What’s Going on With Jets Flying Over Michigan Today?

If you see military aircraft in the Michigan sky today - there's good reason for it!

On Tuesday, July 27, 2023, the Michigan Air National Guard will is flying over several Michigan cities Tuesday as it marks the Airforce's commemoration of “100 years of aerial refueling excellence.” Today marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Airforce's first aerial refueling.

Look up today and you'll be able to catch KC-135 Stratotankers flying in formation with A-10 Thunderbolt IIs over the following locations:

• Blue Water Bridge, Port Huron, approximately at 10:20 a.m.
• Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center and downtown Alpena, approximately at 10:40 a.m.
• Mackinac Bridge and Mackinaw City, approximately at 10:50 a.m.
• Sleeping Bear Dunes area near Maple City, approximately at 11:15 a.m.
• Downtown Grand Rapids, approximately at 11:45 a.m.
• Battle Creek Air National Guard Base and Battle Creek, approximately at 11:55 a.m.
• The Michigan State Capitol and downtown Lansing, approximately at 12:05 p.m.
• The Detroit River, approximately at 12:30 p.m.
• Selfridge Air National Guard Base, approximately at 12:35 p.m.

Brig. Gen. Rolf Mammen, 127th Wing commander said in a release,

Our Citizen-Airmen are proud to serve as Michigan’s Hometown Air Force. The support we receive from our community is second to none and this series of flyovers provides us an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to our neighbors, while also demonstrating an important part of the Air Force mission. It also serves as a showcase of opportunities that exist in the Michigan Air National Guard for those interested in joining our ranks in service to state and nation.

Anyone who gets pictures of the flyovers are invited to share them to  the 127th Wing’s Facebook page or on the unit’s Instagram page  with the tag #SANGBTanker100.

Ten people will be selected at random from among those who share photos and will be contacted by the 127th Wing via social media to receive a unit patch!

More on the Airforce's first ever aerial refueling:

U.S. Army Air Service aviators pulled off the impossible on June 27, 1923. On that day, 1st Lt. Virgil Hine and 1st Lt. Frank W. Seifert, flying a DH-4B, passed gasoline through a hose to another DH-4B flying beneath it carrying Capt. Lowell H. Smith and 1st

Lt. John P. Richter, accomplishing the first aerial refueling. The flight took place between Los Angeles and San Diego, California.