Cessna Stationair/Turbo Stationair 6
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I departed a C206 on runway heading off Runway 21 and coordinated the aircraft rolling with departure. The aircraft had requested a VFR northeast departure; this was included in the rolling call. Approach gave me a flight of military jets on a tactical overhead approach to Runway 21 with a right break. The tactical overhead places the wing man one mile to the left of the lead. The RADAR Controller allowed the departing aircraft to turn left to a heading of 030 and stopped the climb at 5;500; the same altitude as the flight. Nose to nose opposite direction closure rate was about 500 KTS. I called traffic to the military flight and instructed them to climb to 6;500. They missed. I don't know how close it was; they passed out of view over the top of the Tower. I asked the RADAR Controller if he knew what had happened. He didn't. The Departure Controller shouldn't turn departing traffic back into arrivals.
Tower Controller described a conflict when a VFR departure was turn back over the airport by Approach Control during a military flight tactical over head approach maneuver.