Re: missing man formation for Reagan

[Paul Hirose]

tony wrote:
>
> Former President Reagan's sunset burial had a dissonant note for me. The Navy
> flew a missing man formation over the site, and as is traditional the second
> element lead position (the airplane that would have been represented by your
> ring finger tip as they flew in finger tip formation) left its position,
> representing the missing man.
>
> For this man, this president, tradition should have been broken. The missing
> man was a Leader. The lead position should have been the vacant one.

Wasn't that how they did it over Washington (or maybe it was Pt.
Mugu)? On TV I thought I saw *lead* break away during one of the
missing man flyovers for Reagan. It was such an unusual sight I
wondered if my eyes had fooled me. I'm still not sure. Did anyone else
notice that?

The only other time I can remember lead departing a missing man
formation was a Memorial Day flyover at Edwards AFB with T-38s. A few
minutes later a sonic boom rocked the base. It may have been lead
flying solo, or perhaps the formation got back together.

--

Paul Hirose >
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[Tom Cervo]

>> For this man, this president, tradition should have been broken. The
>missing
>> man was a Leader. The lead position should have been the vacant one.

There is always a leader, even if it is the last man left.