Three F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 177th Fighter Wing and a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 108th Wing at Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst will conduct a flyover of New Jersey on Tuesday to salute frontline workers in the coronavirus pandemic.
Get ready for another thunderous military flyover to salute workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic in New Jersey.
The 177th Fighter Wing of the state Air National Guard plans to fly over 14 sites around the state Tuesday from Sea Girt to Bergen County and other nearby sites, then south through Cherry Hill in Camden County and as far as the U.S. Coast Guard training center in Cape May County before concluding the flyover in Atlantic City.
The aircraft will include three F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 177th Fighter Wing in Egg Harbor and a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 108th Wing at Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst.
The flyovers begins at 11:20 a.m. over Sea Girt and will cover key COVID-19 locations including testing sites, state veterans homes, hospitals and mortuary affairs, a guard public affairs spokeswoman said.
The flyby is part of a nationwide Air Force campaign to honor first responders.
Residents can see the flyover at the following approximate times and locations:
• Sea Girt – 11:30 a.m.
• PNC Arts Center – 11:35 a.m.
• Millstone – 11:40 a.m.
• NJ Convention Center – 11:45 a.m.
• Menlo Park – 11:46 – a.m.
• Kean University – 11:48 a.m.
• University Hospital – 11:48 a.m.
• Expo Center – 11:49 a.m.
• Bergen County College/Paramus – 11:51 a.m.
• Vets Haven North – 12:01 p.m.
• New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs – 12:07 p.m.
• Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital – 12:13 p.m.
• U.S. Coast Guard Training Center – 12:27 p.m.
• Atlantic City Convention Center – 12:32 p.m.
The National Guard flyover follows one by the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels earlier this month in which 12 military jets crossed the state to salute health care workers. The flights passed by five cities in four states—Newark, New York City, Trenton, Philadelphia and Wilmington.
“This is just a way of honoring those who are leading those challenges daily to say we care and we see what you’re doing and we applaud you and thank you for your service,” said Donna Jeffries, a spokeswoman for the 108th out of Joint base MDL.
Jeffries said the flight is part of planned training for the pilots and did not incur an additional cost outside of already appropriated funding.
The military released a map of the flyovers but cautioned the times are estimated for when the jets will be visible. The map also incorrectly shows Sea Girt much closer to Atlantic City, which makes it appear the flyover will cover most of the coast — which it won’t. Sea Girt, which is scheduled to have the first flyover at 11:30 a.m., is 73 miles north of Atlantic City.
It also shows the southern route of the flyovers passing north of Wildwood. There is actually a flyby south of Wildwood at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May City at 12:27 p.m., five minutes before the last scheduled site of the Atlantic City Convention Center.
Social distancing requirements are still in place and officials continue to warn people to adhere. Violations of the emergency orders constitute a disorderly persons offense carrying a potential sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
New Jersey has now lost 9,310 lives to the coronavirus outbreak as the total number of cases continued to climb to 139,945, according to the latest update from state health officials on Monday.
The totals include 59 new deaths and more than 1,453 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, though officials have cautioned about lags in reporting particularly over the weekend.
This map shows Sea Girt much closer to Atlantic City than Asbury Park. Sea Girt is 73 miles from Atlantic City and seven miles from Asbury Park.
The map also shows the southern route of the flyovers passing north of Wildwood. There is actually a flyby south of Wildwood at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May City.
Staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report.
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