Coronavirus: Air National Guard releases flight plan over Dayton-area to honor Ohio’s frontline workers

SWANTON, Ohio — The 180th Fighter Wing, based in Swanton, Ohio, will conduct flyovers this week as a part of Operation American Resolve, which honors Ohio’s healthcare workers, first responders, essential workers, and others on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

>>PHOTOS: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds flyover DC, Baltimore, Atlanta to honor frontline workers

Flyovers started Wednesday in the Toledo area, with a flyby scheduled for Dayton, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and Springfield Thursday afternoon.

>>RELATED: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds doing flyovers to thank first responders battling coronavirus pandemic

Fighter jets from the 180th are scheduled to flyover the Dayton-area between 2 and 2:20 p.m. Thursday. Jets will first flyover Troy around 2 p.m. before heading east to Springfield, according to the flight plan announced Wednesday afternoon.

Jets will then fly southwest over Wright-Patt, then into the downtown Dayton-area, over Dayton Children’s Hospital, Grandview, Dayton VA, and the Miami Valley main and south campuses.

The 180th concludes their flight over the region with flybys over Greene Memorial Hospital and the Springfield-based 178th Wing at the Beckley Municipal Airport.

The 180th will also fly over Cincinnati, Lima, Findlay, Bowling Green, and Sandusky earlier in the day Thursday, before completing their flights over the Miami Valley.

“Our Stinger Airmen are honored to extend a salute to Ohio healthcare workers, first responders, military members and other essential workers, as a small thank you for helping to keep Ohioans safe,” a spokesperson for the 180th said in a social media post.

Officials encourage those wanting to watch the flyovers to do so at home and not in large groups to prevent potentially spreading the coronavirus.

Additional flyovers in other parts of the state are expected to be announced later.

© 2020 Cox Media Group