Ron Finger KØGOP gave a presentation on Civil Air Patrol – MN Wing’s missions for Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. CAP worked with the Department of Homeland Security, the ANG 148th Tactical Fighter Wing in Duluth, and other agencies in a week of comms-intensive intercept missions over Minnesota skies. CAP aircraft flew both as “targets of interest” (TOIs), as well as “High-Birds”, high altitude airborne VHF repeaters providing long-range communications between the exercise aircraft and mission base. CAP TOIs simulate unresponsive or wandering aircraft, and provide training for Air Force pilots as they intercept, make radio contact and guide it out of restricted airspace. Civil Air Patrol is the Total Force partner and Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, providing search and rescue, disaster relief, and homeland security. Ron has been a CAP member since January 2010, and serves as Squadron Communications Officer and Assistant Director of Communications for Minnesota Wing.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 179th Fighter Squadron, a subordinate unit of the 148th Fighter Wing out of Duluth, Minn.

Two F-16 Fighting Hornets from 148th Fighter Wing out of Duluth, Minn., prepare to fly in formation behind the boom of a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 128th Air Refueling Wing after being mid-air refueled.

Maintainers from the 179th Fighter Squadron, a subordinate unit of the 148th Fighter Wing out of Duluth, Minn., prepare to launch F-16s for a mission.

Maintainers from the 179th Fighter Squadron, a subordinate unit of the 148th Fighter Wing out of Duluth, Minn., review technical data prior to preparing an aircrew for a mission.