Standing: Capt Richard J Brion, Staff Sgt Merlyn Paulson, 1st Lt Alan M Mitchell

Front: Major John Merritt, Staff Sgt William H Hendley, Capt Melvin Mathews

The Yankee Clipper

As the three Apollo XII astronauts hurtle back to Earth from the Lunar surface in preperation

for their re-entry and splashdown some 400 miles south-east of Pago Pago, American Samoa,

a crew from the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam has been

tasked to report to NASA, sea and sky conditions in the recovery area.

The Air Force crew, headed by Capt Brion, Aircraft Commander, assisted by Co-pilot Lt Mitchell,

Navigator Major Merritt, Weather Officer Capt Mathews, Flight Engineer Sgt Paulson, and

Weather Technician Sgt Hendley, has already departed for Hickam AFB, Hawaii, where they will

receive final briefings from NASA officials before continuing on to Pago Pago.

The 54th's mission is to provide vital, up-to-the-minute weather data to the Apollo recovery forces,

to to NASA mission Controlers, and to the Astronauts. Armed with this information, final determination

can be made as to whether the capsule will splashdown in the primary recovery zone or continue to

the secondary area should the weather and sea conditions be more favorable.