Ill Winds: Air Force Reserve's Response to Hurricanes

This image was taken at 11:24 p.m. EDT 27 August just before Katrina became a Category 4
hurricane in the central Gulf of Mexico. At the time of the photograph, Katrina was a Category 3
storm with maximum sustained winds reported at 100 knots (115 mph). (NASA)
27 Aug 05 The 926 th Fighter Wing (FW) evacuated Joint Reserve Base (JRB) New
Orleans, sending 11 aircraft to Barksdale AFB, LA, and placing 4 in
hangers. 4
27-28 Aug Weather reconnaissance aircraft entered the Hurricane departing from
05 Keesler AFB, MS and reconstituted at their secondary location of
Ellington Field, TX, as the 403 rd WG (Keesler AFB, MS) began
evacuating aircraft to other states in preparation of the upcoming
Hurricane. 5
4 Bfg (U), HQ AFRC/DOOM, “Hurricane Katrina Deployment Plan,” 1 Sep 05.
5 Email (U), 403 rd WG (Keesler AFB, MS) Public Affairs (TSgt James Pritchett) to HQ AFRC (Robins
AFB, GA) History Office (Eugene Vandeventer), “Additional Assistance,” 1 Dec 05.
2