Whiteman NCO of the Year flies in B-2
By Brye Steeves, 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
/ Published June 15, 2018
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- As the Spirit of Indiana touched down on the runway at Whiteman Air Force Base on May 5, 2018, 3-year-old Brayden Vallejo clapped excitedly, exclaiming, “That’s my dad! My daddy’s in there!”
Wearing a shirt with little American flags and yellow earplugs, Brayden, along with his mom Laura Vallejo and more than a dozen Airmen, waited on the flightline while the B-2 taxied to a stop in front of them.
Tech. Sgt. Michael Vallejo could see theentourage from the inside the two-person cockpit. As he descended from the airplane, the group applauded and cheered. Brig. Gen. John Nichols, 509th Bomb Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. James Lyda, 509th Bomb Wing command chief, shook Vallejo’s hand and offered their congratulations. Vallejo’s family gave him celebratory hugs.
Vallejo had just completed an incentive flight in the stealth bomber. He is one of 12 enlisted Airmen to have done so and the only one ever from a mission support squadron.
“It was such an honor,” Vallejo said. “And something I’ll never forget.”
Vallejo is a 509th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal team leader at Whiteman. He was recently named the base’s 2017 Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. In recognition of his outstanding performance here and while deployed to Southwest Asia, Nichols and Lyda presented Vallejo with a personalized flight suit and a flight in the B-2.
“A B-2 incentive flight is a unique opportunity that is earned through hard work and superior performance, which Tech. Sgt. Vallejo exemplifies,” Nichols said. “He’s an outstanding Airmen and certainly deserves this recognition to fly in the worlds most lethal combat aircraft.”
Fewer than 700 people have flown in the B-2 in its 29-year history, said Col. BrianGallo, commander of the 509th Operations Group. Most have been the B-2 pilots themselves, but in certain rare circumstances, Air Force regulations allow other Airmen or officials to receive an incentive flight. This includes rewarding military personnel for outstanding service and to motivate other service members to high performance levels. Additionally, certain distinguished visitors, such as Air Force and government officials, may receive flights to further their understanding of the B-2 mission.
“Tech. Sgt. Vallejo is now part of a small group of non B-2 pilots to fly in the airplane,” Gallo said. “He also joins some of our country’s top officials, including one Secretary of Defense, four Secretaries of the Air Force, two Chiefs of Staff of the Air Force and three congressional members.”
Each person to fly in the B-2 receives a Spirit Number to signify his or her succession in the aircraft. Vallejo is Spirit No. 683. He flew with B-2 pilot Maj. Joshua Dorr, Spirit No. 499, who is assigned to Whiteman’s 393d Bomb Squadron.
The two flew over the local area in what Dorr described as the best flying conditions seen in months. Their two-hour sortie reached an altitude of 29,000 feet and included air refueling. Dorr said Vallejo appeared comfortable in the cockpit and even took command of the aircraft for a few minutes.
Prior to his flight, Vallejo was cleared medically and trained in case of an in-flight emergency. He also participated in a flight simulator and attended a mission brief.
“It was important for Tech. Sgt. Vallejo to be involved in the preflight process as well as be familiar with the airplane before takeoff,” Dorr said. “During the actual flight, he seemed comfortable and didn’t appear nervous at all. I think he really enjoyed the experience.”
Vallejo’s post-flight assessment: “I felt like I was strapped to a rocket. It was awesome.”