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(DeLand, FL) – A former U.S. Air Force Academy baseball player who was killed in a pilot training accident last year will be honored with a flyover prior to the team’s season opening game at Melching Field on Friday.
Two F-15s will conduct a flyover at 12:58 p.m. Friday before the start of the Air Force-Manhattan game to be played at Melching Field to honor 2nd Lt. Travis Wilkie, a 2018 graduate of Air Force Academy. The flags at Melching Field will also be lowered to half-staff on Friday.
Wilkie was one of two airmen who lost their lives on November 21, 2019, in an aircraft accident at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma.
“Travis was just finishing up pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, recently married, and well on his way to becoming one of the best leaders, pilots, and airmen that this country has to offer,” said Retired Major Mike Kazlausky, who serves as the head coach for the baseball team.
Wilkie was a three-year letter-winner (2015-16, 18), and appeared in 119 games, starting 102 as a catcher, according to the Air Force Athletics website. He earned a degree in systems engineering with a focus on factors engineering. He was named to the Academic All-Mountain West Team all three years he played.
Chris Graham, Community Information Specialist
