The Air Force Thunderbirds will not appear at Wings Over Columbus later this month.
The Air Force announced Monday the cancellation of the Thunderbirds’ next several events, including an aerial performance at Columbus Air Force Base on April 21-22, following the death of pilot Maj. Stephen Del Bagno, of California, in a crash over Nevada last week.
But CAFB spokespeople promised the Columbus event will otherwise take place as planned, with aerial performers now including the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the F-22 Raptor and C-17 Globemaster III Demonstration Teams.
Del Bagno, call-sign Cajun, died April 4 during a training mission at the Nevada Test and Training Range. He had more than 3,500 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft.
“His loss comes as a shock to his family, friends and wingmen,” Del Bagno’s commander, Lt. Colonel Kevin Walsh, said in an official statement released on the Thunderbirds’ website. “… He lived to fly and inspire the next generation.”
Shortly after Del Bagno’s death, the Thunderbirds announced the cancellation of their next scheduled event in “The March Field Air and Space Expo” at the March Air Reserve Base in California. On Monday, the Air Force announced the Thunderbirds had canceled their appearance at several more events, including Wings Over Columbus.
“We are taking care of our squadron,” Walsh said. “We are a resilient team of high-performing professionals and we’re holding each other up, but we recognize we can’t always do it all alone, which is why we have a robust network of agencies supporting us as we mourn and recover.
“When the time is right, we’ll get back to executing our mission: To recruit, retain and inspire,” he added.
Wings Over Columbus
In addition to the Golden Knights, the Raptor and Globemaster teams, Wings Over Columbus will feature 15 aerial performances — including a B-52 Stratofortress fly over which attendees can only see Saturday. The event will also include more than 40 ground exhibits and plenty of attractions, from the Budweiser Clydesdales and Mississippi State University’s Space Cowboys Rocket Team to exhibits by NASA and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Huntsville, Alabama.
The event will also have play areas and a child convenience center as well as food and beverages available for purchase. Attraction prices vary, though many are free.
“We look forward to hosting our community members at Columbus AFB to give them an opportunity to see some of our nation’s airpower capabilities,” said Col. Doug Gosney, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, in a CAFB press release. “There will be something for everyone at Wings Over Columbus.”
For more information, go to www.wingsovercolumbus.net.
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