PASADENA, Calif. - The B-2 bomber The Spirit of America performs a flyover at the 98th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was the organizer of the game and dedicated the game in honor of all wounded military personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jennifer Greene)

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PASADENA, Calif. - Capt. Jon Roe, 393rd Bomb Squadron, gets an autograph from Ron Dayne, the two-time Rose Bowl MVP and 1999 Heisman Trophy Award winner from University of Wisconsin. Dayne was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in Pasadena, Calif., Dec. 31, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jennifer Greene)

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PASADENA, Calif. - The B-2 bomber The Spirit of America performs a flyover at the 98th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was the organizer of the game and dedicated the game in honor of all wounded military personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jennifer Greene)

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PASADENA, Calif. - Lt. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski , commander of the Space Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif,; Brig. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm, commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.; Maj. Kent Mickelson; and Capt. John Roe are recognized during an on field tribute to Whiteman AFB and the B-2 Spirit during the 98th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was the organizer of the game and dedicated the game in honor of all wounded military personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jennifer Greene)

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B-2 leads annual Tournament of Roses festivities

Published Jan. 5, 2012
By Jennifer Greene
509 Bomb Wing Public Affairs

Pasadena, CA. -- Team Whiteman provided aerial excitement to kick-off the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade and 98th Rose Bowl by conducting flyovers for an estimated national audience of 7 million in Pasadena, Calif. Jan 2.

The flyovers demonstrated the excellence and precision of the men and women of Whiteman AFB. Fly overs are conducted as a routine training mission that was scheduled to fly over the events. Brig. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm was on hand to represent the 509th Bomb Wing along with pilots from the 393rd and 13th Bomb Squadrons.

The ground crew included Majs. Kent "Butters" Mickelson, Ben "Jinx" Kaminsky, Capts. Jon "Death" Roe and Jason "Bluto" Ellis. They were on hand to coordinate the flyovers and provide communication between bomber crew and event staff.

The B-2 was flown Col. Robert "Speedo" Spalding, 509th Operations Group commander, and Maj. Aaron "Pepe" Pepkowitz, 394th Combat Training Squadron, for both events. Due to the length of the mission aerial refueling was provided by the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild AFB, Wash.