Stratofortress eerily creeps on foggy day

The Boeing B-52D Stratofortress, known as the “MiG-killer,” sits in the installation’s Heritage Air Park during one of the foggiest days this month with visibility recorded at less than a quarter mile and far less in some areas March 27, 2015, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. According to the 92nd Operations Support Squadron’s weather flight, there is a difference between fog and mist. Fog occurs when visibility is less than a half mile, while mist is when visibility is more than a half mile. Fairchild acquired this B-52 in 1983 after making its final flight from Anderson Air Base, Guam, Oct. 12, 1983, as a member of the 92nd Bomb Wing. B-52s were stationed at Fairchild from 1956 to 1994. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

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Fairchild all fogged in

The 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings headquarters can barely be seen during one of the foggiest days this month with visibility recorded at less than a quarter mile and far less in some areas March 27, 2015, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Typically, the base experiences an average of 11 foggy days each March, but this year the 92nd Operations Support Squadron has recorded far fewer foggy days. Fairchild bid farewell to its 71-year-old headquarters, March 20, 2014, welcoming its new headquarters with state-of-the-art design, fixtures and environmentally conscious construction. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

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Skytrain fogged in

The Douglas C-47D Skytrain sits in the installation’s Heritage Air Park during one of the foggiest days this month with visibility recorded at less than a quarter mile and far less in some areas March 27, 2015, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Typically, the base experiences an average of 11 foggy days each March, but this year, the 92nd Operations Support Squadron has recorded far fewer foggy days. Fairchild acquired the C-47 in 1984 and was previously flown primarily as a military transport developed from the DC-3 with modifications to the cargo door and a strengthened floor. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)

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A foggy Fairchild Friday

Published March 27, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Airmen from the 92nd Operations Support Squadron weather flight recorded visibility on base at less than a quarter mile March 27, a fact that usually occurs at least 11 days annually every March, but not this year, said Tech. Sgt. Steve Moneer, the 92nd OSS weather flight NCO in charge.

"We've seen far fewer foggy days this year than our recorded average," he said noting there may have been more "misty" days.

Moneer said there is a difference between fog and mist. Fog occurs when visibility is less than a half mile, while mist is when visibility is more than a half mile. He said this limited visibility can impact flying operations explaining that if it's thick enough, the runway may get shutdown requiring base commander approval to launch alert missions. Did that happen at all this year? I think it's worth mentioning if our mission was not impacted by fog this year.

The 92nd OSS weather flight predicts weather patterns and prepares forecasts, as well as briefs aircrew members and commanders on weather conditions. They read and interpret weather satellite imagery, climatology reports, computerized weather prediction models and Doppler weather radar imagery. Air Force weather specialists generally have skills in natural science, computers and computer science and future technology.

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Stratofortress eerily creeps on foggy day

Fairchild all fogged in

Skytrain fogged in