PASADENA, Calif. - The B-2 bomber The Spirit of America performs a flyover at the 98th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was the organizer of the game and dedicated the game in honor of all wounded military personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jennifer Greene)

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PASADENA, Calif. - Capt. Jon Roe, 393rd Bomb Squadron, gets an autograph from Ron Dayne, the two-time Rose Bowl MVP and 1999 Heisman Trophy Award winner from University of Wisconsin. Dayne was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in Pasadena, Calif., Dec. 31, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jennifer Greene)

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PASADENA, Calif. - The B-2 bomber The Spirit of America performs a flyover at the 98th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was the organizer of the game and dedicated the game in honor of all wounded military personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jennifer Greene)

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PASADENA, Calif. - Lt. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski , commander of the Space Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif,; Brig. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm, commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB, Mo.; Maj. Kent Mickelson; and Capt. John Roe are recognized during an on field tribute to Whiteman AFB and the B-2 Spirit during the 98th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association was the organizer of the game and dedicated the game in honor of all wounded military personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jennifer Greene)

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B-2 leads annual Tournament of Roses festivities

Published Jan. 5, 2012
By Jennifer Greene
509 Bomb Wing Public Affairs

PASADENA, Calif. -- Team Whiteman kicked-off the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade and 98th Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., with flyovers seen by an estimated national audience of 7 million people Jan. 2.

The men and women of Whiteman AFB demonstrated excellence and precision during the flyovers, conducted as routine training missions scheduled to fly over both events. Brig. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm, 509th Bomb Wing commander, was on hand representing the 509th BW along with pilots from the 393rd and 13th Bomb squadrons.

The ground crew included Majs. Kent Mickelson and Ben Kaminsky and Capts. Jon Roe and Jason Ellis. They were on hand to coordinate the flyovers and provide communication between the bomber crew and event staff.

Col. Robert Spalding, 509th Operations Group commander, and Maj. Aaron Pepkowitz, 394th Combat Training Squadron, flew the B-2 for both events. Due to the length of the mission, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild AFB, Wash., provided aerial refueling.