Will Pay Tribute To The 40th Anniversary Of The Return Of POWs From Vietnam, And 'Salute' Service Men And Women Around The Globe

Colonel Jeannie Leavitt, Base Commander and first female fighter pilot in the U.S., extends a public invitation to attend the Wings Over Wayne Air Show at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC, in May 18 and 19. Organizers say the air show will salute service men and women around the globe, past and present. Leavitt plans to pay tribute to Operation Homecoming on its 40th anniversary, when POWs in North Vietnam were released from captivity.

“This biennial exhibition has attracted an incredible array of aircraft and skilled pilots," said Major Steven Bofferding, Air Show Director and F-15E pilot. "Seymour Johnson will truly feature one of the world’s best Air Shows of 2013.” The last air show in 2011 drew over 175,000 visitors from across the country.
 
Headlining the show will be the Blue Angels. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron consist of six F/A-18 Hornets and a C-130T Hercules named "Fat Albert." Other exhibitions include the F-15E Strike Eagle; 4CE Formation Aerobatic Team; MV-22 Osprey; Black Daggers Special Forces Parachute Team (from Fort Bragg); F-22 Raptor; flyovers by the B-2 Bomber and F-35 Lightning; Lee Lauderback and his P51; F-18 demo from NAS; Indy Boys Jet School Bus; F-16, A-10, F-5, HH-60 Combined Arms Demonstration; and Patty Wagstaff, America's 1st female National Aerobatic Champion. Air Boss for the day: George Cline. Announcer: Rob Reider. The final schedule for aerial and ground displays will be announced in the future.
 
This fascinating weekend of technological marvel, exploration, and family fun also includes music, autographs, exhibits, and precision ground performances. There will be a kid-zone, complete with huge jumping castles, bungee jumping, trampolines, flight simulators, rock climbing walls, and Euro Ball races. Food and beverages available on site.
 
Seymour Johnson AFB is home to the 4th Fighter Wing and the 916th Air Refueling Wing, consisting of 7,000 people and 95 multi-role F-15E Strike Eagles. The 4th Fighter Wing, formerly commanded by Chuck Yeager, is one of the largest wings in the USAF, and has a highly decorated history spanning nearly seven decades.
 
Gates will open at 0800 and close at 1830 each day. Admission and parking are free.

FMI: www.seymourjohnson.af.mil/