The sound of freedom

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. David Liapis
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Four F-15E Strike Eagles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, screamed over a crowd of more than 33,000 cheering football fans just before the opening kick-off for the Air Force Academy Falcons versus Boise State University Broncos game Oct. 22, 2011.

Some of the aircrew who participated in the flyover were dropping bombs while flying combat missions in Afghanistan only a month ago.

"It's pretty intense, the contrast between then and now," said Capt. Nicholas Jurewicz, 391st Fighter Squadron pilot who recently returned from a deployment to Afghanistan with the 389th FS and flew one of the jets in the flyover. "... It's awesome to light the afterburners, go 300 knots and get the crowd to cheer; but there's nothing really more satisfying than getting a phone call from a few guys ... calling to say 'thank you' because you saved their lives and that without the couple of bombs you dropped, they would have been dead.

"Two entirely different types of missions -- both important, but very different," he explained.

In Afghanistan, a flyover by a pair of Strike Eagles can mean a variety of things to different people depending which side of the fight they're on. To joint and coalition ground forces, it can mean the difference between life and death if they are in need of close-air support. For the enemy, the scream of an Eagle can mean impending doom should they find themselves on the receiving end of munitions released from the jet. Just the sound of approaching aircraft has proven to be an effective deterrent.

"One of the weapons systems officers in my formation was looking over the edge and saw people diving and jumping to get out of the way because we were cruising down, making so much noise, so fast, and scared them to pieces," Jurewicz said.

Stateside, a flyover can also mean many things to many people as well. Generally, a flyover is a way of displaying the precision flying capabilities of our military to bring comfort to our nation's citizens and to aid in recruiting efforts. At the game this past weekend, the flyover meant these things and more.

"I don't think there's anything more jacked than a flyover," said BSU fan Matt Brown. "I mean, it's 'proud to be an American,' all that stuff; but it gets your heart pumping, gets you excited for football and gets you excited to be in the U.S. It's just such a thrill."

The flyover was also significant to the Air Force Academy cadets -- individuals who will soon join the ranks as commissioned officers serving and defending this nation.

"Whenever I see F-15s fly over, I just think of airpower," said Cadet 2nd Class Ty Perich. "It makes me proud to be an American. It makes me proud to be a part of the Air Force."

The sound of jets echoing through a football stadium on a sunny autumn day is an important reminder of the significance of U.S. airpower.

"The fact two of the jets in the flyover were carrying bombs only a few weeks ago is sobering," said Col. Ron Buckley, 366th Fighter Wing commander. "We are so privileged to live in a country where jet noise is the sound of freedom, not a sound we need to fear."