RAPID CITY, S.D. — U.S. Air Force bombers from military bases in the Dakotas will be flying over Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Sunday for the Super Bowl.
Three different bombers are scheduled to fly over during the national anthem. They include a B-1 Lancer from Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, South Dakota; a B-52 Stratofortresss from the Minot base in North Dakota; and a B-2 Spirit from the Whiteman base in Missouri.
It is the first time all three types of bombers will fly over during the game, KOTA-TV reported.
Major Michael Webster, from the Ellsworth base, considers it a distinct privilege.
He said that “to be able to showcase our capabilities from an Ellsworth standpoint as far as getting the jets ready and all of the support agencies on base that it takes to get a jet launched, and then obviously from the aircrew’s perspective being able to be part of it and actually be over Raymond James for the Super Bowl, it’s an incredible honor.”
The bases were notified in December that they were selected for the flyover and have been planning ever since.
“So, we’re all going to take off from our separate bases, different take off times,” Webster said. “We have a pre-planned re-join point, so we’re all going to get real close together and then hang out, and then fly to Tampa hold around there, then push in and make sure we hit our time over the stadium like we’re supposed to and make sure we look good as well.”
*Courtesy Associated Press
