The U.S. Navy will honor the late President George H.W. Bush with a record-breaking 21-aircraft memorial flyover formation on Thursday when the president is laid to rest in College Station, Texas.
Naval aviators will fly in a “missing man” formation, which typically only involves four planes. The tribute to Bush will mark the largest missing man formation ever performed, according to Navy officials.
[WATCH: Funeral proceedings for George H.W. Bush underway]
“A missing man flyover is symbolic of the departure one of the members of our squadron, members of our air wing, and in this case, our Navy,” said Capt. Kevin McLaughlin, commander of Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic and the pilot who will be flying the lead aircraft in the ceremony. “It’s a symbolic final farewell to a great man who left a tremendous legacy of selfless service to his nation and his family behind.”
F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets from eight different fighter squadrons will participate in the flyover, according to USNI News. Capt. McLaughlin’s aircraft was inscribed with the former president and former first lady’s names on the side where the pilot and naval flight officer’s names would typically go.
The Navy previously honored the former president for his service in 2009 when they added the USS George H.W. Bush to their fleet. Bush played an active role in the pre-commissioning activities for the ship and continued to keep in touch with the crew after it joined the fleet.
On Tuesday, sailors aboard the USS George H.W. Bush held a flashlight vigil for the president. Bush was a World War II naval aviator and one of the youngest combat aviators in United States history. He was only only 18 when he received his commission into the Navy.
The late president flew 58 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.
