Air Force Calls For Latvians To Photograph B-52 During Friday Flyover
The United States Air Force will deploy at least one Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber to Latvia on Friday, where the aircraft will conduct a flyover of the capital city of Riga. U.S. Air Force Europe-Air Force Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) took to social media on Thursday. It encouraged residents to photograph the long-range strategic bomber as it passes over the Monument of Freedom.
"[The] B-52H Stratofortress is scheduled to conduct a flyover in Riga, Latvia, above the Monument of Freedom and Lielvārde Air Base on 16 May at approximately 12:00 p.m. local as part of the Bomber Task Force Europe mission set, demonstrating the United States' commitment to security in the Baltic region and across NATO's eastern flank," USAFE-AFAFRICA said in a media statement.
In a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, USAFE-AFAFRICA further announced the "Photo Contest" and called for those in Riga to "Capture the multinational flyover & submit your photo for a chance to be featured. Take a photo of the B-52 & Allied aircraft during the flyover. Post it on Instagram or Facebook with #RigaFlyer & tag: @usafe_afafrica @HQUSAFE.'
The winner will get "a spotlight feature" on the USAFE-AFAFRICA social media feeds.
The U.S. Air Force does not typically give advanced notice about Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions; instead, deployments are announced after the aircraft begin to arrive in the region. The most recent BTF 25-2 mission, the second of the service's fiscal year, was carried out from the middle of February to early April and saw at least four B-52s sent to Europe.
In this case, USAFE-AFAFRICA employed a social media campaign to alert allies, partners, and potential adversaries of the BTF mission.
"The U.S. Air Force is mostly giving the Russians advanced notice they are coming. The Latvians are invited to watch," explained technology industry analyst Roger Entner of Recon Analytics.
"It is a way to lean into the social media era," added Dr. Matthew Schmidt, associate professor of national security and political science at the University of New Haven. "It is much like the Air Force equivalent of driving a carrier task force through the Taiwan Strait. It's a presence patrol. They want to be seen. They want it all over in the civilian world because it encourages a sense that the U.S. is there defending its allies."
What is also notable about this potential BTF mission is that it isn't just about the fact that the Cold War-era bomber will fly over a former Soviet Republic, but also about the fact that the Air Force is encouraging photos to be taken and shared on Instagram and Facebook.
The service routinely releases official images of BTF missions and other deployments of its aircraft, while unofficial photos quickly make the rounds on social media. In this case, USAFE-AFAFRICA may hope that B-52 is a trending topic on Friday.
"What's remarkable here isn't just the military maneuver itself, but the way the U.S. is turning a high-level defense operation into a social media moment," said global brand marketing strategist Angeli Gianchandani, adjunct instructor of marketing and public relations.
"Encouraging public sharing turns a military signal into a viral one—blurring the lines between defense strategy and public engagement," added Gianchandani, who earned her master's degree at Tuft University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy under Admiral James Stavridis.
She said this is a textbook example of leveraging soft power, an essential skill in modern diplomacy.
"It also reflects the value of strategic transparency as deterrence—keeping things above board, controlling the narrative early, and signaling resolve without crossing into aggression," Gianchandani continued. "By inviting civilians to participate, the U.S. transforms a traditional show-of-force into a public display of alliance solidarity."
Friday's planned flight follows the low-pass flyover of Stockholm, Sweden, of two B-52H bombers to observe the first anniversary of the Nordic nation's accession to NATO, while Estonia's Independence Day was also marked with a flyover that included an American B-52, escorted by a Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet and Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35A Lightning II.
The upcoming flight promises to be more of the same, notably flying over the monument that was installed to honor the soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918-1920).
"It projects power in an open and welcoming way, positioning this mission as reassurance, not provocation, and sending a clear message that the U.S. stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Latvia and NATO—in full view of the world," said Gianchandani. "Where we see so much chaos, this move feels unexpected and super smart—turning a routine flyover into a master class in public diplomacy."
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