Fighter wing supports South Florida by participating in air and sea show

Citizen Airman, August, 2005 by Sandra M. Bueno

Streaking across the sky, 1,000 feet ground, a four-ship formation of F-16 Fighting Falcons stationed at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., roared over a crowd of more than a million people in an empowering display of training, force and might to mark the opening of the 11th annual McDonald's Air & Sea Show.

The combined civilian and military event, April 30 and May 1 in Fort Lauderdale, featured all five military services.

Zooming in from the north at the precise conclusion of the national anthem, the four members of the 93rd Fighter Squadron--Maj. Joseph S. "Corky" Matchette, Maj. Pete "Stinky" Smith, Capt. Robert F. "Rutro" Lytle, Lt. Col. Scott C. "Doogie" Howell and Capt. Joseph A. "Sloppy" McGill--surprised and scared unsuspecting onlookers as they streaked by at speeds exceeding 350 mph.

Viewing the fly-by from the staging area was Col. Randall G. Falcon, 482nd Fighter Wing commander. He was joined by Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Thomas Hall; Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, U.S. Southern Command commander; Lt. Gen. William Fraser III, Air Combat Command vice commander; and Maj. Gen. Craig McKinley, director of the Mobilization and Reserve Affairs Directorate, U.S. European Command.

"We want to be synonymous with the Air & Sea Show because we are proud of our own contribution to the South Florida community and as a reserve component," Colonel Falcon said. "We are a fully functional base protecting the Southeast region of the U.S. with the F-15s from the Florida Air National Guard and our own 93rd FS. Anything that goes past the Caribbean and South America we are involved with."

Homestead's involvement in the show included recruiters and members of the security forces squadron, maintenance squadron and public affairs office, who provided hundreds of man-hours of support.

(Airman Bueno is assigned to the 482nd FW public affairs office at Homestead ARB.)