In 1974, a newly converted Lockheed WC-130H (Air Force serial number 65-0965) was transferred to the

54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron 54 may refer to: * 54 (number) * one of the years 54 BC, AD 54, 1954, 2054 * ''54'' (novel), a 2002 novel by Wu Ming * Studio 54, a New York City nightclub from 1977 until 1981 * ''54'' (film), a 1998 American drama film about the club * ''54'' ...

, the "Typhoon Chasers", at

Andersen Air Force Base Andersen Air Force Base (Andersen AFB, AAFB) is a United States Air Force base located primarily within the village of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam. The host unit at Andersen AFB is the 36th Wing (36 WG), assigned to the Pacific ...

on Guam. The aircraft, using the call sign ''Swan 38'', was sent to investigate Typhoon Bess after it passed over the Philippines and continued to the northwest. The crew departed

Clark Air Base Clark Air Base is a Philippine Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located west of Angeles City, about northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was previously a United States military facility, operated by the U.S. Air Forc ...

on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.Tom Robison
Whiskey-Charlie!
Retrieved on 2011-06-19. Radio contact with ''Swan 38'' was lost after 22:00 on 12 October 1974, apparently as the aircraft was heading into the typhoon's eye to make a second position fix during its alpha pattern. There were no radio transmissions indicating an emergency on board, and search teams could not locate the aircraft or its crew except for a few pieces of debris. All six crew members were listed as missing and presumed dead. The ''Swan 38'' crew members were: Capt. Edward R. Bushnell 1st Lt. Gary W. Crass, 1st Lt. Michael P. O'Brien, 1st Lt. Timothy J. Hoffman, Tech. Sgt. Kenneth G. Suhr, and Sgt. Detlef W. Ringler.

References

Accidents and incidents involving United States Air Force aircraft Missing aircraft Accidents and incidents involving the Lockheed C-130 Hercules Aviation accidents and incidents in 1974 1974 in the Philippines 1974 meteorology October 1974 events in Asia {{Aviation-accident-stub