Homecoming flyover during national anthem features SIU alum
10/18/2023 | 9:44:00 | Football
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By: By Tom Weber, SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saturday's Homecoming game will feature a pregame flyover during the national anthem by an E-3 Sentry, Airborne Warning and Control System, more commonly known as the AWACS.
The AWACS is a Command and Control platform used to deliver real-time surveillance of the battle space and early warning of hostile actions — in air, land or sea — back to a ground-based Joint Operations Center.
The plane will arrive above Saluki Stadium during the national anthem at precisely 1:49:53 p.m. and is traveling from the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The lead pilot is Major Jordan Forbes, a 20-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Air Force from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His co-pilot is United States Air Force Captain Nathan Evans, who graduated and commissioned out of the University of Tennessee in 2018.
Lieutenant Colonel Sean "Flash" Gordon
The Section Leader in command of the mission and Director of Operations for the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron is a Saluki grad, Lieutenant Colonel Sean "Flash" Gordon. He was also the 2004 SIU Homecoming king.
Lieutenant Colonel Gordon is a proud member of the Class of 2006, having majored in Aviation Technology with a specialization in Helicopter Maintenance. He wished to share that he can't wait to see the men's basketball team when it travels to Wichita State for its Dec. 16 game.
