Crowd pleasing 'in the bag' for Air Force Reserve Pipe Band

  • Published
  • By Capt. Robert Sperling
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
FAIRFORD, United Kingdom --  Bagpipes are not uncommon in the Cotswold region of the United Kingdom; however, when the sound is coming from a group of American bagpipers and drummers, particularly the United States Air Force Reserve Pipe Band, the atmosphere attracts a little more attention.

Advertised as one of the spotlight ground performances of the 2007 Royal International Air Tattoo, the Air Force Reserve Pipe Band performed for the more than 200,000 spectators while touting the United States Air Force's long standing relationship with the Royal Air Force and invited Britons to help celebrate the Air Force's 60th Anniversary. Additionally, in coordination with the USAF Thunderbirds, the band insured that the USAF was fully represented as a total force of active, guard and reserve Airmen.

The band received many honors during this two-day event held annually during the third week of July, first with an opportunity to open the show's Gala Dinner in a joint concert with the RAF Central Band, their equivalent to the USAF Band. During the course of the festivities, many distinguished visitors approached the band to speak with the members to include former Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher, the Duke of Kent, the Air Chiefs of both the RAF and USAF, and many other senior leaders of both Air Forces.

Traveling with the band on this mission was a diverse sampling of Reserve and active duty Airmen to include officers and enlisted. Typically, Air Force bands are manned by enlisted Airmen, but in this case, a Pentagon staff officer, medical services officer, mission support group deputy commander, public affairs officer, an F-15 crew chief, and full-time musicians permanently assigned to the Band of the Air Force Reserve augmented the band.

During the busy two-week performance schedule, including the Royal International Air Tattoo, the band spent time performing for and talking to local school children about the USAF and Air Force Reserve, what it is like to be a military member and give them an opportunity to experience the bagpipes and drums first hand. Additionally, several members of the group concluded the trip with training at the (Royal) Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Royal International Air Tattoo is globally recognized as the largest military air show and attracts more than 200,000 spectators and Airmen from more than 25 different countries around the globe showcasing more than 350 military aircraft in the air and on the ground.