WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2010 - As the excitement builds in the minutes before
the Super Bowl kickoff, four Air National Guard F-15 Eagle fighter jets
will scream over Miami's Sun Life Stadium in a dramatic show of military
support for the big game.
The F-15s, from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing,
will time their flyover to begin just as country music superstar Carrie
Underwood belts out the last note of the national anthem, reported Air
Force Lt. Col. Richard Bittner, the 125th Wing's public affairs officer.
Air Force Lt. Col. John Black, who goes by the call sign "Homer," will
lead the formation, followed by Wing Commander Col. Bob "Squirt" Branyon.
Lt. Col. Mike "Speedo" Rouse, the 159th Fighter Squadron commander, will
be in position three, with Col. Bill Bair, commander of the 125th
Fighter Wing's operations group, holding up the rear.
After the pilots land at nearby Homestead Air Reserve Base, a Miami-Dade
police helicopter will whisk them back to the stadium, where they'll be
introduced to the crowd, Bittner said.
The Super Bowl flyover is a first for the Air National Guard. The wing
has done flyovers for other National Football League events, most
frequently over Jaguars games near its Jacksonville International
Airport base. But Bittner said there's a special panache that comes with
flying over the big daddy of football games.
"It's a huge honor," he said, calling it a recognition of the wing's
impressive operational readiness posture, and its 24/7 mission of being
ready to scramble at a moment's notice to protect U.S. air space.
The flyover is just part of the military support being provided as the
New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts do battle during Super Bowl
XLIV.
The Armed Forces Color Guard from the Military District of Washington
will kick off that support, marching onto the field before the game to
present the colors, accompanied by two drummers from U.S. Air Force
Band.
Meanwhile, as more than 75,000 fans enjoy the sold-out game, military
forces will be at work behind the scenes, supporting civil authorities
to maintain security in and around the stadium and in the skies
overhead.
Fighter jets from Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense
Command Region will be airborne, working in coordination with the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FAA
and local law enforcement to enforce flight restrictions over Miami
during the game, reported the commander, Air Force Maj. Gen. Garry Dean.
Air Force Col. Randy Spears, commander of the 601st Air and Space
Operations Center, called the mission an extension of the eagle-eyes his
airmen provide every day. "The men and women of this AOC monitor the
skies 24/7, 365 for the contiguous United States, and Sunday's special
event is another part of our mission set," he said.
In addition, the Florida National Guard's 44th Civil Support Team will
be on the ground, poised to support civil authorities, as required. The
40-member team, a mix of soldiers and airmen, is trained respond to any
emergency situation, including those dealing with weapons of mass
destruction, said Air Force Lt. Col. Ron Tittle, a Florida National
Guard public affairs officer.
As in recent years, about 40 wounded Marine Corps warriors will be
enjoying the game in person, courtesy of tickets donated by the
Cleveland Browns.
Meanwhile, thousands of U.S. servicemembers will be watching, too,
either at home or overseas, via Armed Forces Network broadcasts.