A Cool Flyby

[GARY HILTON]

My aunt passed away last Friday. She lived to be 83, a good woman. She had no childeren herself, but claimed me as her son. We buried her today at 2PM in Knob Knoster, where most of my deceased relatives are interned. The cemetery just happens to be maybe half a mile from the North end of the runway.

During the graveside services, a couple of B-2 bombers started doing some patteren work, their takeoff extended past the cemetery about a mile and they would start thier turns in a right hand pattern. On the 4th interuption of the ceremony, this B-2 crossed right over us, and cast his shadow over all of us. I don't know if was on purpose or not, but the crew greatly reduced thier throttle settings when they passed close overhead. The next two passes were the same except they left their gear extended, and on all three occasions, didn't spool up until they were on their base leg in the pattern.

As soon as the service was over, then came three T-38s....Was greatly appreciated by all.

Way to go Aunt Bert!

G.

[RobC]

Sorry about your aunt, Gary. Not everyone would have appreciated the flyby, given the circumstances. But I sure would have!!

[GARY HILTON]

Thanks Rob, she will be missed, but I know she is at peace now, family has spent more time smiling and laughing in rememberance this evening, than crying....I should be so lucky that an ultralite would cross over my funeral! No doubt , it was really very cool to witness two B-2's working the pattern, seldom you even see just one.

[Richard W.]

My wife attended a funeral at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery a few weeks ago. It was an old friend of her family's that I'd never met, so I didn't go with her.

When she told me there was a B-52 flyover, I wished I had.