Travis aircrew assists Rose Bowl flyover

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Charles Rivezzo
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It was only fitting that one of America's greatest showcases of air superiority - the B-2 Spirit - headlined the pre-game festivities for the first game in College Football Playoff history on New Year's Day, in what was a matchup between two of the most prolific passers in college football.

Traversing the nation in the first few hours of 2015 from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, the supersonic bomber embarked on a mission en route to Pasadena, California, for the opening flyover of the inaugural Rose Bowl game. However, not without the assistance of a KC-10 Extender aircrew here at Travis Air Force Base.

Tasked to provide an air-to-air refuel, the aircrew linked up with two B-2s along the California coastline who were scheduled to make an appearance at both the Rose Bowl Parade and college football game.

"After seven deployments in the KC-10 it is hard to compare anything to providing support for troops on the ground, but there is something really special about knowing you supported an aircraft that millions of viewers got to enjoy," said Capt. Brian Crawford, 9th Air Refueling Squadron pilot.

For Crawford, this flight also represented his first time refueling the iconic stealth bomber.

"It was exciting to see a mission like refueling the B-2 Spirit drop down and on top of that knowing that they are going to fly over the Rose Bowl game that I watch every year."

While millions enjoyed the federal holiday from the comforts of home, Crawford and his crew spent their early morning at 30,000 feet passing thousands of pounds of fuel to the bombers as they made their way South.

"The B-2 crew thanked us for giving up our New Year's plans to come support them and we told them we appreciated the opportunity to work with them," he said.

The inaugural semifinal game smashed even the most optimistic projections for television ratings, as the Rose Bowl drew the biggest audience in cable television history with more than 28 million people who watched the game.

Of the millions of people watching the first-ever college football playoff game from home - Crawford was one of them.

"I was lucky enough to have landed, completed the post mission paperwork, drive home and watch the game live from my couch," Crawford said.

Even in time to witness his efforts come full circle, as the B-2 he refueled earlier in the day made a low-level pass overhead the filled-to-capacity stadium for the 101st edition of the New Year's Day game.

The University of Oregon eventually won the game, beating Florida State University, the last undefeated team of the season, by the score of 59-20 and advanced to the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship Game, assuring that no team would finish the season with a perfect record.

(Editor's Note: The Rose Bowl between Oregon and Florida State set the television audience record on New Year's Day, then was topped that night by the Ohio State-Alabama Sugar Bowl.)