When the Typhoon Trackers of Airborne Early Warning One returned to Guam, they were met by a large crowd, a brass band and a "Welcome Home" banner. The crew had tracked typhoon Carmen 1600 miles in five days.
The plane, piloted by LCdr. Jackson B. Reavis, flew a total of 53 hours on five consecutive nights, fixing Carmen's position as the storm travelled through the Philippine Sea, across the Philippines, and into the South China Sea. The typhoon was tracked continously between the hours of 1900 and 0200 each night. Hourly positions were forwarded to Fleet Weather Central/Joint Typhoon Warning Center at Guam. Ltjg. R. L. Eshom was the weather reconnaissance officer.
On several occasions, the aircraft actually penetrated the eye of the typhoon while gathering information. At times the winds exceeded 120 knots.
As Carmen passed through the Philippines, the Typhoon Trackers moved from NS Sangley Point to a new base of operation in Okinawa while still providing the nightly fixes.
The Fleet Weather Central/Joint Typhoon Warning Center sent a "Well Done" to the crew over the weather reporting circuit as it neared completion of one of the later flights.
In addition LCdr. Reavis received a "Well Done" from the USS Coral Sea for an extensive search and rescue mission, and from the Commander Pacific Missle Range for a special mission. (For more on VW-1 operations, see page 22.
