Air Force heritage and American history come together over Fenway

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Foster
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  This was no ordinary baseball game on April 20, 2012. Although just about every game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees can be talked about for years by die-hard fans, this particular game matched rivalry with history as it marked the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park. It was also a history the U.S. Air Force was able to be a part of.

With the sights and smells of the ballpark surrounding fans, the national anthem coming to a close and hundreds of past and present Red Sox players on the field, two military aircraft flew overhead in perfect rhythm to thunderous applause. Meanwhile, Airmen from Hanscom stood in formation in front of a large American flag draped over the "Green Monster" wall and the Patriot Honor Guard presented the colors.

But the flyover didn't lend the typical spectacle of the Air Force's newest jets. Like today's modern players playing in a century old ballpark, new and old came together for a memorable event as an F-16 and P-51flew by.

Hanscom Air Force Base had a large part to play in the events. The base hosted two F-16 Fighting Falcons and a P-51 Mustang from the United States Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation on Thursday before they were to perform the special flyover at Fenway Park in Boston.

According to www.airforceheritageflight.org, the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation is a non-profit organization that was formed with the primary charitable mission of providing heritage flights to the public. The performances feature modern fighter and attack aircraft flying alongside World War II, Korea and Vietnam-era aircraft in a dramatic display of the nation's air power history.

Maj. Brian Congdon, one of the F-16 East Coast Heritage pilots and a Massachusetts native, said it had always been his dream to become a pilot.

"I've wanted to fly since I can remember and as soon as I saw an F-16, I knew that was the one," Congdon said. "When I heard about the opportunity to fly over Fenway, I jumped at the chance to come home. I've been a Red Sox fan my entire life!"

Flying a modern-day fighter together with a much older aircraft takes special skills that allow the jet to maintain steady speeds alongside a much slower plane.

According to www.acc.af.mil, Air Combat Command started flying dissimilar formation flights in 1997 while it was celebrating its 50 year anniversary as a separate military branch.

The flights reflect Air Force airpower from past to present and, because the response was an overwhelming favorite during air shows, ACC designed and approved a formal program to continue these flights throughout future air show seasons. In 2010, the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation was formed.

Before the flyover, Heritage Flight manager Mark Thibeault explained the foundation celebrates air power history by providing up to 60 shows and events per year. Most are airshows or open houses with the active duty aircraft.

"Not every pilot can perform as heritage pilots," said Thibeault. "The pilots have to train specially. These guys know how to fly in formations and keep a three foot minimum wingtip separation. It makes it even tougher flying with the older aircraft and we train every year to do that specifically."

Thibeault was excited to give details about the program that showcases military heritage at its best.

"There's a lot of work that goes into organizing an event like this. We have to get the jets, coordinate with the base and the Red Sox," he said. "We are also enlisting the help of the Green Mountain Boys from Burlington, Vermont, because they do a lot of the Fenway flyovers. We'll find the hold point with the target being Fenway and we'll work the timing with the Red Sox."

With assistance from the Green Mountain Boys, the F-16 and P-51 timed the flight appropriately and were able to delight fans and add another element of history to America's favorite pastime. Airmen on the field did an about face and carried the monstrous flag off the field. As one chapter of history closed and another one opened, it was time for all to enjoy and play ball.