To the team also was assigned one T-33 in Thunderbirds colors, flying by the team's narrator. Until the end of 1953 the Thunderbirds performed 50 air demonstrations.
North-American Indians has imagined a thunderbird as a sky creature resembling an eagle or a hawk which ruled the sky powers, ordered victory in the times of war, casting thunders and lightings from its eyes. Major Dick Catledge was a World War II veteran, who has some medals and the honor diploma from the President of the United States.ĭuring the first six shows the team carried the name Stardusters, but after that the name was changed to Thunderbirds, because of the influence of local Indian culture. The first commander of the Thunderbirds was Major Dick Catledge, for left and right wings are selected ex-Skyblazers members twins brothers Lieutenant Bill and Lieutenant Buck Pattillo and for the slot Captain Bob Kanaga. The first appearance of the Thunderbirds was on Jat Nellis airbase, Nevada, while the first demonstration was on July 8th and the first publics display was on July 23. In the beginning they used four Republic F-84G Thunderjet. The Thunderbirds were officially formed on May 25, 1953, as a 3600 aerobatic squadron at the Luke airbase, Arizona. In 1957 from the 774th Troop Carrier Squadron was formed Four Horsemen aerobatic display team flying four C-130 Hercules airplanes. In 1956 was formed Acrojets aerobatic team from the USAFE based at Furstenfeldbruk airbase, Germany. In 1956 this team become an official aerobatic team of the National Guard and existed until 1959. First the team flew four red-silver painted F-80 Shooting Star airplanes and later on five F-86 Sabre equipped with white smoke generators. In 1954 was formed Minute Men aerobatic display team. In 1954 was formed Sabre Knights aerobatic team from the 325th fighter squadron based at Nellis AFB.
In 1953 the Air National Guard of Maryland created its own aerobatic team which flew four F-51H (P-51) Mustang. The team flew four North American F-86A Sabre airplanes. In 1950 year was formed Sabre Dancers display team from the 94th fighter squadron. After a short existence the Black Knights were disbanded. This team named Black Knights was the first aerobatic display team in the world which flew bombers. In 1950 from the crew of the 38th bomber wing based in France was created another aerobatic team which flew five bombers Martin B-57 Canberra, while one of them was a solo. The team was from 36th fighter wing based Furstenfeldbruk airbase, Germany and flew four Lockheed F-80B Shooting Star aircraft. In 1949 United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE) created their own aerobatic team named Skyblazers. The team flew four Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star planes and later - on the training version T-33. Red Devils flew five P-51 Mustang aircraft and existed only one year.Īnother team created in 1948 at the Williams airbase, Arizona, was Acrojets. One of them carried the name Red Devils and was created in the Las Vegas airbase (later renamed to Nellis). This year was formed two aerobatic display teams. Right in 1949 the tradition USAF to have its own aerobatic team continued. In the next year to the same school was created the other display team Skylarks, but they exist only one year. This team exist until1936 when it was disbanded. The team was created to the Air Tactics School of the aviation corps in Maxwell Field, Alabama flew four Boeing P-12 aircraft. In 1932 was formed a new aerobatic team - Men on the Flying Trapeze. The first aerobatic team of the United States Air Forces (USAF) and even in USA was created in 1927 and was called Three Musketeers.
0 kommentar(er)
