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identifying the operational requirements for hurricane reconnaissance. He is charged with the responsibility of advising the Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordinator, Atlantic Hurricanes, (CARCAH) of the aircraft reconnaissance requirements of the hurricane center. The CARCAH is responsible for the coordination and the final preparation of the reconnaissance Plan of the Day and for the scheduling of aircraft required to meet the provisions of the plan. Furthermore, the National Hurricane Operation Plan stipulates that plans for aircraft reconnaissance shall be prepared by the CARCAH in consultation with the Director of the National Hurricane Center. When the flights by ESSA Research Flight Facility are to be made, the Chief of the Research Flight Facility will participate in the planning. In practice and in accord with the agreement between the Air Force and Navy to share the responsibility for hurricane reconnaissance, the Research Flight Facility participates only in hurricane reconnaissance whenever it is necessary in and over the territory of Cuba. This is because the Cuban Government has given permission for only civilian aircraft of the United States to fly over Cuba in connection with hurricane reconnaissance. The plan proceeds to identify that requirements for operational data are primary and suggests that every possible effort should be made to meet the requirements for research data, implying that this should be done without affecting the fulfillment of the needs for operational data.
A review of the aerial reconnaissance activity based upon the records retained by CARCAH, reveals the following chronology:
1.	CAMILLE was located by Navy reconnaissance at 1440 GMT on August 14, 1969, at 19:05N and 81.45W. Lowest sea-level pressure was 999 mb with a maximum surface wind of 50 knots. At 0045 GMT on August 15, Navy reconnaissance fixed the position at 19:57N and 81:10W. The lowest sea-level pressure was recorded as 991 mb with maximum surface wind of 50 knots. At 0600 GMT reconnaissance placed the position of the hurricane at 20.-02N and 83:19W. A subsequent analysis of these positions based upon a comparison with the “best track” of the hurricane derived from all information available, including satellite, radar, and surface weather reports, indicates that the
0045 GMT position on the 15th was off the “best track” by approximately 40 miles.
2.	While the hurricane was immediately south of Cuba, the ESSA Research Flight Facility performed the reconnaissance because of the restriction upon military overflight of Cuba.
3.	On August 16 the Air Force aborted its mission at 0000 GMT due to the loss of radar and radio.
4.	The Navy accomplished four radar fixes on the center of the storm at 0500, 0640, 0900, and 1200 GMT on the 16th. On the later fix the lowest sea-level pressure of the storm was reported to be 996 mb with a surface wind of 80 knots.
5.	An Air Force penetration of the storm was accomplished at 1835 GMT on the 16th at 24.-22N and 86:04W when, at this time, a central sea-level pressure of 908 mb was reported, which was a new record for lowest pressure of any Atlantic hurricane. Six hours later at 0016 GMT August 17 the same Air Force crew reentered the storm at 25:15N and 87:14W and reported surface wind of 90 knots and a central pressure of 905 mb.
6.	On August 17 the Navy again provided five fixes by radar. Penetration was not attempted because of the storm’s intensity. An analysis of the reported positions and their comparison with the “best track” position indicate there may have been some navigational difficulties or radar positioning problems experienced inasmuch as the first and second positions of this group deviate significantly from the “best track.” However, the other fixes were on “best track.”
7.	Finally, the Air Force penetrated the storm at 1815 GMT on the 17th at 28:12N and 88:46W, established the central sea-level pressure at 901 mb and the surface wind at 180 knots. A truly great hurricane. At this time the hurricane was under the surveillance of several shore-based radars and no further aerial reconnaissance was requested.
This chronology is shown in Figure 5.
The National Hurricane Center has established requirements for the reconnaissance aircraft to establish the position of the hurricane, the lowest sea-level pressure in the storm, and the maximum surface winds. These are specified in the National Hurricane Operations Plan.
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