C-130 flyovers scheduled for Friday
~ Joint U.S. Air Force and Arkansas Air National Guard effort Salutes Healthcare Heroes
WHO: The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing and U.S. Air Force’s 19th Airlift Wing, 314th Airlift Wing and Air Force Reserve’s 913th Airlift Group
WHAT: Performs the Salute to Healthcare Flyover
WHEN: Friday, May 8th
WHERE: Various hospitals across the state (see attached map)
WHY: To show appreciation to healthcare heroes for their countless hours of selfless service helping the citizens of Arkansas and fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing and U.S. Air Force’s 19 Airlift Wing, 314th Airlift Wing and the Air Force Reserve’s 913th Airlift Group will conduct a flyover of select hospitals around the state on May 8.
The aerial demonstration is part of Operation American Resolve, a nationwide salute to all those supporting COVID-19 response efforts.
At approximately 2 p.m. CST, two two-ship formations of C-130s from Little Rock Air Force Base will depart the base and begin flying pre-determined routes over Arkansas major healthcare facilities in the greater Little Rock area, Pine Bluff, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Fort Smith, Searcy, Benton, West Memphis, and Fayetteville to honor healthcare personnel.
“It is a privilege for the men and women of the Arkansas Air National Guard to provide a ‘thank you’ to the first responders, essential personnel and all healthcare providers supporting and the state during this time,” said Col. Dean Martin, commander of the 189th Airlift Wing. “We salute all Americans serving on the frontlines in our combat against COVID-19, and we hope all Arkansans feel a sense of pride and connectedness when they see and hear their C-130s flying overhead.”
Operation American Resolve is comprised of a series of flyovers in major cities to demonstrate the National Guard and the United States Air Force’s continued readiness during COVID-19, while saluting American heroes on the forefront of the fight. The flyover is intended to lift morale during a time of severe health and economic impacts that have resulted from COVID-19.
Since early March, the Arkansas National Guard has supported the Office of the Governor, the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, along with other state and federal agencies to form a Unified Response and help combat the spread of COVID-19. The Arkansas National Guard has dedicated over 100 Soldiers and Airmen in this fight and has been involved in several missions to include screening and testing patients, medical supply and PPE distribution, patient and physician call centers, and liaison and medical and logistics modeling and planning.
The Arkansas National Guard assumes support roles to augment civil authorities, where needed and directed by the Governor, to help in a crisis.
