A B-52 bomber from Minot AFB, like the one shown here, along with a B-2 and a B-1 to conduct a flyover during the national anthem performance at Super Bowl on Sunday. Eloise Ogden/MDN

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE – A B-52 bomber aircrew from Minot Air Force Base will have the opportunity of a lifetime when they are part of a first-of-its-kind flyover during the national anthem performance at Sunday’s 55th Super Bowl over Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The trifecta bomber flyover will include the B-52 bomber “War Eagle” (Tail No. 55) from Minot AFB, a B-2 Spirit from Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and a B-1 Lancer from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakotal.

The Air Force Global Strike Command flyover will represent more than 1.3 million active-duty service members standing watch while deployed, or at home, according to Gen. Tim Ray, commander of Global Strike Command with headquarters at Barksdale, Louisiana.

“Supporting this event is a tremendous honor for our command and the U.S. Air Force,” said Ray.

Capt. Colter Huyler, a B-52 pilot and member of the aircrew to fly over the Super Bowl, said the aircrew will take off from Minot AFB mid-morning on Sunday and fly to the Gulf of Mexico to join up with the other two bombers.

“We’ll be over the stadium for the National Anthem at 6:30 (EST),” he said. After that, he said the Minot AFB air crew will be heading back to Minot and arrive home sometime in the evening. Their flight will be a total of about 10 hours.

Crew members and their hometowns include:

– Pilots: Capt. Colter Huyler of Bellvue, Colorado; Maj. Billy McNair of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Capt. Matt Waldman of South Salem, New York.

– Weapons Systems Officers: Capt. Zach Grove of Pataskala, Ohio; and Lt. Alex Sisco of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey.

– Electronic Warfare Officers: Capt. Jack Peak of Weathersfield, Connecticut; and Maj. Kasey Newcomer of Loudonville, Ohio.

– Crew Chief: Tech. Sgt. Scott Varga of Powder Springs, Georgia.

Huyler said he has had the opportunity to fly with B-1s before but not with a B-2 until now. He said he’s looking forward to the flyover with the other two bombers.

For the flyover, the B-2 will be in the lead, the B-52 will be off the B-2’s left wing and the B-1 will be off the right wing Huyler said.

As for being the selected aircrew for the Super Bowl flight, Huyler said this aircrew’s no better or more capable than the other aircrew in their squadron. “It’s just our turn to fly so we got lucky enough to be on this mission,” he said. The mission is considered a normal training sortie.

Huyler has been at Minot AFB for about two years and in the Air Force almost 10 years. He has flown B-52s the entire time with the exception of a short time flying training jets.

The mission to conduct a flyover of the Super Bowl demonstrates the flexibility of Air Force Global Strike Command bombers and their ability to deploy anywhere in the world from the continental United States, according to Global Strike Command officials.

“I’m excited to showcase our aircraft to a global audience as well as show our allies and our potential adversaries that we can take off from Minot or three separate bases across the country and join up and be over a certain location at a time and place of our choosing,” Huyler said.