28th BW commander's end of tour flight receives sunny reception

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ashley J. Thum
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  A light breeze, 70 degree temperatures and the Black Hills in spring provided a picture-perfect backdrop for the 28th Bomb Wing commander's end of tour flight, March 14.

Col. Mark Weatherington, 28th BW commander, executed a combat take-off to kick off his final flight in a B-1 bomber. Approximately three and one-half hours later after a training mission, he touched down and was greeted on the Ellsworth flightline with an arch of water created by fire trucks from the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department.

After debarking his plane, Weatherington rolled up to the Base Operations building in style in the passenger seat of the 37th Bomb Squadron's tiger-themed car, "Phat Cat." Upon exiting the car, the commander was greeted by streams of cold water as his wife, Stephanie, and their three children used a fire hose and three fire extinguishers filled with water to "congratulate" him on the flight.

"The flight was wonderful," Weatherington said when the chaos subsided.

After making his way up and down two receiving lines, shaking hands and exchanging smiles with Airmen and civilian employees from across the base, Weatherington admitted the day was a bittersweet one.

"I couldn't sleep last night," Weatherington said. "I have very mixed feelings, knowing that I probably won't get another chance to fly a B-1."

The colonel - who will soon depart Ellsworth to become the Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Dr. Ashton Carter, at the Pentagon - made his possibly last experience in a B-1 even more memorable for himself and those watching by culminating it with a hot pit refueling.

"I think it's important to continue to master that technique here," Weatherington said. "It's been a very important part of our success and we need to continue that tradition."

Weatherington is personally invested in that success, having helped spearhead the implementation of hot pit refueling at Ellsworth. He said after a career in aviation that spans two decades, he has enjoyed seeing the progression of the airframe and is looking forward to what the future holds.

"It's sad to know I may not get another chance to fly one, but it's great to see how far it's come in the last 20 years," Weatherington added.