LAKEPORT, Calif. – Late on the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 2, the executive director of the Bass Bowl, Phil Smoley, received the following message from Lt. Scotty Gilmore of the US Coast Guard Air Station in Sacramento: “We have received the final thumbs up that we needed to get this mission in the air. Just need to get some further details regarding the specifics on your end.”

The mission is for the Coast Guard to conduct a flyover of a C-130 prior to the Bass Bowl this Friday night over Clear Lake High School.

“This is a huge event for the Bass Bowl,” Smoley said. “I don't think anything like this has ever happened at a local high school. Three cheers for the US Coast Guard!”

The Bass Bowl is the annual rivalry football game between Clear Lake High and Kelseyville High, and is the part of a series of fundraising events geared to helping local athletic programs survive the budget cuts they have faced.

The flyover will occur about 15 minutes after sunset, about 6:25 p.m., coming from the east, heading towards the west. The timing will likely correspond with the JV halftime.

“We wanted it to happen towards the end of the National Anthem, but it would be dark by then, so we have to take what we can get. It still will be awesome. No one should miss this game,” Smoley said.

The C-130 is a giant cargo/transport plane, nearly 100 feet long with a wingspan of 132 feet. It is arguably the most versatile tactical transport aircraft ever built and is capable of conducting airlift and airdrop, electronic surveillance, search and rescue, space-capsule recovery, helicopter refueling, landing (with skis) on snow and ice, and aerial attack. It has even landed and taken off from a carrier deck without benefit of arresting gear or catapults.

The US Coast Guard makes regular flights out of their Sacramento air base moving supplies and equipment, and doing training flights.

“They were able to adjust one of their regular flights to accommodate our request for a flyover. They were great and easy to work with. What a great and supportive organization, and I am impressed with their willingness to help with community events,” Smoley said.

Tickets will be available at the stadium gate and are $5.

A pregame tailgate party will be held at the High St. Plaza from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., hosted by Sicily's Restaurant.

Tickets for the tail gate party will be sold at Sicily's for $20 and will include dinner, drink, and bus ride to and from the stadium.

For more information, contact Phil Smoley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..