Air Force unveils special uniforms for Sept. 11 game against Navy

When the Air Force Falcons play the Navy Midshipmen on Sept. 11, they will wear their sixth alternate uniform in the Air Power Legacy Series dating back to 2016.

𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚'𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲 pic.twitter.com/KNxmQSrH9D

— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) August 19, 2021

The uniforms are modeled after the B-52s used in Operation Linebacker II, a bombing campaign against targets in Vietnam in December 1972. The uniform includes Air Force Southeast Asia camo covers the helmets, and there is a roundel on one side and USAF on the other. “Diamond Lil” is printed on the back of the helmet, which is a plane that flew in Linebacker II and is located on the campus of the Air Force Academy. 

The jerseys are white, with the exception of the same camo from the helmets on the sleeves and the numbers. A Strategic Air Command patch is on the right shoulder. Inside the back of the contrasting collar reads “Maximum Effort,” which was a command from then-President Richard Nixon. 

Where the name of the player would normally be on the back of the jersey is two airport codes and a 7th Bomber Wing patch. The codes stand for Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and U-Tapao International Airport in Thailand.

The players will wear black pants, like the bottom of the plane, that have 11 orange B-52s to represent the 11 days of the bombing campaign. 

Last year, Air Force’s alternate uniforms honored the Tuskegee Airmen. Navy will wear uniforms commemorating the United States Marine Corps in the matchup. 

Air Force looks for bounce-back season

Air Force is looking to improve after a 3-3 season last year. In 2019, the Falcons went 11-2.

They open the season against five beatable opponents, including Navy, but face a difficult schedule after that including Boise State, San Diego State, and Nevada. They avoid last year’s MWC champion San José State in the regular season.

The Falcons have a young offense with just four returning starters, but three of the returners were important contributors last season. Quarterback Haaziq Daniels is back after throwing for 433 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Last year’s leading rusher Brad Roberts enters his junior season after carrying the ball 64 times for 461 yards and five touchdowns last year. Tight end Kyle Patterson led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns last year with 205 and two, respectively. 

Last year’s defense was solid, too, allowing a Mountain-West-best 15 points per game. Nine defensive starters return, but Air Force will need to replace last year’s top tacklers, Elisha Palm and George Silvanic.