Pentagon planning flyovers in dozens of US cities as a tribute to frontline workers battling coronavirus
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon is considering plans to fly military jets over nearly three dozen major American cities as a tribute to frontline workers battling the coronavirus pandemic, USA TODAY has learned.
Trump first announced the idea at a press conference Wednesday, saying the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds crews "wanted to show support to the American medical workers."
Details of the operation were first reported by The Washington Post, which obtained a Pentagon memo listing the cities where the flights could take place. Two sources familiar with the plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an idea that has not yet been announced confirmed the details.
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Officials would direct the Navy's Blue Angels and Air Force's Thunderbirds to fly joint operations over Washington, Baltimore, New York, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Austin, the sources told USA TODAY.
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The Blue Angels would separately fly over Miami, Tampa, Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida; Norfolk and Virginia Beach; Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, New Orleans; and Kingsville and Corpus Christi, Texas.
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The Thunderbirds are considering flights over San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Oregon and Seattle.
Additional cities could be added to the lists.
The mission, called Operation America Strong, is intended to serve as a thank you to essential personnel, first responders, medical workers and military service members for their fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds have already performed a few demonstrations around the country. They combined Tuesday to pass over Pensacola, Florida, the first time in three years that the two aerial teams have combined in the city.
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"What we are doing is paying tribute to our frontline health care workers confronting COVID, and it's really a signal to all Americans to remain vigilant during the outbreak," Trump said of the flyovers on Wednesday.
"This is a tribute to them, to our warriors. Because they are equal warriors to those incredible pilots and all of the fighters that we have for the more traditional fights that we win," he continued.
On Friday, the U.S. passed 50,000 coronavirus deaths and closed in on nearly 1 million infections.