JUNE 27, 2023, UPDATE:
These are some of the photos of the flyover submitted to DRG Media Group, so far. Photos can be emailed to news@dakotaradiogroup.com.
June 27, 2023, refueling military planes centennial celebration flyover photo courtesy of Sara Kelly.
June 27, 2023, refueling military planes centennial celebration flyover of Pierre, SD, photo courtesy of Nate Damian.
June 27, 2023, refueling military planes centennial celebration flyover photo courtesy of Sherry Lauseng.
JUNE 27, 2023:
A military flyover is planned for the Pierre and Fort Pierre area today (June 27, 2023).
To mark the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Air Force’s ability to perform mid-air refueling, the Air Mobility Command of Sioux City, Iowa, is collaborating with the South Dakota National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing to do flyovers in South Dakota, North Dakota and Iowa.
According to the National Museum of the Air Force, the first successful air refueling took place on June 27, 1923, and air refueling units from around the nation are planning to commemorate the event by performing flyovers at major landmarks, population centers and state capitols around the nation on June 27. They plan to be over Pierre and Fort Pierre at 10:25am.
The Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing and South Dakota’s 114th Fighter Wing will be flying a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker and F-16 Falcons.
Flyovers are expected at the following locations and times (all times are local for the location) in South Dakota:
- Pierre (10:25am),
- the Badlands (9:40am),
- Mount Rushmore National Monument (9:50am) and
- Sioux Falls (12:20pm).
North Dakota locations are:
- Bismarck (11:40am) and
- Teddy Roosevelt National Park (10:20am).
The Northern Iowa location is Sioux City (9:50am).
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