Paquette
To get the reest of the story about the original Hurricane Hunters order a copy of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
For Amazon book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.comw
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

1926 No Warning and Hurricane Watch

2010-07-10T10:33:00.000-07:00

This week

2010 Hurricane Watch
South Florida 1926

Hurricane Watch Friday, July 15, 2010 am PDT

ACCU Weather: Thunderstorms bubbling up in the Caribbean will be watched for signs of organization over the next couple of days.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, July 15, 2010 am PDT

Other than a few scattered showers and thunderstorms the Caribbean and Gulf areas are quiet.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, July 14, 2010 am PDT

Not much activity in the Atlantic due to the dusty conditions in the waves moving west from Africa. There are some signs of a change coming by this week-end. The Gulf of Mexico is extremely clear giving the oil recovery efforts a chance to work.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, July 13, 2010 am PDT

You could say a quiet ditto to yesterday's report. The waves moving away from African are topped off with dust from the Sahara which will inhibit tropical storm development.
South Atlantic, Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico are all quiet for now.

Hurricane Watch Monday, July 12, 2010 am PDT

There is no significant tropical storm development in the Atlantic basin. Rain shower activity can be spotted in the area, but mainly over the Bahamas.
Tropical waves moving west from the African coast pose no threat at the present time.

Hurricane Watch Sunday, July 11, 2010 am PDT

More tropical downpours over Texas and northern Mexico as the system continues to move through the area.
With the exception of that rain storm in Texas/Mexico border area there is no tropical storm activity in the Atlantic basin.
There is a small wave moving west from the African coast, which will be monitored but is not expected to pose a threat to the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico any time soon.

Hurricane Watch Saturday July 10, 2010 am PDT

The line of warm ocean water, shown on the map as red, reaches from the Indian Ocean east to the South Atlantic. That 80 degree plus water temperature spells trouble in the form of tropical storm activity. So far this hurricane season, other factors have off set the warm ocean waters and limited storm activities to Tropical Storm Alex with its soaking rains.
The systems following Alex are showing some of its same characteristics, which will continue to inundate the Texas/Mexican coastal area with rain.
ACCU Weather gives us this picture: 'More tropical downpours will be unleashed over Texas and northern Mexico as a tropical rainstorm drifts westward into the weekend.'
But paraphrasing an old Betty Davis line: 'Hold onto your seats, this hurricane season could be a bumpy ride.'

Take a look at the ACCU Weather map I referred to: Click Here

1926 Hurricane – No Warning

Folklore stories and myths relating to hurricanes were on my mind as I rummaged a stack of books on hurricanes. I was curious to see the report regarding the hurricane that devastated much of South Florida in 1926. My mother and I were still in the Lee Memorial Hospital at Ft. Myers, following my birth, when that September hurricane hit the area. I located what I was looking for, checked out the book and walked to the barracks. Then I kicked back in my bunk and started to read. There were eleven storms during the season of 1926 beginning on July 22nd with a hurricane that was spawned near the Leeward Islands and the season ended its activity in the Western Caribbean on November 16th.
The one that interested me originated in the Eastern Caribbean around September 11th and rushed into Miami from the Bahamas on September 16th. That Category 4 hurricane was the worst of the season and it struck Miami with 140 mph winds along with the storm surge it left some 300 people dead in South East Coast and millions in property damage. Then it raced across the Everglades and smashed into Ft. Myers on the 17th still carrying winds of 137 miles per hour killing almost a score of people on the West Coast and millions more in property damage. When it left Ft. Myers it tracked to the northwest and continued across the Gulf of Mexico where it made landfall between Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama before it fell apart on September 22nd.
Primrose stopped by my bunk and said, “Hey, Tom, what are you reading?”
“I’m revisiting my youth.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just kidding. I was reading about the Category 4 hurricane that hit Ft. Myers while my mother and I were still in the hospital following my birth.”
“Looks like you started jousting with hurricanes early on,” Primrose said laughingly.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” I put my book away and rolled out of my bunk. “You know something, I’ve ridden out three hurricanes, over the years, not counting that first one, and during those times I don’t recall having much fear. But the more I read and the closer we get to those swirling monsters, the more fear and respect I have for them.”
“I have that same felling, Tom.” Then Primrose said, “In case you don’t already know we’re on the board for an early flight tomorrow morning.”
“What’s the mission?”
“They didn’t spell that out.”

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle: Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.comw
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Alex Wanes and 1945 Scuttlebutt

2010-07-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

This Week
Daily Hurricane Watch
Hurricane Introduction
Around the Caribbean

Hurricane Watch Friday, July 9, 2010 am PDT

Expect flooding conditions for Texas/Mexico Border.
More tropical downpours will fall on the Northern Mexico and Texas border areas as a tropical system works its way toward landfall.

Hurricane Watch Thursday, July 8, 2010 am PDT

Another tropical depression formed in the southern Gulf of Mexico late Wednesday. As of 7:00 am CDT the system was located about 80 miles east of Brownsville, Texas. Maximum sustained winds were estimated to be at 35 mph.
The depression should make landfall early this afternoon near the border of Texas and Mexico.
If given time the system could strengthen into Tropical Storm Bonnie, however if landfall occurs first that probably won't happen.

Hurricane Watch Wednesday, July 7, 2010 am PDT

A tropical system located just north of the Yucatan Peninsula is expected to target South Texas and northeastern Mexico on Thursday. If it continues it's current path it will, as Alex did last week, probably disrupt oil spill cleanup efforts in the northern Gulf. It could also lead to flooding problems along the Texas Coast.
At present the system is somewhat disorganized and is showing no thunderstorms wrapping around a center. However, the system might become better organized as it heads toward the northwest. It is expected that some strengthening will take place before midday Thursday.

Hurricane Watch Tuesday, July 6, 2010 am PDT

The tropical system mentioned yesterday is slowly changing to a west northwest path away from the Yucatan in the western Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico with the possibility of an increase in strength today.
The small system that formed in the northern Gulf has moved into Louisiana carrying heavy rains, but no major damage has been caused by the storm.
So far the tropical weather in the oil spill area has hampered oil recovery, but has not shut it down

Hurricane Watch: Monday, July 5, 2010 am PDT

A current weather system has formed in the same area where Alex first formed about a week ago and in pretty much the same manner.
Interestingly, steering currents could guide this system along on a similar path to that of an Alex rerun.
This current weather system in the western Caribbean is in position to replay last week's feature. Over the holiday weekend, a large area of showers and thunderstorms was becoming better organized and is setting up to be the next Atlantic tropical depression named Bonnie. Then should the tropical waves continue to move into the area might we expect a possible Bonnie and Clyde in tandem.
Atmospheric conditions are favorable for development. The whole area is moving toward the west-northwest at 10 to 15 mph and will eventually enter the southern Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rain from the disturbance should fall on the Cayman Islands, western Cuba and coastal Honduras through tonight and then it is expected to move westward across the Yucatan.
Stay tuned.

Hurricane Watch July 3, 2010 am PDT

Moisture from Alex still causing rainfall over parts of northeast Mexico and the U.S. border. Disturbed weather in the northeast Gulf of Mexico and several tropical waves that are making their way through the Caribbean are being monitored for future development.
Gulf coast area residents should remain alert for possible tropical storm warnings.

Mission: Develop Hurricane Warning System.

The year was 1945 World War II was winding down; the Atomic Age was ushered in with a big bang at Hiroshima, Japan and Washington orders military to develop a hurricane warning system.
Navy Privateer aircraft and crews back from the Pacific are chosen for the task. Rank and file laughs the idea off as a joke. However once they arrive at Masters Field Miami and get a full briefing on the subject they come away supporting the plan and the mission.
This book of remembrance is being written to tell the story of that first season and alert you to some of the inherent dangers of hurricanes.
Hurricanes have an arsenal of weapons that include winds capable of denuding the landscape. Its winds can whip up high waves and produces a storm surge that can overwhelm shorelines and toss boats and ships around like match sticks. When it moves inland it can pour flooding rains across a battered countryside.
The best example of that danger is the powerful hurricane with its huge storm surge that overwhelmed Galveston, Texas in September of 1900 killing more than 8,000 people.
My first experience of seeing, up close, what a hurricane can do happened when I was seven or eight years old. My father was driving south from Sarasota, Florida on US 41; I was riding in the back seat of our family car and looking forward to crossing the Caloosahatchee River Bridge. I always liked crossing bridges and that one leading into Ft. Myers was special because of the scene on the other side. It was a pretty picture with palm trees, big white houses, green lawns and flowers -- but not today. We crossed the bridge only to be met by a barren landscape. Not one palm tree was standing. “What happened to the trees, daddy?” “The hurricane, son.”
That dual scene was forever etched in my mind, the memories of the palm tree lined street and those of the barren landscape I saw that morning.
The scene is typical of a hurricane’s power to devastate an area. Fortunately they’re not all that powerful and neither do they follow a set pattern. Hurricanes often defy conventional wisdom as well as computer models when it comes to their movement and strength. Even with satellite and Hurricane Hunter aircraft providing up to the minute data some hurricanes are still unpredictable.
When the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for your immediate area, take their advice, batten down the hatches and if they tell you to move out of harms way do it and do it quickly.
Remember Katrina.

Comes the rude awakening.
World War II is winding down and Squadron VB-4 OUT-2, based in Jacksonville, Florida is retraining former carrier based aircrews to fly heavy patrol bombers.
Scuttlebutt has it that a half dozen PB4Y-2 Privateers and crews will deploy to Miami and form Squadron 114. The mission will be to fly around the Caribbean to places like Nassau, San Juan, Barbados, Jamaica and Cuba.
“Sounds like good duty to me, but what’s the catch?’
“You fly over – you don’t stop over.”
“Give me a break. You mean we can’t even fake engine trouble and stop by Havana for a bottle of rum and a case of gin?”
“Nope.”
“Then what the hell are we doing?”
“You’ll be searching for hurricanes.”
“Hurricanes! That is the dumbest idea I ever heard.”

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

www.tombarnes39.comwww.tombarnes39.comw
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Alex and the Wrath of a Hurricane

2010-06-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

This Week
Daily Hurricane Watch
Anatomy of a Hurricane

Hurricane Watch: July 2, 2010 pm PDT

As Tropical Storm Alex pushed westward through Mexico, Nuevo Leon's capital, Monterrey, was hit hardest as winds and rain brought chaos and destruction to the area.

Hurricane Watch July 1, 2010 am PDT
Hurricane Alex made landfall Wednesday night on a sparsely populated stretch of coast in Mexico's Tamaulipas state, about 110 miles south of Brownsville, Texas.
Storms winds ripped off roofs and heavy rains caused severe flooding to the coastal fishing villages that took the brunt of the storm as it hit with hurricane force before moving inland and weakening to a tropical storm.
About a 1,000 people had to evacuate low-lying areas, but state officials reported no injuries or major damage.
While Alex didn't hit the northern Gulf of Mexico it whipped up high waves and frustrated cleanup efforts in the oil-spill area.

Hurricane Watch June 30, 2010 am PDT

Northeastern Mexico will bear the brunt of Hurricane Alex as it makes landfall, possibly as a Category 2 storm, late tonight near or just north of La Pesca, Mexico. Storm surge, flooding, mudslides and winds will all be threats to lives and property across northeastern Mexico.
As of 9:00 am PDT Alex was centered approximately 145 miles east of La Pesca with motion to the west-northwest at 7 mph. Maximum sustained winds were at 80 mph.
Outer bands are already slamming the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

Hurricane Watch: June 29, 2010

Tropical Storm Alex nears hurricane status as it continues to move through the western Caribbean and southern Gulf of Mexico. Alex is expected to strengthen today and possibly reach a Category 2 status by Wednesday prior to making landfall on the northern Mexico coast or possibly the Texas coast by Wednesday night.
Prior to landfall. flooding along the coast will be of concern to areas as far north as Galveston, Texas.
Early morning location of Tropical Storm Alex was about 380 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph. Alex is moving to the north-northwest at 12 mph.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the northern Mexico and Texas coast from Baffin Bay southward to the mouth of the Rio Grande River and for the Mexican coast from La Cruz northward to the mouth of the Rio Grande River.

Hurricane Watch: June 28, 2010

Tropical storm Alex continues to strengthen, after passing from the Yucatan Peninsula to the Bay of Campeche on Sunday. The storm is expected to become a hurricane before reaching eastern Mexico on Thursday. However, a northward turn toward the western Gulf of Mexico is still possible.
As of late Monday morning Alex was located about 85 miles west-northwest of Campeche, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. The storm is moving to the north-northwest at 7 mph. Upper winds remain weak, and the water is warm enough to support the potential strengthening into a hurricane over the next few days.
The reach of Alex covers a very wide area, which could impact large areas of the Gulf of Mexico with thunderstorms, wind, rain and higher than normal sea swells. The oil spill area might see some effects of the Alex outreach.
For ACCU Weather Video on Alex Click Here

Hurricane Watch: June 26, 2010 8:30 am PDT
Regional forecasters pen the dubious title of Tropical Storm Alex as the weather system pushes westward. The storm is carrying thunderstorms, torrential rains aimed at portions of Central America and southeastern Mexico this weekend.
The system is covering a large area of open water and is tracking toward an area that extends from Honduras, Guatemala and Belize to Mexico's Yucatan, Campeche Bay and Tabasco states.
While the systems are large and a cause of concern it's too early to predict what will happen as they move onshore.
People in the area need to stay alert and prepare for heavy rains and flooding over the week-end.

To know is to respect the potential wrath of a hurricane.
A hurricane is a tropical storm system with a closed circulation of thunderstorms surrounding a center of low pressure and fueled by high temperatures. High wind circulation produces torrential rain, which can cause catastrophic effects on living populations. It is also said that hurricanes play an important role in relieving sustained droughts and maintaining equilibrium in the environment, a fact that is apparently lost on the global warming crowd.
Hurricanes begin as a tropical depression and grow into storms, they then strengthen according to a number of factors, the most crucial being the water temperature. Strong wind and water damage from flooding usually accompany a hurricane. But the most deadly and damaging part of the hurricane is something called a storm surge.
The hurricane comes crashing onshore with its lightening, thunder and keening winds. If that isn't enough the underbelly of the storm is a title wave that can swamp coastal communities. That storm surge along the coast line is the greatest threat to life and property. The width of that dome of water can be measured from fifty to a hundred miles wide, and it sweeps over the shoreline preceding the actual hurricane. Before the hurricane winds arrive that avalanche of water should be the greatest concern to the area. If it should hit at high tide those huge wind whipped waves can swallow up communities leaving total devastation.
For you weather watchers, the first visible sign of an approaching hurricane is usually wave patterns. In the Gulf of Mexico for example twelve to fifteen waves normally wash up on the shore each minute. When a hurricane is lurking over the horizon, the pattern slows dramatically. Then only four or five waves arrive each minute and they are noticeably larger than usual.
The first signs of a hurricane are light wispy clouds spiking up from the horizon. Those clouds called rooster tails are made up of millions of tiny ice crystals floating in a thin layer high above the storm.
Eventually the rim of the hurricane becomes visible and the approach can be an awesome sight. It will appear above the horizon of the sea like a rising mountain of dirty snow. And as it moves nearer its color darkens to gray, then dark gray, then nearly black.
Hopefully, at that point you are moving quickly out of harms way.

The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Amazon book page Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.comw
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Storms Along the Equator and Abby

2010-06-19T10:34:00.000-07:00

2010 Hurricane Watch

Hurricane Watch Update

Hurricane Watch: June 25 Noon PDT

Meteorologists are keeping a close watch on a tropical wave located off the north shoulder of Honduras in the Western Caribbean. Its current track is west, but that could change. If it should make a move to the north that could mean trouble in the oil slick area sometime next week.
Although that doesn't seem likely at the present time, it can't be ruled out either.
Another thing to keep in mind is that almost the same weather situation is still in place that produced the string of tropical waves moving west from Africa. More to come?
Stay tuned.

Hurricane Watch: June 24, 2010

Tropical waves making their way from Africa to the Caribbean are disorganized but carry thunderstorm activity and rain as they pass near Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Cuba. At the present time they show no signs of developing into tropical storms. But stay alert.
On the Pacific side of the tropics Celia and Darby continue to churn up the waters of an open sea, with no current predictable landfall in sight.

June 23, 2010 Noon PDT

Tropical waves are strung out from the African Coast past the Lesser Antilles Islands to the Western Caribbean near the north shoulder of Honduras. There is thunderstorm activity along with strong

wind and rain associated with these systems.

There are risks of Tropical Storm and Hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico during the coming week.

June 22, 2010 PM PDT
Tropical waves moving west from the African Coast are presently located in the Caribbean south and east of Jamaica. If those waves continue on their current track some storm activity can be expected in the Western Gulf of Mexico by this week-end.
It would take only a slight shift to the north to put those potential storms over the oil spill area.
Keep alert and stay tuned.

June 21, 2010 PM update on Hurricane Season predicts extreme numbers.

For video on ACCU Weather hurricane forecast update Click Here

Satellite images of the ares just north of the equator on the Pacific and Caribbean sides of Central America is filled with tropical storm activity. Tropical Storm Blas continues to churn in the eastern Pacific Ocean while depression four has strengthened into Tropical Storm Celia.
The area within a few hundred miles of the southern Mexico and Central America coasts in the Pacific continues to be a hotbed of storm activity.
On the Caribbean side of the continent tropical waves fill out the satellite picture. There is no tropical storm development seen in the present forecasts, but every time I see a string of tropical waves along the equator I think of Hurricane Mitch back in 1998.

Continuing Last week's post on the subject of Abby Sunderland.

(News from Australia said the French ship Ile De La Reunion brought Sunderland on board from her battered craft Saturday afternoon.)
That was the end of last week's post on the subject of rescuing Abby Sunderland after she aborted her around-the-world odyssey. All the hoopla in recent days has been about the cost of the rescue effort and who would foot the bill.
However, the cost becomes a moot point when honorable people are involved and simply follow Maritime Law. After the 1912 Titanic disaster, there was an international agreement to help any ship in distress at sea at no cost.
So the two countries involved, France and Australia, are simply following Maritime Law and have brushed off questions about the cost of the rescue.
The French fishing ship Ile De La Reunion that rescued Abby is not expected to arrive in its home-port until next week.
So why can't our congress and president take a lesson from France and Australia -- step up to the plate, read our Constitution, stop pointing fingers, roll up your sleeves and clean up the oil mess in the Gulf of Mexico. I expect you had best get on with it or a rash of hurricanes might do it for you.

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.comw
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

2010 Hurricanes, Abby Sunderland and Hypoxia

2010-06-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

This Week

2010 Hurricane Forecast

Abby Sunderland and the Indian Ocean

High Altitudes and Hypoxia

Hurricane Watch 2010

Tropical weather conditions that could effect the United States are presently clear, however, the latest data confirms forecasters speculation that a wild hurricane season might be in the works.

For a comprehensive analysis by ACCU weather forecaster Joe Bastardi Click Here

Young Abby Sunderland in distress:

Sixteen year old Abby Sunderland attempting to become the youngest sailor to circumnavigate the globe solo was feared missing for several hours in the Indian Ocean on Thursday.

The girl and her boat were found safe and a French vessel is en route to attempt a rescue in rough seas. There was a period from around 6 a.m. Thursday, PDT, until around 11:30 p.m. PDT when Abby Sunderland was feared missing. However she activated two distress signals on her boat and a search plane spotted her boat in an upright position and that they had made contacted. The search crew reported her very much alive and well.

It might be added that it's winter in that part of the world and while the storm that whacked her boat and took down the mast has moved on, the prevailing weather is still cold and stormy.

According to Abby's parents in Thousand Oaks, California that once the rescue is made their daughter will not try and continue her voyage.

Successful rescue made Saturday AM:

A French fishing vessel rescued Abby Sunderland from her storm battered sailboat in the Indian Ocean.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed that the rescue was made some 2,000 miles from the western Australia coast.

News from Australia said the French ship Ile De La Reunion brought Sunderland on board from her battered craft Saturday afternoon at (about 2:45 am. PDT).

Deadly Hypoxia

Attention Airline passengers: You are a passenger aboard an airliner flying at 30, 000 feet. Outside the pressurized cabin you wouldn’t live more than a few seconds, inside you don’t give it a thought. Suddenly the pressure system fails and a yellow oxygen mask falls into your lap -- don’t panic. Just follow instructions the flight attendant gave you before takeoff. Put the mask over your face and breathe normally.

Now as a way to tell you why, I’m going to take you through a typical training class, before pressurized cabins, that was given by the navy to all aircrew members in the use of oxygen masks.

Excerpt from The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

I was in torpedo bomber training at Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and taking a course about oxygen as it relates to altitudes. Suddenly our class was whisked off on a field trip to Miami that introduced us to an air chamber, which simulates air density and oxygen levels at various altitudes. We were escorted through a thick door and into a large room, on one side two rows of chairs were setup and on the other side were two 50 caliber machineguns and gun mounts.

Once everybody was in the room the instructor asked us to take seats in the chairs and said he needed a couple of volunteers for the machineguns. Then he said, “Now this is not a trick question and no matter how you answer it you will not be put on report. I need someone that has had no alcohol in the past 24 hours. And I need somebody that had a few drinks of whiskey last night.”

Everyone squirmed a little, but finally McMillan stuck his hand up and said, “I don’t drink at all so I’ll volunteer as the non drinker.”

Robinson stood. “I had a few shots of bourbon last night.”

“Great. OK you two go to the gun mounts, take your seats and get in firing position. Everyone other than the gunners put on your oxygen masks. You two at the gun mounts, don’t put on your masks yet.” He then gestured and said, “Looking straight ahead is 12:00 o’clock. I’ll be calling out various airplanes, when I call an enemy plane simulate shooting it down and friendly planes just wave them off. We’ll be starting out at an altitude of 8,000 feet.”

He called out, “Spitfire at 11:00 o’clock.” They waved it off.

“ME 109 2:00 o’clock low. Both of them fired at the German plane.

“P-51 12:00 o’clock high, and a Zero at 1:00 o’clock low. They waved off the P-51 and fired on the Zero. Then he changed the altitude to 11,000 feet and called out another group of planes. McMillan was as sharp as before but Robinson was slow to react.

Then the instructor said, “The next test will be at 13,000 feet. P-38 2:00 o’clock high.” McMillan waved it off. Robinson hesitated, but eventually fired at the P-38.

Next altitude as 14,000 feet “Now I’ll give you a few quick ones and then I want you to put your oxygen masks on.”

He called out a string Spitfire, ME 109, Stuka -- Dive Bomber, Betty, F6F, Zero, and TBM. McMillan gave the right signal on all of them. Robinson, on the other hand, made a mess of the whole thing. He was erratic as he waved off the enemy and fired on friends.

The instructor then said, “Now, if you were mountain climbers trained in high altitude climbing you could move to a very high altitude before you required oxygen. But with no training and starting at sea level the average person needs oxygen at about 14,000 feet. And if you don’t get your mask on you’ll begin hallucinating and eventually pass out. The higher the altitude the quicker you pass out.

For The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Click Here

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.

Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.

www.tombarnes39.com

www.RocktheTower.com

http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Flashback: Valentino and the Hurricane

2010-06-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Watch 2010
For the first few days of the 2010 hurricane season we'll have to settle for unstable air and thunderstorms along the north east coast of the United States.
In the days to come we might not only be following tropical storms and hurricanes but streams of oil making its way from the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean and the Atlantic. And at this point in time we have no idea how the Gulf Stream will handle the oil.
In the meantime I'd like to tell you about a couple of events, including the deadliest hurricane to hit Florida during the early part of the 20th Century.
I don't know what it means or what part I play in the whole scheme of things, but here it is.
On September 3, 1926 Rudolph Valentino's casket was put on board a train bound for Hollywood. All the way from New York to Los Angeles throngs of people assembled at stations along the way for a glimpse of Valentino's funeral train.
At that same time a deadly hurricane was forming somewhere east of the Leeward Islands in the South Atlantic. The hurricane moved in a west northwest direction taking dead aim at the Bahamas and South Florida.
On September 7th at Lee Memorial Hospital in Ft. Myers this actor, writer and eventual hurricane hunter was born. However, that deadly hurricane and my birth went unnoticed by America, for their eyes were on celebrity and the Rudolph Valentino funeral train making its way to Hollywood.
Once the train arrived in Los Angeles and funeral preparations were finalized a subdued quiet fell over the Hollywood community. There was little left to be said for the drama had all played out in New York with first wife Jean Acker and Pola Negri's claim of eternal love and fidelity for the lost star.
The funeral procession was over a mile long and there were throngs of fans and onlookers. Hundreds of Hollywood elite including Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, John Gilbert, William S. Hart and Mable Normand among them.

Now here is the rest of the story.

Folklore stories and myths relating to hurricanes were on my mind as I rummaged a stack of books on hurricanes. I was curious to see the report regarding the hurricane that devastated much of South Florida in 1926. My mother and I were still in the Lee Memorial Hospital at Ft. Myers, following my birth, when that September hurricane hit the area. I located what I was looking for, checked out the book and walked to the barracks. Then I kicked back in my bunk and started to read. There were eleven storms during the season of 1926 beginning on July 22nd with a hurricane that was spawned near the Leeward Islands and the season ended its activity in the Western Caribbean on November 16th.
The one that interested me originated in the Eastern Caribbean around September 11th and rushed into Miami from the Bahamas on September 16th. That Category 4 hurricane was the worst of the season and it struck Miami with 140 mph winds along with the storm surge it left some 300 people dead in South East Coast and millions in property damage. Then it raced across the Everglades and smashed into Ft. Myers on the 17th still carrying winds of 137 miles per hour killing almost a score of people on the West Coast and millions more in property damage. When it left Ft. Myers it tracked to the northwest and continued across the Gulf of Mexico where it made landfall between Pensacola, Florida and Mobile, Alabama before it fell apart on September 22nd.
Primrose stopped by my bunk and said, “Hey, Tom, what are you reading?”
“I’m revisiting my youth.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just kidding. I was reading about the Category 4 hurricane that hit Ft. Myers while my mother and I were still in the hospital following my birth.”
“Looks like you started jousting with hurricanes early on,” Primrose said laughingly.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” I put my book away and rolled out of my bunk. “You know something, I’ve ridden out three hurricanes, over the years, not counting that first one, and during those times I don’t recall having much fear. But the more I read and the closer we get to those swirling monsters, the more fear and respect I have for them.”
“I have that same felling, Tom.” Then Primrose said, “In case you don’t already know we’re on the board for an early flight tomorrow morning.”
“What’s the mission?”
“They didn’t spell that out.”

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://thehurricanehunter.blogspot.com

Birth of a Hurricane and Crazy Old Fay

2010-05-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from 'The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
Primrose and I left the chow hall and strolled over to the operations office just to take a look at the map of our 1945 Hurricane Season. The count so far was four tropical storms and two hurricanes. Then I noticed something in the Western Caribbean and pointed to the area. “What do you make of these last three?”
“I’m not sure, but that’s not all. Look at the dates, they all formed within an eleven day period."
“That seems odd. Have you read anything on the subject of hurricane’s forming in multiples in the same area?”
“No, but I guess anything’s possible. I just read an article called “Birth of a Hurricane.” It said a hurricane’s life begins in an area of enhanced cumulonimbus clouds piling up to the sky. But to grow into something more than just a summer afternoon thunderstorm or even a tropical disturbance there must be three conditions present. The ocean waters surface temperatures must be 80 degrees Fahrenheit in order to put enough heat and moisture into the system to provide the potential fuel needed for the next stage of development. Second, atmospheric moisture caused by the evaporation of seawater has to be combined with that heat and energy to form the powerful engine that can propel a hurricane. Third, a wind pattern near the ocean surface is needed to begin the spiral then with the help of the earth’s rotation the clouds begin to spin inward in a counterclockwise direction. At that point the system begins to take shape. When the winds continue to spiral around the low-pressure center at speeds from 23 to 39 miles per hour you have a tropical depression.
When the clouds within the system rise faster and higher and at the same time thunderstorms continue to build along the inner wall and the whole body of disturbed air begins to spin with speeds from 39 to 74 miles per hour the tropical depression has grown into a tropical storm. If the dynamics surrounding the storm remain favorable air and sea temperature and atmospheric pressures remain, then low swirling winds aided by the earth’s rotation the system can rapidly achieve hurricane speeds.”
“Is that all fact or part theory, Tom?”
“I expect part of it is theory, but even so is sounds logical.”
Primrose scratched his head. “Those scientific folks are pretty smart but I haven’t read where anyone has put it all together and worked out a forecast system that would tell us when and where a tropical depression will form.”
“It’s likely the same reason they can’t predict earthquakes. Mother Nature is a funny old gal you know, and she’s pretty darned unpredictable.”
Primrose chuckled. “Maybe that’s the reason they call her Mother rather than Father Nature.”
For more on 'The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle' Click Here

'The Man Who Came to Dinner,' a famous old play, but we're not talking about a man we've actually got a girl named Fay in mind. And Fay's not a girl, she's a huricane and I'm using that 2008 hurricane to ease us into the 2010 season, which officially begins next week.
Reprint:
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2008
A Girl Named Fay
2008 Hurricane Watch
Before Fay had a name the system that was to become Fay was spotted some 600 miles east of the Lesser Antilles Islands around the 12th of August. Then moving generally west and passing Puerto Rico, Haiti and Cuba the system grew and acquired Tropical Storm status and was named Fay.
Then by Monday morning August 18th Fay was located 70 miles southeast of Key West with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and moving north-northwest at 15 mph.
Fay gave a pretty solid jab at Key West. The locals took Fay’s punch in stride, hung tough and grumbled a lot, but knew it could have been much worse.
After leaving Key West Fay took a northern course heading for South Florida. Then she made her way up the southwest coast along the Tamiami Trail and just south of Naples she took a northeast heading into the Everglades. Fay moved on a northeast path carrying winds of 60 mph and splitting the distance between Fort Myers on her left and Lake Okeechobee on her right.
Then just north of the lake she made a feint to the right and headed toward Melbourne. After giving a good soaking to the area the storm popped out into the Atlantic just south of Cape Canaveral. At that point Fay couldn’t make up her mind where to go next – so she just sat there a couple of days and moved ever so slowly toward Daytona Beach. However, before she reached Daytona Beach Fay made landfall again and moved west toward Florida’s horse country and Ocala. She took another day wandering aimlessly around the bogs south of Gainesville.
On Friday the 22nd Fay picked up her piddling speed and by Saturday morning she had moved to an area 20 miles southeast of Panama City, Florida carrying winds of 45 mph and at that point moving west at 7 mph.
Alabama was next on Fay’s agenda where she was called a tropical rainstorm and moving toward Mississippi.
Now I haven’t done extensive research on the subject but I think one would be hard pressed to find a tropical storm or hurricane, logged in Caribbean storm archives, equal to Fay, one that hung around and harassed a single state for a solid week as she did. Fay turned out to be like the relative that came for a weekend and overstayed and abused her welcome in every way imaginable.

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter: Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a nonfiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
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2008 Hurricane Watch and World War II Ends

2010-05-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

May 25, 2010
Weather system off the Carolinas could indicate early hurricane season activity.
From Accuweather.com
'An area of low pressure to the north of the Bahamas will head closer to the Carolinas today.
Stay alert and for frequent updates on the weather system Click Here

This Week
Flashback to 2008 Hurricane Season
Official End to World War II

Since we had little hurricane activity in 2009 I decided to go back to a post I did 2008. Follow along and we'll get up to speed for the 2010 season.

Gustav, Hanna, Ike and Josephine

2008 Hurricane Watch
Sounds like two couples going on a summer picnic. Not so this summer, it’s follow-the-leader and like in baseball you’ll need a scorecard to keep track. The 2008 hurricane season was quite normal before Fay and as most Floridians can attest, Fay could hardly be called normal. She hung around and settled in for a visit only to become an unwelcome guest. Eventually though she got the picture and moved along to lower Alabama and Mississippi.
Just as Fay was making her exit Monday August 25th a guy named Gustav came on the scene near Port Au Prince Haiti and moved west toward the vacation spots of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
By Saturday August 30th Gustav had turned to the northwest and as it headed for the Gulf of Mexico gained strength and wind speed. As a consequence western Cuba felt the wrath of Gustav’s 120 mph winds.
On that same day Tropical Storm Hanna was located 240 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico with 50 mph winds and moving to the west at 12 mph.
Sunday morning August 31st Gustav was located 470 miles southeast of New Orleans and carrying winds of 120 mph. Forecasters expected the worst that Gustav would increase to Category 4 hurricane.
At about that same hour Tropical Storm Hanna located 155 miles east northeast of Grand Turk Island was moving west-northwest at 8 mph showing winds of 60 mph.
During that day the mainstream media was in a frenzy and scurrying off to New Orleans – apparently heading off to cover another Katrina. Fortunately it didn’t happen.
On Monday morning Gustav, a Category 2 hurricane made land fall south of Houma, Louisiana, located 75 miles south southwest of New Orleans, at 10:00 am CDT carrying, lower than predicted, winds of 110 mph.
Of course even with the reduced wind speed Gustav did considerable damage along the coast of Mississippi and Louisiana. But it was nothing on the scale of the monster storm that had been predicted.
This time around the people of New Orleans got out of town and while they were inconvenienced – they were alive.
By late in the afternoon following Gustav’s morning show many of the bars on Bourbon Street were open for business.
In the meantime while Gustav traveled north toward Shreveport Tropical Storm Hanna with winds of 70 mph was located 385 miles southeast of Nassau.
Next in that Daisy chain of hurricanes Tropical Storm Ike was 1, 235 east of the Leeward Islands carrying winds of 50 mph.
Next in line is Tropical Storm Josephine located in the east Atlantic and is tracking west at about 12 mph.
Stay tuned.

Back to 1945
Excerpt from my Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
On September 2nd 1945 while Squadron 114 was concentrating on hurricanes’ the eyes of the world were on the USS Battleship Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay.
A Japanese delegation arrived to make their government’s unconditional surrender official. The new Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Japan, General Douglas MacArthur, directed the ceremonies. The general made a brief opening statement and then directed the Japanese representatives to sign the official documents.
Once the documents were signed for all practical purposes the Japanese government had accepted the Potsdam Declaration calling for the complete disarmament and surrender of all Japan’s military forces.
General MacArthur said, “We pray that peace be now restored to the world, that God will preserve it always. These proceedings are closed.”
With the documents signed by Japanese representatives and the pronouncement made by General MacArthur World War II had officially ended.

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter: Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a nonfiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
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www.RocktheTower.com

Test Flight and Observations Inside The Bermuda Triangle

2010-05-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

This Week

Test Flight
Bermuda Triangle (Part 2)

Test Flight and Who's Watching the Chief
The next morning we repeated our preflight inspection prior to the test flight. The skipper took his time warming up the engines. As Engle and Shepherd went over their checklist and did a final check of the instrument panel, he turned to me and said, “Button her up, Tom.”
I signaled the ground crew to pull the chocks, and then I closed the bomb bay doors and returned to the flight deck. Since the Masters Field control tower would be out of operation for the foreseeable future we switched over to Opa Locka tower for taxi instructions. We were cleared to taxi from our present position to the west end of Runway Nine East.
While we taxied across the field I checked the small auxiliary power source as well as the individual engine generator instruments. I found them all operational and reported that fact to the skipper. As soon as we got into position Shepherd called Opa Locka Tower and they cleared us for takeoff. Once we got off the runway we climbed to about five thousand feet, then leveled off and continued on a course heading toward the Bahamas Islands.
I did my routine walkabout inspection, returned to the flight deck and reported to the skipper that everything was operating normal. He gave me a thumbs up and then did several maneuvers to test all the control surfaces. Then we made a 180-degree turn that put us on a heading for a return to the Florida coast.
At times like this I wish I had brought a camera along. I spotted three large sail boats with full sail and tacking to the wind, a tramp steamer and a large cargo ship. As the shoreline came into view I could see that our approach was going to be in an area between Ft. Lauderdale and Hollywood, Florida. As we came near the land the damage done by the recent hurricane was clearly visible. There were a number of beached vessels, a dozen or more houses with no roof and scores of downed trees.
I spotted the old Riverside Academy building at Hollywood that we used as barracks during gunnery school. Then out of nowhere I began humming The Sheik of Arabia and since I was standing almost at Shepherds ear, he turned and said. “What’s that tune, Tom?”
I laughed. “It’s the Sheik of Arabia.” I pointed and said, “That red building down there is where we were billeted during gunnery school and instead of using a bugle for reveille they used the Spike Jones version of that crazy tune to jump start our day.”
Shepherd smiled then got on the radio and called Opa Locka Tower for landing instructions.
About the time I spotted our old target practice range we were flying over the Everglades and making a hard left turn onto our base leg. And only moments later I looked over the skipper’s shoulder and out to the port side of the plane. He pointed and said, “That’s what’s left of the Blimp Base.”
The scene reminded me of a Science Fiction movie or a war zone. All three hangars had been demolished and there was nothing left but a few metal frames, foundations and a pile of ashes.
Looking down on the scene we could see the path Hurricane IX took and the destruction of the Richmond Naval Facilities as well as the battered communities of Hialeah and Miami Springs. When viewing the overall damage it was hard to believe there were only 4 fatalities in the Miami area. Unfortunately though, it was reported that 22 lives were lost in the Bahamas.
Then the skipper made another left turn, gear and flaps down, maneuvered the Privateer onto a perfect glide path and set the plane down on Runway Nine just over an hour after we took off from Masters Field.
We taxied over and parked in our regular slot, did a thorough post flight inspection and determined that our plane was operational and fully qualified to return to active duty.

Primrose and I had completed our mundane work on a cleanup detail and stopped by the operations office before going to the chow hall. One glance at the assignment board and I enthused, “Hot dang, we’re flying tomorrow.”
A yeoman behind the counter said, “Hey, you guys in the pool yet?”
“What pool?” I asked.
“I guess you fellows didn’t get the word. There’s a three way betting pool going.”
“Give us the skinny,” Primrose said.
“You can bet the next hurricane will be spawned in the Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean or none of the above.”
“None of the above meaning we won’t have another hurricane this season.”
“You got it.”
“Are you taking the action?”
“Yeah.”
I turned to Primrose and said, “Why don’t we do a little scientific evaluation of the situation.”
“How in hell do you do that, Tom?”
“First we eliminate none of the above simply because the typical hurricane season runs June through November, which means we have a lot of time left. That gives us two others to consider, Eastern or Western Caribbean. And so far this season we’ve had nine numbered storms, five of those originated in the West and four in the East. Then by the numbers if nature plans to even things out the next one is gonna be born in the East.”
Primrose smiled. “Yeah and it sounds to me that your scientific evaluation is about like flipping a coin. So if you’re thinking like me we’ll go with the Eastern.”
I nodded and looked toward the yeoman, “How much do we have to anti up?”
“A buck apiece. You fill out this chit and fork over a buck each and you guys are in.”
“How do we know we can trust you?” Primrose asked.
“Don’t worry about that, the chief’s looking out for the pot.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said. Then I scratched my head and wondered who was watching the chief.

Bermuda Triangle Facts:
The Sargasso Sea is named for saragassum a type of seaweed that covers the whole area and floats on or near the surface. The saragassum covered area of the Atlantic remains placid while the Gulf Stream and other currents swirl around its edges. How this strange bed of seaweed adapted to this off shore area baffles oceanographers as well as other scientists and it remains a mystery to this day.
This quiet sea attracts surface vessels both manned and unmanned. Sailing vessels have been becalmed and could not move. Small powerboats have had their propellers caught up in the seaweed. Some boats were eventually abandoned when the owner could not extricate the boat from the tangled seaweed. Derelict ships have been spotted and boarded to find no sign of life. Salvage crews have boarded and gotten the ship under weigh only to disappear themselves before reaching safe harbor.
Countless theories explaining the many disappearances have been offered throughout history, but the most practical seems to be environmental or possible human error. The majority of strange happenings within the Bermuda Triangle can be attributed to the area’s unique environmental features. It is important to note that the Bermuda Triangle is one of two places on earth that a magnetic compass does point toward true north. Normally it points toward magnetic north and the difference between the two readings can be as much as 20 degrees. If that compass variation is not understood and compensated for, calculations could put the ship or plane many miles off course.
The unpredictable Caribbean Atlantic weather pattern also has a role. Sudden thunderstorms, water spouts and hurricanes often spell disaster for pilots and mariners alike. Then one must consider the topography of the ocean floor that varies from extensive shoals around the islands to some of the deepest marine trenches in any ocean. The Gulf Stream is extremely swift and turbulent and produces strong currents over the numerous reefs, which means the ocean floor is constantly changing and that factor alone makes it capable of moving or even erasing evidence of a disaster.
But at the end of the day questions relating to ghost ships, missing crews and strange lights -- still go unanswered.

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter: Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a nonfiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
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Hurricane IX Weakens and The Bermuda Triangle

2010-05-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

This Week
Storm Past Miami and Moving North
Facts About the Bermuda Triangle

2010 Hurricane Season begins June 1st

Access the Damage and Move On
At first light the doors were opened and we spilled out of the building. No one was surprised by what we saw since operations had given us the latest word that an area from Homestead to Ft. Lauderdale had caught the brunt of the storm and of course Miami was right in the middle. Grim reports of wind damage came in from all around the area. Downed trees and power lines obstructing streets made it impossible to assess all the area damage. Roofs were blown off some houses and other houses simply collapsed leaving nothing but a pile of debris. But the greatest damage to life and property along the coastline was not done by the wind, but the strong storm surge. That large dome of water can range from fifty to a hundred miles across as it sweeps in overwhelming the shoreline and flooding beach and other low-lying areas. The surge is capable of carrying boats and small yachts several miles inland.
The Category 4 hurricane wreaked havoc in the Miami area, but spared Central Florida that same fate as its ferocity diminished when it moved over
Everglades and dropped down to a Category 1 storm.
Primrose and I decided to go to our barracks and check the damage there. We had walked no more than half a block when we looked up at what, just yesterday, was the control tower. The glass had been blown out, the roof ripped off and all that remained now was the skinny metal frame that gave a feint outline of what the tower had once looked like.
Overall we lucked out, because other than the control tower the main buildings including our barracks seemed to be ok. The place was a mess though, because several small buildings and storage sheds had blown down the street and damaged a number of vehicles that were parked along the curb. Looking back at the administration building, we could see broken windows. We were aware of that because we heard them at the time they gave way to the wind. In the main though, Masters Field had sustained some damage, but when compared to the Blimp Base at Richmond it was insignificant.
It is widely known that members of the military bitch and moan about everything and members of the navy are no exception. However, when it comes to organizing a clean up detail, the navy is at its best. And before the sun had peeked over the eastern horizon, work details had been organized and base cleanup was already under way.
On September 19th the storm that had whacked Florida five days earlier played its self out in the North Atlantic somewhere east of Halifax, Novi Scotia. And on that same day the maintenance crew finished the engine change on our Privateer and rolled her out on the ramp, all set for a preflight inspection.
I followed along as the skipper and co-pilot gave a detailed inspection of the plane and I went over my own checklist before joining the others on the flight deck. The co-pilot started the new engine, and we gave it a long slow warm-up.
Once the skipper was satisfied that the new engine was functioning normally they started the other three engines and taxied over to the flight line.
(To be continued)

Facts About the Bermuda Triangle

Hundreds of stories have been told about the Bermuda Triangle, sometimes called The Devils Triangle. That area of strange happenings begins at Bermuda and runs south to Puerto Rico, east to South Florida and back to Bermuda. Some expand that area to include the Outer Banks off North Carolina and Virginia. Of course those strange happenings inside the triangle didn’t begin in the 20th Century. They go back to at least 1492 when Christopher Columbus and his three ships the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria sailed through that area. Words from Columbus’s journal were that his compass went haywire and his crew saw strange lights in the sky. Those few words written in the Christopher Columbus journal might have been the beginning of what has now become the mystique of the Bermuda Triangle.
There are tales about missing vessels, missing airplanes and ghost ships – enough to chill the souls of the faint hearted. And writings on the subject range from paranormal, voodoo and supernatural, UFO’s, a black hole somewhere in the Bahamas as well as time warp and third dimension theories.
Of all the strange happenings within the Bermuda Triangle Flight 19 has probably drawn more notoriety to the area than any other tragedy. Flight 19’s 14 men and five planes coupled with the 13-man crew and the PBM Mariner sent out to search for the others were all lost without a trace.
Those tragic losses immediately led to speculation into the paranormal possibilities of that fateful day. And the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle grew in proportion to the unanswered questions produced by subsequent investigations and hearings.
There is no doubt in my mind that prior to the hurricane warning system, started in 1945, the Bermuda Triangle got its share of unannounced hurricanes, that ripped through the area with no warning to inhabitants of the islands or ships at sea. Sea captains and crews new to the area were not capable of reading signs of looming danger such as sea swells, wind changes, cloud formations or barometric pressures, whereas the old seafaring skipper could generally read those markers and steer his ship out of harms way.
Of course when the warning system went into effect land bases as well as ships at sea were given warning bulletins advising of dangerous hurricanes their locations and movement directions. The system, while not perfect, at least, gives everyone a fighting chance to take evasive action of some kind.
There are several physical elements that should be considered when looking into a strange happening or disappearance inside the Bermuda Triangle. Here are three and there are others: The Sargasso Sea, the Gulf Stream and other Atlantic currents as well as the variation in compass readings between true north and magnetic north. And while those three natural problems won’t answer all the questions, they should be considered as part of all investigations into happenings inside the Bermuda Triangle.
(To be continued)

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter: Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a nonfiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
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www.RocktheTower.com

Hurricane IX Likely to Hit South Florida

2010-05-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

This Week
Masters Field – Batten Down the Hatches
Eight Foot Storm Surge Batters Miami Beach

One month away from the 2010 hurricane season.

Bimini Reports Hurricane Winds of 138 MPH

If that notice on the chow hall door hadn’t made the emergency warning clear, the deterioration of weather throughout the morning certainly did. For once work details were organized and tools issued, it seemed that everyone on the base became an instant carpenter. Every piece of plywood or scrap lumber was put to use in boarding up windows and glass-paneled doors.
By noon high gusting winds and rain began to rip the plywood right out of our hands. It finally became obvious that we were about twenty-four hours late in reacting to our own warnings and getting the base ready for a storm. Work details generally have a couple of goof offs, but not today. All hands worked at a furious pace and by the time we were ordered inside the administration building, our designated hurricane shelter, most of the essential work had been completed.
The outer lobby of our shelter was the only part of the building that was off limits – too much glass. However all interior waiting rooms, conference rooms and hallways were pressed into service. Someone in charge of the galley had provided hot coffee and sandwiches. The operations office had an entrance into the building and provided us with whatever limited information they received concerning the oncoming storm.
Primrose and I found a place in the inner lobby. We couldn’t see past the covered windows and could only see outside if we walked to a window and peeked through a crack. Of course we could hear the howling winds and wondered what it would sound like if, or more likely when, the hurricane arrived as a Category 3 or 4.
Primrose turned to me and said; “When the storm passed Bimini they reported winds up to 138 mph, think it’ll maintain that speed?”
“There is no obstruction between there and here that could diminish it,” I said worriedly.
“Do you think this building will stand up to a Category 4 hurricane?”
“I’m told it was built to withstand 165 miles per hour winds. There is one thing we can count on though. Sometime within the next few hours we’re gonna find out”
At 4:45 pm we heard a short-wave broadcast stating that the hurricane was battering Miami Beach with winds up to 135 mph accompanied by an eight foot storm surge and heading due west.
At 5:00 o’clock we didn’t need a radio report to tell us, the hurricane announced its arrival with the sounds of high keening winds, broken glass and objects blown off one building then tumbling through the air and smashing into another obstacle. The shrill winds continued relentlessly unabated and the building stood strong, the scary part was the sharp cutting wind accompanied by the buildings harsh grating noises that settled into long creaks and rattles leaving all of us inside to wonder if the next moment the thing would collapse and fall in on us. The wind got on a kind of never ending high and it seemed that the storm would never end. Windowpanes rattled in the upper part of the building, then a sharp whistling wind found its way through the cracks, then a crack and a crash as a window blew out and suddenly a gust of wind surged into the building.
The guys showed a full range of emotions. Some pacing back and forth, others tucked in a corner in a near fetal position, some choking back tears and a couple had no expression but presented a placid face and a blank stare. Everyone was worried and anyone that says they were not scared during those moments, are not only lying to you they are lying to themselves.
Then after what seemed an eternity of screaming winds and falling debris – there came a sudden quiet. The silence caught us all off guard and after a few minutes of relative calm inside the shelter a couple of guys started to open the door. They were stopped by the master at arms and warned to stay inside. Then moment’s later word came down that we were in the eye of the storm and only half the hurricane had passed.
The electricity was still off and we had only two lanterns and several flashlights to break the total darkness. I looked at my watch. The time was 6:00 pm 1800 navy time. I eased across the lobby and could see flashes of bright lights through the cracks in the windows. When I got closer I squinted and peeked through one of the cracks and saw what looked like a huge fire off to the west. I gestured to Primrose and he came over. I gave up my vantage point so he could take a look and I asked, “What do you think?”
“It’s just a guess, but from the distance and the bright fire I’d have to say it’s the Blimp Base over at Richmond.”
“I think you’re right.”
Everyone that got a look agreed that the Blimp Base was on fire. Sometime in the next few minutes a battery-powered radio confirmed our suspicions. The deafening silence as the eye passed over was almost as scary as the awful winds we had just experienced. Not to worry though, because a short time later the other shoe dropped. The winds picked up and the horrible sounds of high winds, broken glass and solid objects flying around and smashing into cars and buildings replaced the quiet the eye had afforded us for a time. Perhaps we had become jaded. However, those winds and crashing objects outside the building must have been comforting to us. At the very least we found out that our shelter could stand up to Category 4 winds. Eventually though, the hurricane winds diminished and an eerie calm replaced those awful sounds the hurricane had produced.
It was still dark and everyone seemed to relax. Then eventually most of us dosed off for a while.

Lockheed P-3A Orion
In 1971 the P-3A Orion took its place with the Hurricane Hunters and had the shortest tenure among the planes used by the Navy Hurricane Hunters. The Orion handled its duties well and I suspect is fondly remembered by the crews that flew the aircraft.

Orion Specifications:
Engine: four 4,600-hp Allison T56-A turbo props
Weight: Empty 61, 000 lbs
Weight: Gross 135, 000 lbs
Wing Span: 99 ft 8 in
Length: 116 ft 10 in
Height: 35 ft 8 in
Maximum Speed: 466 mph
Service ceiling: 28, 300 ft
Range: 5, 600 miles

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter: Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a nonfiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
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Hurricane IX and Engine Trouble

2010-04-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

This Week
The Dream of a Monster
Hurricane Hunters get Lockheed Orion

West of St. Croix
The ninth event of the season appeared on September 12th in the South Atlantic east of the Leeward Islands. The weather station at Martinique reported a storm that had achieved hurricane status with winds of 75 miles per hour.
Our flight position was west of St. Croix and in perfect position to intercept the storm. But it wouldn't happen because our number three engine began to run hot and no matter what combination of fuel mixtures we used they had little effect so we shut down the engine. Then the skipper gave the order to Bassett to plot a direct course home and for Primrose to alert Masters Field that we had an engine problem and were returning to base.
We'd missed our best chance to observe and plot the course of our first hurricane. Our three engine trip home was routine, disappointing, but routine.

The next morning I must have answered a dozen questions about our three-engine operation the day before, and that was just on my way to the chow hall. Eventually I got there picked up a tray and went through the line selecting my regular breakfast scrambled eggs, sausage, toast and coffee. I spotted Bill Hurley sitting at a table with three other guys. And as soon as I set my tray down Bill said, “I was by the hangar, Tom and your number three engine has already been pulled. One of the fellows, I think his name is Bertuccio, that was working on it said the problem was likely a bent pushrod.”
I shook my head. “I guess that means we’re out of action for the next day or two.”
“Looks that way,” Bill said.
I looked around the table and asked, “Have any of you guys seen the latest bulletin on the current storm?”
A redhead at the end of the table said, “Yeah. I stopped by operations and was told the storm has been upgraded to a Category 3 with winds at a 130 miles per hour and it’s located north of the Dominican Republic and is presently tracking west.”
Bill Hurley frowned. “If it stays on that course we’re in the cross hairs.”
“That’s their thinking over at operations,” the redhead said, “and they’re already making plans to move our planes out of here.”
I shook my head. “Well, so long fellows. Looks like I’m not going anywhere.” I had heard about enough and gulped down the rest of my coffee. “See you guys later,” as I turned in my tray and then hurried along the path leading to the hangar. I suppose I was hoping Bill was wrong and by some miracle the crew would fit the new engine on and off we’d go north with the others.
Of course that had to be wishful thinking. When I got to the hangar and walked inside I could see that the number three engine had been removed and was now mounted on a stand in front of the plane. I turned around and as I made my way to the operations office I noticed that there were only three Privateers on the line, which probably meant that two were on missions tracking the storm. The activity around the other three indicated to me that they were doing pre flight inspections in order to get out of Dodge.

I returned to the base library and looked for books on hurricanes that I hadn’t already read. I found two and hustled back to the barracks, propped up in my bunk and thumbed through the one entitled Anatomy of a Hurricane.
The title gave me pause and I wondered how people living in the Caribbean area deal with their yearly hurricane seasons. I should think that seeing those cumulonimbus clouds piling up on the far horizon would be frightening. Of course generations of people having lived there for years and seeing those clouds build up almost every afternoon probably gave little thought to the notion that today’s clouds in all their beauty could, within hours, spin into a dangerous and roaring monster.
Of course by the numbers their thinking would be correct – not to worry. Because even if the clouds continue to rise higher and higher in the sky and all the other signs, including ocean swells that point out the early stages of a hurricane, chances are they will amount to nothing more than a good old-fashioned rain-soaking thunderstorm.
But what about the folklore question? The books I’d seen on the subject didn’t tell much. They said that many years ago people believed that gods made the weather, so weather mythology is often associated with religion. Others relied on observations of animals and plants and the sky to make a forecast.
I closed my eyes and tried to visualize those cumulonimbus clouds piling up on the far horizon and apparently dozed off.
The next thing I remembered was someone shaking me and heard Primrose calling, “Tom.”
I yawned and rubbed my eyes as he said, “Looks like you didn’t get far with your reading.”
“I guess not. Funny thing, I was thinking about hurricane folklore before I dozed off. Then I dreamed about a monster hurricane that was barreling down on us.”
Primrose smiled. “That dream might not be too far off the mark. Let’s go over to operations and see what’s happening.”
We took the five-minute walk from the barracks and as soon as we got inside the building we realized all hell was breaking loose. We were told that the order had already come down that within the next few hours the Privateer’s not on patrol would be flying north as far as Whiting Field with standing orders indicating that should the hurricane veer in their direction their next stop would be Wichita, Kansas.
I picked up the latest Hurricane Bulletin, which read 1500 (3:00 pm) and handed it off to Primrose. I wanted to see something earlier that might give some idea about the actual storm track.
Hurricane Advisory #5 read: NAS Miami, Florida 0100 EST Friday September 14, 1945. Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane with reported winds of more than 145 miles per hour is presently located in the vicinity of the Turks and Caicos Islands and is presently moving in the direction of the Southern Bahamas.
Advisory #6 gave similar information with one exception; the storm at that time was traveling over open waters.
I put the two advisories I had just read back into the basket and turned to Primrose. “What does the latest one say?”
“Advisory # 7 NAS Miami, Florida 1500 EST Friday September 14, 1945: Category 4 hurricane reported with slightly diminished winds of 133 mph is passing in the vicinity of Conception Island and Rum Cay in the Southeastern Bahamas. The storm is tracking on a west-by-west northwest heading.
A hurricane warning is now in effect for all of the Bahamas and the State of Florida from Key West in the south to the Georgia, Florida state line in the north.”
I took a deep breath and said, “Well, if my calculations are anywhere near correct by this time tomorrow evening we can expect that rascal to be bearing down on us. And the way I see it we’ll be here to greet her.”

I got up early in spite of my fitful sleep, jumped into my dungarees and shirt and rushed outside to look at the sky condition. Nothing out of the ordinary then as I turned and walked back to my bunk I noticed that the barracks was almost empty.
Primrose apparently had the same idea I did and I stopped him before he got to the front door. “The sky doesn’t tell us much. Why don’t you give me a minute or two and we’ll go over to operations.”
He nodded and said, “I’ll wait outside.”
I got the rest of my clothes on and joined Primrose. As we walked to the office we didn’t see a single Privateer on the line. Primrose chuckled. “Looks like the skipper didn’t give us an exit pass.”
We walked into the office and compared to yesterday’s activity, the place was quite. I fished the latest bulletin out of the basket. It read: Advisory # 9 NAS Miami, Florida 0500 EST Saturday September 15, 1945:
Category 4 hurricane with current winds clocked at 135 MPH is presently covering an area that includes Nassau, New Providence, Adelaide and North Andros Island.
Immediate hurricane warning is being issued for Nichols Town, the Berry Islands and Bimini. All the aforementioned are in imminent danger. Hurricane threat warning is also issued to the entire state of Florida from Key West and extending north to Cape Hatters, North Carolina.
Anyone living or traveling in those areas should closely monitor the progress of this dangerous storm. We expect the hurricane to make landfall somewhere in south Florida within the next 12 to 14 hours.
Preparations to protect life and property should be completed as soon as possible. Coastal communities should expect high winds as well as storm surge and tall wave activity. You should also expect heavy rains and flooding.
Primrose and I immediately walked to the chow hall to catch up on the latest scuttlebutt. But before we got inside the place a large notice on the door stopped us. It said following morning chow all enlisted personnel report to your duty officer for hurricane related work and detail assignments.
All liberty passes have been canceled and no one is excused from the work details and assignments.

Slattery's Hurricane: A Richard Widmark picture was filmed at the Hurricane Hunters first base -- Masters Field, Miami. For more info Click Here

Lockheed P-3A Orion
In 1971 the P-3A Orion took its place with the Hurricane Hunters and had the shortest tenure among the planes used by the Navy Hurricane Hunters. The Orion handled its duties well and I suspect is fondly remembered by the crews that flew the aircraft.

Orion Specifications:
Engine: four 4,600-hp Allison T56-A turbo props
Weight: Empty 61, 000 lbs
Weight: Gross 135, 000 lbs
Wing Span: 99 ft 8 in
Length: 116 ft 10 in
Height: 35 ft 8 in
Maximum Speed: 466 mph
Service ceiling: 28, 300 ft

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter: Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstonee along with a nonfiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
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www.RocktheTower.com

Tropical Storms and Super Constellation

2010-04-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

This Week
Tropical Storms VII and VIII
Hurricane Hunters get Connie

Tracking Tropical Storm Systems
Tropical storm VII was first reported north of the Swan Islands in the northwestern Caribbean on September 3rd. The light tropical storm moved along a path toward Cuba. On the following morning, in the vicinity of Havana winds were clocked at 45 miles per hour with gusts to 55 miles per hour.
The storm continued on that northern path past Key West and touched the Florida coast near Naples. The storm moved in a northerly direction along the Florida coast tracking past the Tampa, St. Petersburg area to Port Ritchey. There it veered out into the Gulf of Mexico and took a west by west northwest heading and didn’t make landfall again until nearing the mouth of the Mississippi River where on September 6th the storm dissipated into a tropical depression.

Bill Hurley and I walked into ships service bought a couple of sodas and parked at one of the tables.
“You said Charlie was a screw up, how do you mean?”
“He was disorganized and I think that led to most of his problems, he never passed barracks inspection. His locker looked like Fibber McGee’s closet.” I laughed and said, “After every inspection he’d be out running laps. And he was always late, late to class, late picking up his gear and late to the flight line.”
A wry grin spread across Bill’s face. “And late to Briefing Room A.”
“Well, at least he was consistent.” Then I grinned. “We were in gunnery school together at Hollywood, Florida. Our barracks were within walking distance of the Hollywood Circle. Papa Joe’s Bar was on the north side of the circle and Papa Joe had a standing invitation to anybody that could drink two of his Zombies and still walk out the front door, the drinks were on the house.”
“What’s a Zombie?”
“They take dark rum, light rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, lemon juice, powdered sugar and stir. Then they pour it into a tall glass and add a splash of over proof rum on top. It taste great but is it lethal. I was at the bar with Patterson having a beer. Quackenbush and Robinson were with Charlie and daring him to take Papa Joe up on his Zombie offer. Charlie finally went for it and gave the order. He got through the first one all right and ordered the second. But before he was half finished with the second Zombie he began to slide underneath the table. I still laugh about it. We helped him back to the barracks and literally pour him into his sack.”
When he stopped laughing Bill asked, “How did Charlie get back to the states?”
“He was transferred from the Carrier to the Battleship USS Mississippi for debriefed by the Admiral. And since he had no duties he spent some time on deck. He was standing beside a gun turret one day watching an aerial dogfight and walked aft about 20 or 30 yards. He heard an explosion, and when he turned around to see what happened -- the gun turret he was standing next to was gone.”
“Did it just blow up?”
“No it was hit with a bomb.”
Bill took a deep breath and shook his head.
“A few days later he was transferred to a Destroyer heading back to Pearl and from there he flew MATS to San Francisco and eventually wound up in Jacksonville.”
“If you ever see Charlie Wilson again ask him where he got his rabbits foot. I want one just like it.”

Primrose and I left the chow hall and strolled over to the operations office just to take a look at the map of our 1945 Hurricane Season. The count so far was four tropical storms and two hurricanes. Then I noticed something in the Western Caribbean and pointed to the area. “What do you make of these last three?”
“I’m not sure, but that’s not all. Look at the dates, they all formed within an eleven day period."
“That seems odd. Have you read anything on the subject of hurricane’s forming in multiples in the same area?”
“No, but I guess anything’s possible. I just read an article called “Birth of a Hurricane.” It said a hurricane’s life begins in an area of enhanced cumulonimbus clouds piling up to the sky. But to grow into something more than just a summer afternoon thunderstorm or even a tropical disturbance there must be three conditions present. The ocean waters surface temperatures must be 80 degrees Fahrenheit in order to put enough heat and moisture into the system to provide the potential fuel needed for the next stage of development. Second, atmospheric moisture caused by the evaporation of seawater has to be combined with that heat and energy to form the powerful engine that can propel a hurricane. Third, a wind pattern near the ocean surface is needed to begin the spiral then with the help of the earth’s rotation the clouds begin to spin inward in a counterclockwise direction. At that point the system begins to take shape. When the winds continue to spiral around the low-pressure center at speeds from 23 to 39 miles per hour you have a tropical depression.
When the clouds within the system rise faster and higher and at the same time thunderstorms continue to build along the inner wall and the whole body of disturbed air begins to spin with speeds from 39 to 74 miles per hour the tropical depression has grown into a tropical storm. If the dynamics surrounding the storm remain favorable air and sea temperature and atmospheric pressures remain, then low swirling winds aided by the earth’s rotation the system can rapidly achieve hurricane speeds.”
“Is that all fact or part theory, Tom?”
“I expect part of it is theory, but even so it sounds logical.”
Primrose scratched his head. “Those scientific folks are pretty smart but I haven’t read where anyone has put it all together and worked out a forecast system that would tell us when and where a tropical depression will form.”
“It’s likely the same reason they can’t predict earthquakes. Mother Nature is a funny old gal you know, and she’s pretty darned unpredictable.”
Primrose chuckled. “Maybe that’s the reason they call her Mother rather than Father Nature.”

The eighth event of the season was a bit iffy. It is believed the tropical depression originated On September 10th somewhere between St. Croix and St. Martins before starting its trek north. In any event it was reported as a Tropical Storm and passing the Virgin Islands on the 11th with winds of 40 mph and gusting up to 50.
We had a Privateer in the area on routine hurricane patrol and when they were made aware of the new storm they were just north of San Juan, Puerto Rico and in perfect position to intercept the storm.
Headquarters ordered the flight to break off his routine patrol and intercept the tropical storm, which he did. They made contact about an hour later and their preliminary report gave the storms heading as north-by-north northwest and showing forward motion of approximately 14 miles per hour with wind gusts as high as 50 miles per hour.
Tropical Storm VIII continued its trek north into the Atlantic. Fortunately the storm didn’t make landfall and eventually petered out somewhere west of Bermuda.
(To be continued)

Super Constellation Joins the Fleet
Connie's Radar has the eyes of an Eagle

Lockheed WC-121 Super Constellation
The Super Constellation with its powerful long range airborne radar gave the Hurricane Hunters a great piece of equipment and a giant leap forward in its ability to locate and track storms in their early stages. One Constellation flight using its airborne radar system could cover 150, 000 square miles and record weather related and atmospheric conditions with one sweep of that powerful radar system.
The Super Constellation affectionately known as the Connie had joined the Hurricane Hunters at NAS Jacksonville, Florida in 1955 and was with them in 1960 when the Hurricane Hunters relocated to US Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. The Connie also took them back to Jacksonville in 1965 and was a mainstay with the Hurricane Hunters until 1971.

Super Constellation Specifications:
Engine: Four 3400-hp Wright R-3350-34
Weight: Empty 69, 210 lbs
Weight: Gross 120, 000 lbs
Wing Span: 123 ft
Length: 113 ft 7 in
Height: 24 ft 9 in
Maximum speed 299 mph
Service ceiling 25, 000 ft
Range: 4, 250 mi

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter: Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a nonfiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
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From Caribbean to Tokyo Bay

2010-04-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

This Week
Pacific War Ends
Neptune replaces Privateer

Masters Field, Miami, Florida
The large board in the operations office was our scorecard as it kept tabs on hurricane activities for the current season. So far we had had one Category 3 hurricane and two Tropical Storms. One storm was spawned in the Eastern Caribbean and two in the West. The third storm listed was the one our crew observed down in the Eastern Caribbean, which had originated on August 1st. When we observed Tropical Storm III on the 2nd of August, we reported winds of 57 mph. That particular storm generated few headlines for just two days later it made landfall on the southern shore of the Dominican Republic where it fell apart and while it produced heavy rains and some flooding, fortunately the storm did little wind damage.
There wasn’t much conversation in the squadron about the war in the pacific. I guess it was generally accepted that we were winning although the Japanese were tenaciously holding on and didn’t seem inclined to give up.
However, things began to change on August 6th when one of our B-29’s dropped an atomic bomb, on the city of Hiroshima in Southern Japan. That was a shock to the world with its power and the devastation it caused. But it took one more atomic bomb delivered to the city of Nagasaki on August 9th to convince the Japanese that it was over.
The following week Time magazine carried on its cover an orange sun crossed out in black. Inside was a three-page section written by James Agee entitled “The Bomb”.
The article read: The greatest and most terrible of wars ended, this week, in the echoes of an enormous event – an event so much more enormous that, relative to it, the war itself shrank to minor significance.
After reading that last line I thought – why that ivory tower horses ass. Tell that to the thousands of families that have lost loved ones in the war.
The fourth event of the season started out as a tropical depression reported on August 17th in the Eastern Caribbean off the Leeward Islands. Squadron 114’s first contact with the storm was made some ninety miles southeast of St. Croix. Once the parameters and direction was established, they flashed warnings to St. Croix, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico and all other stations in the Virgin Island chain.
The following day a second patrol unit intercepted the now designated Tropical Storm IV’s path as it beat its way toward the Southern Bahamas packing winds of sixty miles per hour. The storm continued unabated past Turks Island, Acklins Island and Albert Town where its progress stalled for nearly twenty-four hours. A high-pressure ridge had moved in on a line approximately north northeast and south southwest of George Town. And for some reason¸ possibly having to do with the pressure system and erratic upper winds, the storm lost its forward momentum on August 21st where it stalled and fell apart in the Southern Bahamas.
When that good news arrived I figured we’d have a week or two to enjoy some of Miami’s nightlife. As it turned out though, that idea was short lived because on August 24th news coming out of the west reported a tropical depression had formed in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico in the Bay of Campeche between the Yucatan Peninsula and Veracruz.
It was an extremely slow moving storm, but eventually that fifth event of the season grew in intensity from tropical depression to become Tropical Storm V. The system made its way into the Gulf of Mexico and continued to churn north on a parallel course about a hundred miles off the east coast of Mexico. Then as it past east of Tampico it began gathering strength and when it moved over the warm gulf waters the storm winds increased in intensity to a Category 2 and it became known as Hurricane V. Then as it continued its northern course about fifty miles east of La Carbonera, over the warm Gulf waters, its wind speed increased to near 150 mph. Fortunately for the towns of Matamoros, Mexico, Brownsville, Kingsville and Corpus Christi, Texas they didn’t get direct hits since the strong right front quarter of the storm stayed over open waters. However, there was plenty of wind and water damage along the coast caused by the storm surge. The slow moving storm lingered over the Texas Coast for several days before making landfall in the vicinity of Lake Jackson. The hurricane winds diminished but the storm continued to drop tons of water on Houston and East Texas. Hurricane V caused the deaths of three people and damage was estimated at 20 million dollars.
While Hurricane V was making life miserable for the folks on the Gulf coast of Mexico and Texas to the south storm number VI was already forming in the Western Caribbean off the coast of Nicaragua near the Island of de San Andres. The storm continued on a northern course skirting the shoulder of Honduras. Then it followed the coastline about one hundred miles at sea with winds reaching 50 miles per hour. It moved along in a west northwesterly direction and made landfall on the coast of Belize, where it breached the sea wall and flooded parts of Belize City. On September 1st the storm decreased to a tropical depression. But while the winds dropped down to gale force the storm carried heavy rains and did some flooding in Northern Guatemala and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
On September 2nd 1945 while Squadron 114 was concentrating on hurricanes’ the eyes of the world were on the USS Battleship Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay.
A Japanese delegation arrived to make their government’s unconditional surrender official. The new Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Japan, General Douglas MacArthur, directed the ceremonies. The general made a brief opening statement and then directed the Japanese representatives to sign the official documents.
Once the documents were signed for all practical purposes the Japanese government had accepted the Potsdam Declaration calling for the complete disarmament and surrender of all Japan’s military forces.
General MacArthur said, “We pray that peace be now restored to the world, that God will preserve it always. These proceedings are closed.”
With the documents signed by Japanese representatives and the pronouncement made by General MacArthur World War II had officially ended.
(To be continued)

Lockheed P2V Neptune
The US Navy originally acquired the Lockheed P2V Neptune for use as a patrol bomber and anti-submarine aircraft. The Neptune joined the Hurricane Hunters at NAS Jacksonville in 1952 and slowly replaced the PB4Y-2 Privateer.
The Neptune took over duties as the Hurricane Hunters primary aircraft stayed with the unit until 1958. Unfortunately it was during the Neptune tenure when the Hurricane Hunters experienced it’s only fatality. That loss occurred in 1955 while the plane was penetrating the eye of Hurricane Janet.
During that same year the Navy took delivery of their first Lockheed WC-121N Constellation featuring airborne radar that was far superior to any other radar system at the time.
The Neptune continued to fly missions while the Constellation came on line. The Neptune was phased out in 1958.
Neptune Specifications:
Power plant: Two Westinghouse J34-WE-36 turbojets.
Two Wright R-3350-32W Cyclone Turbo-compound radial engines.
Weight: Empty 49, 548 lbs Max takeoff wt.79, 895
Wingspan: 101 ft 4 in
Length: 91 ft 8 in
Height: 29 ft 4 in
Maximum 403 mph
Service ceiling 22, 000 ft
Range: Combat, 2, 200 mi Ferry, 4, 350 mi

Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter: Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold ,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a nonfiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
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www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com

Cumulonimbus Clouds on the Horizon

2010-04-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

This Week
View from 28,000 feet
Navy Searches for right plane.

High over the Caribbean
Hot dang, I thought as I made my way back to the flight deck. I looked around and could see excitement in the eyes of the rest of the crew. Finally it looked like all of our practice runs were about to pay off.
Immediately after Bassett set our new course heading Lt. Engles picked up his mike and said, “Put on your oxygen masks, we’re going up top and see if, at that altitude, we’re able to spot anything with the radar.”
When we reached 20,000 feet I looked out the waist hatch and the sea looked white with only an occasional plot of blue water mixed in. I had no doubt that the sea was roiling. The sky above was bright blue and was broken only by a few scattered cirrus clouds four or five thousand feet above our present altitude. My thoughts turned to the storm itself. Something I had read within the last week or two was how old time sea captains had figured out ways to judge the location of a storm center and then maneuver his ship out of harms way. Of course what we were doing was just the opposite. We had reached the altitude of about 29, 000 feet when all of a sudden the skipper got on the horn and said, “We’ll begin descending, since we haven’t spotted anything on the radar. Think we’ll go down and take a closer look at the waves and swells and see if they can tell us anything.”
I chuckled; the old man must have read the same thing I did. Sometime in the last day or two I read that waves and strong swells travel ahead of a storm and give a kind of warning that can’t be spotted from high altitudes. I glanced at my watch and walked forward to talk to Jackson. As soon as I approached he said, “Tom I think it’s time to transfer some fuel out of the belly tanks into the mains.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said as I turned toward the cockpit, the skipper looked back at me then pointed forward and toward a buildup of cumulonimbus clouds in the distance. Then he smiled and glanced at the co-pilot. “Looks like we’re getting into the neighborhood.” Then he turned to me and asked, “What were you going to say, Tom?”
“Jackson thinks it’s about time to top off the main tanks. Transfer some fuel out of the belly tanks and unless you have a different opinion we’d like to take care of it right away.”
“Ok by me,” the skipper said as he turned to the copilot, “Shep keep an eye on the fuel gauges.”
I immediately walked back and stood beside Jackson at the instrument panel and opened up the transfer process. When we finished the job I returned to the cockpit and reported, “According to our gauges the mains are just about to capacity.”
Shep gave me thumbs up and smiled. “Good going, guys we didn’t get so much as a cough.”
The clouds were still far in the distance, but were boiling skyward. I took the opportunity to make another inspection of the interior and also looked out at the engines for any possible oil leaks. When I got to the waist hatches I took a pair of binoculars and looked down at the ocean. And even with my limited knowledge of oceanography I could tell that something was brewing somewhere in the distance and it probably wouldn’t be too long before we’d have a fix on that storm.
The skipper made another announcement telling us to put on our oxygen masks that we were going up top again and see if we could get a better look from above. By the time we got close to the storm we had reached an altitude near 28, 000 feet and were, in fact, above the storm. I’m not sure exactly what I expected to see, but this first storm didn’t fulfill my expectations. Maybe I was looking for swirling clouds that were well defined. We could see the swirling motion of the winds all right but there were so many clouds obscuring the main body that we never got a look at the center or eye to the storm. However, there was no doubt that the Tropical Storm we were looking down on had the potential of turning into a full-blown hurricane.
We spent almost an hour doing observation and taking instrument readings and measurements, plotting the exact location and direction the storm was moving in before Lt Engle announced, “Fellows we’ve done about all we can do out here so we’re heading home.”

Navy's Search for a Hurricane Hunter – Aircraft.
1943 and 1944 were the first two years the US Navy and the National Weather Bureau attempted to develop a hurricane warning system. The first airplane used in the exercise was the PBM-5 Mariner Sea Plane. By the end of the 1944 season it was determined that the Mariner with its maximum speed of 210 miles per hour, a service ceiling of 19, 800 feet and a range of 2, 200 miles was too limited in its ability to locate and fly near enough to a hurricane to collect the data needed to determine size, strength and direction of a storm. What was needed was a plane that could fly faster, higher and had a longer range; fortunately the navy had such a plane in its inventory.
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
With only slight modifications an added turbo supercharger to each engine and belly tanks fitted into the bomb bay for additional fuel the plane filled the bill. And as it turned out the Privateer became the first real Hurricane Hunter during the season of 1945. The plane was not only durable it also had longevity and flew virtually all the Hurricane Hunting missions from 1945 to 1952.

Privateer Specifications:

Engine: Four 1350-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-94 radial engines.
Weight: Empty 27,485 lbs, Max Takeoff 65,000 lbs.
Wing Span: 110 ft.
Length: 74 ft 7 in.
Height: 30 ft. 1 in.
Maximum Speed: 237 mph.
Service ceiling (with turbo superchargers) 29,000 ft.
Range: 2, 800 miles.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter: Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold,The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
http://TheHurricaneHunter.blogspot.com

East to Guadeloupe and Hurricane Mitch

2010-03-27T07:01:00.000-07:00

This Week
Caribbean East and West
The Ship and the Storm (Review)

The Quonset Huts we used as barracks were located north of the main hangar. Those huts reminded me of my stay at San Diego’s North Island and the only detail missing in that picture was the dense morning fog.
Our barracks talk was spiked with a lot of humor, most of it coming out of our Mississippi jester, a guy named Farrell. That fellow could comment and make a joke about almost anything. Sex and perversion seemed to be his specialties and any mention in that area would set Farrell off telling a string of jokes on the subject and his side-splitting humor would have everyone within earshot laughing his ass off. The only ones annoyed by the laughter were the poker players in the back of the room. Every now and then when the laughter got too raucous an irate player would yell, “Hey you guys knock it off I can’t concentrate on the cards.” A quick retort usually came in the form of, “Stick it in your ear.” Or, “Piss off.”
Other than routine training and test flights that followed an engine change five out of our six-plane squadron could usually be found parked on the apron in front of the hangar and control tower.
I had just gotten to the barracks when someone poked his head inside the door and yelled, “Ok. Anybody in here on the regular rotation duty roster hit the deck and make your way to the plane. We’ve got a rumble out in the Western Caribbean.”
Bill Hurley grabbed his gear and as he headed to the door called to me and said, “See you in about a dozen hours, Thomas.”
“Have a good trip,” I said as he gave a high sign and strode out the door.
The rumble Bill and his crew flew out to observe was the second event of the season, and so dubbed Tropical Storm II, which never attained winds of much more than 50 mph. It developed from a depression in the Western Gulf of Mexico near the Yucatan Peninsula. The storm proceeded at a slow pace toward the northwest and made landfall in South Texas in an area between Brownsville and South Padre Island late on July 21st where it was immediately downgraded to a tropical depression. It continued to soak the area with rains overnight before petering out the following morning.

Our crew had an early morning call the day our regular rotation was posted on the board. It would be a routine observation flight, and according to our briefing we would be flying southeast crossing the lower Bahamas near Turk Island then north of Puerto Rico to the vicinity of Guadeloupe where we would reverse course and return by way of Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, across Port Au-Prince, Haiti, the eastern tip of Cuba near Guantanamo Bay and back to Miami. Those were the thoughts going through my mind as we taxied out to the runway and turned into takeoff position.
First Pilot Lt. Robert Engles headed our crew, Co Pilot Lt (jg) Alvin Shepherd, Navigator Lt. Bert Bassett, Plane Captain Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class Hal Jackson, and Radioman 2nd Class Al Primrose and I was First Mech.
The skipper pushed down on the brake pedals, moved the throttles forward. Then as he backed off the brakes, we started to move slowly down the runway. With full fuel tanks the plane struggled at first before it began to take a life of its own and roll effortlessly down the runway.
This was my first flight in quite a while that I wasn’t designated as plane captain. Of course on these long-range flights they needed someone in a more senior position either first class or chief to be designated as plane captain. I could care less about the ranking and what was going through my mind was a complete rehash of the check off list. Had I done everything I could to make the flight safe?
Once we got up to speed the plane lifted off the runway. Moments later the skipper called out to the co-pilot, “Gear up.”
The landing gear folded into place and once we got into a routine climb attitude I made my way aft for the post takeoff inspection. I moved along the catwalk through the bomb bay and stopped beside the starboard waist hatch. I glanced down at the clear blue Atlantic waters just as the skippers voice crackled into my earphones. “Gentlemen, I have just been informed that we should scrap our briefing information, then take a more south by southeast direction and head toward the St. George’s Island and Granada. Seems there’s a tropical storm cooking up in the Eastern Caribbean.
(To be continued)

The Ship and the Storm
Review by Tom Barnes
Jim Carrier tells the story of The Ship and the Storm by using crew accounts, passenger interviews, surviving crew relatives and official weather related records.
Anchored in the quiet waters of the Bay at Omoa, Honduras passengers excitedly board the Windjammer Cruise Ship Fantome. Feted with the finest cuisine and free flowing rum swizzle the fun and excitement is just beginning as the tall ship prepares to sail from one tropical paradise to another.
Two mornings later as the Fantomes’ guests finished their Bloody Mary and sticky bun breakfast a weather station on the West Coast of Africa was recording a drop in the barometric pressure. The Miami Hurricane Center labeled the system #46 and indicated in the margin that it was impressive.
One week later on the evening of October 17, 1998 while Fantome passengers partied tropical wave 46 was moving west past Barbados in the Windward Islands. A day later the National Hurricane Center predicts that tropical wave 46 will become a hurricane.
October 21st the day Fantome arrived at the island of Guanaja and Fantome passengers were still enjoying their cruise vacation. But change came the next morning and Captain Guyan March advises crew and passengers about the storm.
BULLETIN: 5AM EDT SAT OCT 24, 1998. MITCH STRENGTHENS RAPIDLY INTO A HURRICANE
Storm tracks in the direction of Cuba and the Cayman Islands and forecasters are calling Mitch a potentially dangerous hurricane.
Fantome was at Omoa, Honduras where locals advised Captain March to drop both anchors and stay in port. March consults his boss in Miami by phone and following a prolonged discussion with Windjammer Headquarters in Miami it was decided to cancel the Fantomes’ cruise. Passenger safety was uppermost in their minds and they discharged the passengers at Belize City. They didn’t consider Belize a safe harbor to ride out the storm so Fantome with 31 crewmembers aboard left Belize to try and outmaneuver the storm.
Hurricane Mitch was coming up on Swan Island and conventional wisdom as well as the National Hurricane Centers computer models predicts that the storm will turn to the northwest. Fantome headed southeast from Belize toward the Bay Islands north of Honduras and had the storm tracked to the northwest as was expected there would have been plenty of separation between the ship and the storm. But the monster storm called Mitch with a mind of its own defied convention and turned south where it continued to spin its Category 4 and sometimes 5 winds over the waters and islands destroying everything in it’s path. High winds and waves produced by the storm extended out some 200 miles from its center. Fantomes’ engines and Captain March’s skilled seamanship was no match for the tall waves and winds produced by Hurricane Mitch. Eventually the powerful waves broadside Fantome and breach the ships watertight bulkheads.
The story of The Ship and the Storm is tragically compelling.
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter. Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels Tungee's Gold, The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
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