 proudly we hail New York City where the American stage begins here is another program of the cast of outstanding players public service time has been made available by this station for your Air Force to bring you this story as proudly we hail the personnel of the Air Weather Service. The story today is called Tornado Alley. It tells of Staff Sergeant Jack Nelson and the other men of Detachment 17 on duty in Tornado Alley. We'll hear their story in just one moment. If you're an ex-serviceman experienced in critical skills needed to keep America's air defense strong well then you're in luck. The career incentive act opens up new opportunities in the Air Force to veterans of all the armed forces. If you possess one of the skills the Air Force needs you may qualify for the United States Air Force and in a gray that'll be a real pleasant surprise. Right now the Air Force needs men skilled in many important fields so put your service earned experience to work to your best advantage as a member of the Air Force team. Make the credit you've earned toward a comfortable retirement payoff for complete details ride or visit your nearest Air Force recruiter. Ask for the special prior service man's folder see what a return to the service as an airman can mean to you and remember today and tomorrow you're better off in the United States Air Force. Our story today begins at Tinker Air Force base the big sprawling field just outside of Oklahoma City home of the Sixth Weather Squadron. One part of the Sixth Weather Squadron is Detachment 17 a self-contained mobile weather unit consisting of seven men and a five ton truck containing just about everything that they need their business hunting tornadoes. Sure we've been doing it for several years Fred you're like hunting tornadoes. Sounds crazy to me. I am a tinker just been here long enough to know how to get here from downtown Oklahoma City we get orders to move out. You know the air weather service motto choose the weather for action. It works out always. I haven't even had a date yet don't know the local talent. Where are we going. A little place called Ashley Kansas. And what's there. I don't know what they're now but I know what will be there in a few days. Detachment 17 Sixth Weather Squadron in other words us we you and me and Henry and four other fellow. I'll tell you what else will be there as long as you're worrying about it. A couple of girls anyway. Now that you try to cheer me up what are we doing. We'll be following the tornado season generally speaking it moves north with the season advancing with the weather. This year though we'll start out nationally and stay there but other units will be following the storms farther north. Well what do we do while we're there and actually just about what we do here. Operator Ray Winsan station collecting data on winds temperatures do point to various altitudes and feeding them back to the severe weather warning center here tinker. The same kind of work we do anywhere we go. What do you mean anywhere you go. Well we get around don't we Henry. No I'll say we do. One year the South Pacific for atomic test next year Yucca Flats in Nevada for the same thing. When the United States sends that first space satellite out the circle of the earth I wouldn't be at all surprised that someone shoots us out into space in advance that that's the weather seems to me your motto only tells half the story. I think it should be changed. I always sort of like it. Choose the weather for action. Yeah I had a subtitle. Have weather station. We'll travel. Another coffee selling a small one. I should be getting home. So soon. Not so soon the dance has been over for an hour but I didn't get to know you until the dance was almost through. Oh if you wanted to get to know me well I was there all evening. I know I saw you the minute I got there I said to myself I'm going to enjoy my stay in actually but I figured any girl as pretty as you well you have the entire male population of Randolph County after whatever happened to your friends the ones you said we would have made here they'll be along I've got the G. Oh one of my buddies was with a girl named Margaret you know. Of course Margaret Oliver is my best friend the nicest girl in town and the prettiest I'll take exception to that. I have my doubts that she's the nicest and I know she's not the prettiest there they are now Margaret over here. Can I drive you home. You don't have to. I don't live in town. You don't live in Ashley. I mean I don't live in the town. As a farmer we live on farm. About 10 miles out to take root 132 black top road about eight miles out and then turn right a couple of miles. I'll be glad to drive you home. You much trouble I can say Margaret if I have a chance to be with you a little longer maybe I'll get up nerve enough to ask you for a day. If it takes that much effort maybe I can make it easier for you how would you like to come for dinner some dinner at your house. Won't your family mind of course not why should they decide my family consists of that me and my kid brother Albert I like to meet them when can you make it let's see how about Friday that be all right I'm sure you give me a ring just to make certain it's eight six nine ring three to answer your question that's the way we eat here oh boy I've heard this part of the country called the bread basket of the nation now I know why wait till I write home about the first meal I had on a farm never been on a farm before don't think we always eat this way this was just putting on an act running it up because there was an Air Force man coming you should see the way she usually be Albert Gray one more word out of you and what you come right back here and help clear the table besides you shouldn't tell tales about your sister tell tales isn't it the truth a chocolate cake she made for tonight last three days what have we had rice pudding I like rice pudding almost as much as chocolate cake you're on her side too a guy just can't win well I didn't think we could get through a meal without one outbreak sorry I like it sounded just like home oh where's that Sally said you came from somewhere in the east at the sack the city of about 60,000 in New Jersey not too far from New York or what's it like tonight when I know it's hard for me to tell I was born there I like it we lived in little house in a neighborhood we'd always lived in it's quiet and friendly not the way I'd imagined any place near New York well this wasn't what I expected a farm in Kansas to be like either before I joined the Air Force that isn't going to get around what did you expect well I thought that everything would be flat and dull and ugly like that but it is really flat no but not flat the way I'd imagined it would be it's hard to describe but you can feel the space around you feel as though you're well you're on top of the world and the rest of the world's sliding down away from it's right and it does when you get up in a plane high enough you can see why because the earth is a sphere so wherever you're standing it it does seem to slide away well now that you two have discovered that the world is around maybe you can tell me about your branch of the Air Force Sergeant oh don't get me started in the air weather service we work in 30 countries some 12,000 of us operating five weather centrals nine forecasting centers 277 forecasting units and 256 observing units and why are you here in Ashley well we're working on a project Mr. Gray and we call it tornado alley and we support the service weather warning center they forecast severe storms of all kinds including tornado I listen to the weather forecast regularly I guess every farmer does along with other information you can get from government agencies tornado how can you forecast tornado we've got a small weather station our van why don't you come over and take a look at it I think that would be interesting you don't mind mine be a pleasure to show a few visitors through me I come to well of course Albert I mean everybody where you located oh they're over where the old me know house used to be you'll have to wait a couple of minutes for me this is it our mobile weather station just a big truck what did you expect something from a science fiction movie I guess a lot of odd looking equipment housed in a glass ball not something big and ordinary like a truck now on your right ladies and gentlemen is the working home of detachment 17 an M64 5 ton van which houses all the equipment and supplies for a complete little weather station and what does that consist of mainly equipment to make weather observations surfaced wind speed and direction are measured by an anemometer winds aloft are observed by tracking balloons carrying transmitters which radio the conditions back to us and we check on parametric pressure air temperature relative humidity ceiling precipitation things like that what do you do with the information after you get it we collect it analyze it send it back to Tinker in addition may receive information from other stations and enter that information and our own on weather maps the change so quickly that you have to keep doing it the more information we can get the more accurate our forecast throughout to be very complicated anything unfamiliar seems complicated I never saw you like this Jack I never felt like this what's eating you I thought everything was going fine friendly town nice friendly girl well that's a trouble too friendly no no no I didn't mean that she got me all confused I never liked the girl as much as I like Sally and I barely met her I mean we haven't known each other very long maybe I shouldn't feel the way I do and I'm afraid to say anything about how I feel wow well suppose I tell her how I feel and then she says she likes me as a friend of something but she hasn't known me very long I don't want to rush it and there's one right moment for everything including speaking up when you got to work that out for yourself you'll know what to say and when just remember faint heart near one fair lady that's what I keep telling myself but it doesn't do any good you're listening to the proudly we held production of tornado alley and our second act curtain in just one moment here's important news for all its servicemen you may be qualified to enlist in the United States Air Force at a higher grade and at higher pay than you may realize right now the Air Force needs men who are experienced in critical skills skills required to keep America's Air Defense strong if you have training in these skills then the Air Force wants you and they'll put you right on the job so for full details you ride or visit your nearest Air Force recruiter right away ask him for the folder for prior servicemen you'll see how you can put your service game skills to work to your best advantage today and tomorrow you're better off in the United States Air Force Detachment 17 of the 6th weather squadron has gone to Ashley Kansas for tornado alley project Sergeant Jack Nelson the non-commissioned officer in charge has become rather friendly with Sally Gray who lives on a farm near Ashley Jack is at the grave farm now I'm getting money attached to the view from this porch after one of Sally's meals always you stick around Jack I have been fed so well since I can't remember to complain about being an only child Margaret you didn't know how lucky you were Sally you complain a lot about alpha but you don't mean it you miss him if he were here it would be a pleasure like missing a tooth after all the things I do for you the errands I run the chores I take care of and the mess you made that's what my sister used to tell me she wouldn't recognize me now that the Air Force has made me neat I could tell you before there's too much bickering I've been meaning to ask you sergeant I saw there was a tornado down around Denison the other day was that predicted on the nose that was one of our better for not that they're all not good but we had that one tape we outlined areas where tornadoes were likely to occur and Denison was smack in the middle is just how accurate has your tornado forecasting been well for the past two years we've made more than 200 tornado forecast annually and have had three busts each year bus now busts are when we predict severe weather and there isn't that we were right to some extent approximately 98.6% of the time it sounds very impressive how much warning were you able to give well the average was about six hours before the storm hit that sounds good that should give people plenty of time to take cover yeah how did the whole business start well it began in 1948 with a couple men and we use what is known as the Forbush Miller forecasting method and the two men were major earnest Forbush and Captain Robert Miller and now the tenant Colonel Forbush is commander of the 29th weather squadron and Major Miller is chief of the Severe Weather Warning Center they hadn't been at Tinker very long and the forecast for the day had predicted thunderstorms in the vicinity but at 2200 of violent twister raked Tinker Air Force base from one end of the other causing more than ten million dollars worth of damage to Air Force property and I think I remember that it was one of the worst Oklahoma ever had that's right sir well Major Forbush and Captain Miller were kind of a bash here they were making weather forecasts and their own base gets hit and so for the next few days they went over weather records like mad trying to find what conditions were present that day and on other days in other places where there had been tornadoes like a doctor looking for symptoms of a disease that's right only they were trying to figure what were the symptoms of a tornado tornadoes always start the same way and they knew that roughly the same conditions could mean a thunderstorm was coming or a hail storm or a tornado but what was the difference what triggered an ordinary thunderstorm into a destructive tornado that was the problem they were trying to solve and they didn't have very long in which to solve it why not did the Air Force give them a time limit or something I should have thought it would be worthwhile if these men had come up with the answer anytime well it would have been but you have to realize that they weren't just starting as weathermen they were both veteran forecasters anyway by the morning of March 25th five days after the tornado had hit Tinker they had reached a preliminary conclusion turning from their research to check the situation for the day they were amazed to find conditions ideal for another thunderstorm on the way and upper air disturbances that according to their new theory put central Oklahoma in line for another tornado so they were faced with a problem I should think so they say lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place and either there's a tornado very often and for the same reason they don't have to the place isn't there anymore say we never thought of that but you can see their dilemma it was crazy to think that Tinker would get another tornado five days after the first one but according to their formula that was what would happen at about 1800 6 o'clock that evening well they could always play it safe and issue the warning well you see if they put out a tornado warning it would mean the government would spend thousands of dollars not to mention all the work involved moving planes and other property the shelters if there were no storm this would be wasted money and effort and they would be a target for criticism as well as a lot of kidding now on the other hand if they didn't issue a warning and there was a storm well you can see so what happened can't lead us hanging there I could but I won't the weather seemed fine that morning but they issued their warning the weather still seemed fine but a lot of men work hard and fast and everything at the air base was made secure and by 3 in the afternoon thunderstorms began to form in southwestern Oklahoma a little before 6 the storm had come over Oklahoma City a few minutes after 6 right on schedule a black funnel dropped from one of the low-hanging clouds and a tornado ripped across Tinker Air Force Base the second one within a week only this time the damage was negligible because the warning had been issued and precautions had been taken and so they lived happily ever after with the world beating a pass to their door and so they spent the next several years proving and refining their theories which is what the severe weather warning center is still doing and what we're helping to do you see a tornado remains one of nature's most unpredictable manifestations and one of its most powerful you know Sally that young sergeant of yours he's got something to him nice anything between you two I mean like sure can't you tell the way he looks at you and he's a fine young man and really dedicated to his work too isn't he any word from Tinker yet not a sound you know if I were a sailor I'd say I'm afraid we're in for a bit of a blow how about that latest report for Tinker Fred's working on them should have them in a minute or two we show a storm to the southeast Chaffee Air Force Base shows us to the northwest Tinker should have a couple of other fixes should be able to pinpoint something's up for sure Fred where your figures coming right away report coming in from all over here it is Tinker says it's ideal for tornado conditions a flow of warm moist air moving north a layer of dry air for it to meet and more moist air above wet bulb freezing level 8,500 feet strong wind core at 14,000 feet tornado warnings out for this area of state at this rate would hit Ashley at about 1,700 it's about four hours we'll have to watch that's pretty definite now we're directly in the path as projected storm fronts advancing right on schedule and the way I see it conditions to form a tornado should be almost perfect just west of Ashley oh where'd you come from just get yourself to a good safe place within a hundred yards is here one yeoman old farm remember oh that's right you showed it to me once so you know that gives me an idea you'd better get into it we may not have much time what are you going to do well we're going to be working very hard in a few minutes if any trouble develops you mean you pick up all your equipment and leave no we'll have to make extra upper air sounding I don't think there's much time you see those low clouds all right man let's button up buddy loose equipment storms coming from southwest to northeast let's get that balloon up they've been preparing to do that for some time you're not on the crew no no I'm relief man for this run so I decided to stay and try to get some pictures for air warning service I was going to look for a cyclone seller until you reminded me it was one nearby now will you please go home I have work to do I'm staying with you look honey look at this can't you see can't you see what's coming better than you can would you let me go in a storm like this look will you all right all right you win where's that scare hole you were talking about over here come on keep going I'm right with you want me to run interference running interference won't help hold on so neither of us will blow away don't worry I'll never let you go take the elemental forces of nature to bring out the best in you don't tease I mean it if we don't get blown away that is I've been waiting for you to say something like that I've been wanting to say something more than that for a long time you all right just a bit of limb breaking off the tree oh quite it was something hitting you where's the shelter right ahead pull up a handle all right you get down there right away what are you gonna do I'm gonna stay up here as long as possible try to get some pictures it's just a high wind I can stand it for real tornado forms I'll see it in time to get inside those doors may pop off you know I've been hurting I've heard of the suction being so great that people will hold out of this one so I had to but that doesn't all the things come on get down there I will Jack when you do oh listen will you all right never mind just watch out because I can't look in all directions at once and I don't want something hitting you watch Jack look I've always heard about the oppressive feeling before a storm like this I've never thought of people I know what they mean no if you weren't here with me I feel as though everything was terrible I'm here oh thanks look how low those were modest clouds seem menacing enough by themselves and all bunched up not in smooth layers look at that there it goes out like a long black rope hanging down weighing from the clock I've heard I've never seen anything like I'm either lying certainly as I conclude a form doesn't look as though it would do any harm no no not from here you know the strength of the winds at the outside of the funnel have been estimated at more than 500 miles an hour and the suction inside the funnel you said people have been picked up out of cyclone sellers Pullman cars have been lifted right up off the tracks a house just seems to explode I know all that and I'm afraid because I've heard so much about them but still doesn't look dangerous it's all inspiring I guess it's a word I know I know that's bothering me too listen the fact that it doesn't seem to be moving means that the tornado is standing still that happens sometimes though not for long or else it's coming right at us it is can't you see it it's getting bigger and I'm going to stay out here into the last no come down in the shoulder with me please now I will but if it keeps coming this way it won't be locked please it's coming right down there will you Sally Sally look look it's plastic it's going to pass right over it but it's lifting off the ground right over our head the bottom of the funnel must be a hundred feet up now and still climbing see that Sally right over looking in the inferno a huge wall of black cloud a regular funnel of cloud it must have been nearly a hundred yards across as it passed over it's just black inside my darkest night except for the lightning flashing inside it lighting it up from one side to the other I'm glad I thought I'm glad Sally you know I was so interested I took one picture forgot to take any more what you get for taking a girl along with you when you're working take her along I couldn't shake her did you want to now that the twister seems to have passed I can go home not on your life I'm getting rather attached to the steps of this scare hole that's all just attached well and what's on them I mean to you well you know that even if I did know that I might like to hear you say no I'll be saying it for the rest of my life Sally my you are a nerd can't stand high winds that tornado really did you know I'm a nerd all right finally lost my nerve I've got enough nerve there's something to tell you what I mean that's nice I think you do the men of the air weather service are searching searching out the mysteries of nature for the betterment of man their function makes flying safer and more dependable for the air force and in so doing they are solving some riddles finding solutions that help Americans to handle torn NATO alley many times a man is skilled in a particular job yet he's unable to find a use for it as this happened to you are you a service veteran with a service gain skill that's just going to waste well if you are the new lesson because you may be able to put that skill to work as a member of the united states air force the air force needs experience and know how gained in all the armed forces if you possess one of the critical skills needed to keep America's air defense strong you can put that experience to work in the air force and do so at a higher grade and with higher pay than you may realize you've earned credits to a valuable retirement income so protect that initial investment for full details you ride or visit your nearest air force recruiter as for the prior service man's folder now remember that's called the prior service man's folder this folder will show you why today and tomorrow you're better off in the united states air force this has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this radio station proudly we hail is produced by the recruiting publicity center in new york for the united states air force and this is dick Herbert speaking inviting you to tune in the same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail