Miramar Air Show 2007
San Diego Cadet Squadron 144, Skyhawk Composite Squadron 47, and South San Diego Cadet Squadron 201 were invited by USAF Recruiter, SSgt David Cummings to set up a CAP recruiting table with his recruiting team at the annual Miramar Air Show, Marine Corps Air Station, San Diego, CA. This annual air show is probably the largest air show west of the Mississippi River and an excellent opportunity for recruiting and learning about aerospace education (AE).
The USAF Thunderbirds performed their aerial demonstration in place of the Navy’s Blue Angeles who were in Hawaii, resulting as a windfall for USAF recruiting efforts. A few of the Thunderbird pilots and maintenance personnel visited the USAF/CAP recruiting area.
As real estate agents say, “location, location, location.” SSgt Cummings was able to acquire an excellent area on the tarmac adjacent to grandstands numbers one and two, a perfect place as the crowds moved between the aircraft static displays and grandstands. The USAF recruiters had two large inflatable football/basketball toss games set up, in addition to their blue AF trailer while passing out recruiting materials. The CAP table was set up next to the AF booth and provided a base of operations for our cadets to store their gear and check-in.
Surrounding the USAF/CAP recruiting area, were various static display aircraft, i.e., an AT-6 Texan WWII trainer, CH-21 Shawnee Korean War cargo helicopter, B-25 Mitchell WWII medium bomber, and an AN-2 Colt Russian airborne/by-wing “pick-up truck.” Two shiny Lockheed Electras were next door, similar to the one Emilia Earhart flew in her attempt to fly around the world in the late 1930s.
At about 0900 hours, the three listed CAP squadrons above, reported for CAP recruiting. At 1000 hours, Capt Dennis Ammann walked them over to LtCol Darren Wilson, the pilot of a B-52H Stratofortress from Minot AFB, ND. Col Wilson introduced himself and told the cadets all about this 46 year old aircraft which will probably fly until the year 2020! He was very humorous but also deadly serious about his mission to utilize air power when needed. After the walk around tour, a group photo with Col Wilson was taken. Maj John DiGiantomasso, of Squadron 47 led his cadets for a quick tour of some of the other aircraft while LtCol Steve Handrop, Squadron 201 did the same. Squadron 144 proceeded to the Special Operations MC-130 for another walk-around tour.
The Miramar Air Show is an AE Officer’s paradise, but conducting AE around the static display aircraft is a real challenge as one has to talk over the performing aircraft above. What a great problem this is! Rather than reading a book or watching a CD, there they are flying above us! This is truly the Sound of Freedom with screaming F/A-18 Hornets, AV-8 Harriers, and F-16 Falcons just a few miles per hour short of breaking the sound barrier!
Maj DiGiantomasso arranged free admission for the cadets who wanted to stay for the twilight show by policing the area prior to show time at dusk. This is always a hit with a look at military jets taking off with afterburners at night, aircraft lighting off pyrotechnics, and the famous wall of fire for the grand finale.
On Sunday a smaller CAP contingent was present but still provided excellent recruiting opportunities to the general public. Aircraft walk around tours were offered to the cadets as they learned about military aircraft from WWII to the present.
As for the air show itself, the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstrated various aspects of battle ground attack, i.e., aerial photo recon, recon team insertion, strafing, low level bombing, helicopter assault, combat Marine deployment, helicopter heavy lift, and in-flight refueling. There was an F-117 Nighthawk flight demo and various civilian aerobatic acts, such as The Patriots flying Czechoslovakian L-39 Albatross; the Red Bull, a Russian MiG-17 Fresco fighter flown by Bill Reesman; Sean Tucker’s Oracle Challenger; Bret Willat Sailplane Show (probably the best sailplane pilot in the world, right here at Warner Springs); and perhaps the best crowd pleaser of the civilian air performers: the Red Baron Squadron consisting of four Stearman by-planes.
CAP Squadrons who participate at Miramar Air Show recruiting, experience an increase in visitors soon afterward each year, not to mention the knowledge cadets obtain about AE. We are very thankful to SSgt David Cummings and his recruiters for allowing us to set up shop inside his recruiting area on the tarmac.
See you next year at the Miramar Air Show! Semper Vi !
Capt Dennis Ammann
Cmdr, SD Cadet Sq. 144
