Wings Over Wayne 2023
Story and photos by Shawn Byers
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base held their first Airshow in four years on May 20th and 21st, 2023. Traditionally, it is a bi-annual event only just now getting over the post Covid-19 pandemic scheduling hump.
The base was constructed in 1940 and named for Goldsboro resident, United States Navy Lieutenant, Seymour A. Johnson, who perished in an F4F Wildcat in 1941. The base is currently home to the 4th Fighter Wing and is the biggest F-15E Strike Eagle base, supporting four squadrons, two of which are the formal training units. It also has an Air Refueling Wing with KC-46 tankers and a Red Horse construction squadron. Three of the four Fighter Squadrons have lineage from World War II as the American Eagle Squadrons flying the RAF Spitfire.
Seymour Johnson has a single Runway 08/26 at 11,760 feet long and 300 feet wide. The Airshow is located on the Tanker ramp to the East. The sun angle is challenging, moving from left to right during the show.
I always give a little extra time at this base in advance of the show. This is a very good spotters base, quite unique with a single runway and a centralized viewpoint. There was a large group of people at this location Thursday morning and we saw the Blue Angels arrive in the Delta Formation as well as the F-35s from Eglin AFB and the F-16s from Shaw. When the Blue Angels were ready for practice, the area was closed.
Weather for the weekend had it all. Friday was a complete rainout with winds and cool temperatures although one F-22 took off for Langley and Fat Albert conducted a brief display while conducting a weather check. Saturday started cloudy until about 12:30, then broke out into nice sun and warm temperatures until some low clouds forced the Blue Angels to perform a low show. Sunday was cloudy all day and a little cooler but no rain.
Who would have thought that static displays could win the day? On the west side of the ramp, Draken International had a Mirage F-1 and an A-4 Skyhawk in arctic camouflage and a T-38 from Randolph AFB in blue camouflage. At the east end, an F-16 from Shaw’s 79th FS with a yellow and white colored tail. In the middle, five F-15E Strike Eagles in squadron and wing celebratory colors were on display. Unfortunately, the squadrons set up their tables under the wings and stair units at the cockpit. Still, they are wonderful to see in person and I hope to catch them in-flight at another time.
Although some F-15Es launched each morning, 2 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday, we heard but never saw the flyover at the conclusion of the National Anthem due to low clouds.
In the early block of acts, Trevor Rafferty performed a low and fast routine in his red Pitts 12S. Third Strike Wingwalking performed utilizing a red Stearman with not one, but two wingwalkers. Both acts were from Canada. A few weeks later, I spoke with a Canadian photographer at another show and he said they usually have three wingwalkers. Hence, “Third Strike”.
Kent Pietsch performed three times in his yellow Interstate Cadet. First the comedy routine, then the aerobatic routine with the landing on a truck and finally, the dead stick routine where he spirals down to land and stops on the ramp at the Announcer’s outstretched hand.Rob Holland performed a medium length routine early in the day, not his typical slot before the main event. He also had no role in the opening ceremonies as there were no parachutists.
RT Dickson flew a solo routine in his P-51, “Swamp Fox”. Even under cloudy skies, the polished aluminum looked beautiful.
Tora! Tora! Tora! Blew up the field in executing their dizzying three line, nine aircraft recreation of December 7th, 1941.
Jerry Conley performed in his exotic shaped DeHavilland Vampire.
Greg Colyer followed in a performance with his T-33 Shooting Star.
The F-22 Raptor Demo Team was positioned immediately in front of our media tent. On Saturday, the skies cleared in time for a high show. There was plenty of moisture in the air offering plenty of vapor shots. Quite unexpectedly, the Raptor approached for the power loop and discharged a large number of chaff flares. This is new this year at select airshows. I was hoping to see it again on Sunday but the ceilings were lower and the aircraft suffered a problem that terminated the routine early.
The Heritage Flight was conducted with an A-1 Skyraider on the wing. The Skyraider was in Vietnam jungle camouflage.
The U.S. Air Force Combined Arms demo was conducted by four F-15E’s and two F-16s. Working with a Joint Terminal Attack Controller on the ground, the Eagles and Vipers cleared the airspace before attacking the airfield. Aircraft approached from different positions and deployed ordnance while dispensing chaff to defeat any ground fired heat seeking artillery. There was definitely more chaff dispensed in the Sunday version of the show. Soon the enemy was eliminated and the airfield returned to friendly territory.
The KC-46 missed a number of opportunities to fly due to the weather. It launched to make a single pass by the crowd with the boom deployed. It did not play a role in the combined arms demo although it would have been cool to see a simulated inflight refueling pass.
Precision Exotics was running a Corvette and a Lamborghini down the taxiways all day. Manfred Radius performed in the slot before the Blue Angels.
The Blue Angels closed the show, albeit a low show on Saturday. I did not stay for their show on Sunday.
I would like to thank the Public Affairs Team that facilitated us all weekend, led by Capt. Yates. I didn’t record the others on staff but I appreciate the help they afforded us.
