PILOTS READY TO BUZZ OVER FOURTH EVENTS EDWARDS F-16S SHOW POWER.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE -- Air Force Maj. Leonard Kearl will celebrate July 4 in Acton, Huntington Beach and Ojai -- all within 30 minutes.

Kearl is one of four Edwards Air Force Base F-16 pilots who will fly over Independence Day events around Southern California today, making the day more memorable for others with a symbol of patriotism and military might.

``I love doing flyovers and air shows,'' Kearl said. ``People will feel some pride when we fly over. And it is a show of capability.''

In the morning, Kearl's F-16 and an F-16 piloted by Maj. Scott Cain will fly over Acton's annual community parade at 9:45, over Huntington Beach at 10 and over Ojai at 10:15.

In the evening, F-16s piloted by Lt. Col. James Kromberg and civilian test pilot Mark Ward will fly over events at Barstow at 6:45, Tehachapi at 7 and Burbank at 7:10.

Besides the four pilots, about 20 or 30 airmen in the ground crews are also giving up their holiday to make the ceremonial ``flyovers'' possible.

Kearl said he has done 10 during his career. A memorable one came in May, when he flew over Santa Rosa for the funeral services of Alvin Earl Crane Jr., who was buried nearly 55 years after being shot down during the Korean War while flying on a reconnaissance mission.

Crane's remains were turned over to the United States by North Korea in 1990. DNA testing confirmed his identity last year.

Crane and other F-16 pilots flew overhead in the ``missing man formation,'' in which one jet pulls up to leave a vacant position as the formation flies over the ceremony.

``It was memorable from an emotional aspect,'' Kearl said. ``It was definitely a highlight of a career.''

Kearl also flew over Kitty Hawk during the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight and over ``Thunder over Louisville,'' a Kentucky air show that ends in what is billed as North America's largest pyrotechnic display.

``For people who have been in the service or who have family in the service overseas, it can touch their hearts,'' Kearl said.

Kromberg will be making his first special event flyovers.

``I always accept an opportunity to fly,'' Kromberg said. ``It's always nice to reach out to the community. It's a nice way to support their event and make it more memorable.''

Kromberg said he hopes the flyovers will provide spectactors with a ``gee- whiz-I-wish-that-was-me'' thrill. He also hopes the flyovers will make spectactors pause for thought.

``I hope people will look up and remember we're at war and that we are in difficult times,'' Kromberg said. ``I hope when they see the airplanes, they might take time to reflect.''

Each flyover requires approval from the Pentagon. The flyovers deemed most appropriate are those supporting patriotic holidays - Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, POW/MIA Day, and, of course, the Fourth of July, Shoffner said.

Flyovers can enhance patriotic events, give taxpayers a glimpse of their dollars at work, and even stir emotions, said Dennis Shoffner, Edwards' community relations director.

``A flyover only lasts for a few seconds in real time, but the memory lasts a lifetime,'' Shoffner said. ``It's a reminder that freedom isn't free. It's a reminder the military is on the job.''

Shoffner said he hasn't received any odd requests for flyovers, but there was an odd occurrence during one event -- the jets helped halt a near-riot.

During the 2002 Armed Forces Day parade in Torrance, a gang-related shooting occurred at a nearby park. Friends of the victim started a brawl with deputies and the two men the deputies were trying to arrest.

More than 40 deputies were called to the scene.

Edwards pilots, who did not know what was happening on the ground, made two low passes over the park prior to flying over the parade.

During the first pass, everyone stopped to watch the jets. During the second pass, the crowd -- perhaps thinking deputies had called for air support -- scattered.

Torrance officials later called Edwards to offer thanks for the inadvertent assistance.

james.skeen@dailynews

[phone]