Photo Description: An air to air right side view of the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds flying F-84G Thunderjet aircraft in formation. The Thunderbirds were activated on 25 May 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team at Luke AFB, Arizona. The first plane used by the unit was the straight-wing F-84G Thunderjet. The team utilized the “G” model from 1953 to 1954. The straight-wing configuration of the F-84G was considered well suited for aerobatic and demonstration maneuvers, though the aircraft could not exceed the speed of sound. In the spring of 1955 the Thunderbirds moved to the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak aircraft. Photo Credit: USGov Photo Date: 1953 - 1954 Location: Unknown Photo ID: TB0042
Photo Description: An air to air top right side view of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds performing a fly over of Hoover Dam in the wedge formation near their home at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada in 1966. The F-100D "Super Saber" gave the thunderbirds air-refueling capabilities unlike the "C" model. The team flew in F-100C Super Sabres from 1956 to 1963. The Thunderbirds were forced to re-equip with the F-100D Super Sabre after only six airshows with the F-105 Thunderchief due to a catastrophic structural failure of the No. 2 aircraft during a pitch-up maneuver that resulted in the death of the pilot at Hamilton Air Force Base. The North American F-100D Super Sabre was flown through the 1968 season and was replaced with the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II in 1969. Photo Credit: USGov Photo Date: 1966 Location: Unknown Photo ID: TB0044
Photo Description: A right side view of two United States Air Force Thunderbirds performing a side by side Calypso pass in their North American F-100D Super Sabres. The Thunderbirds were forced to re-equip with the F-100D Super Sabre after only six airshows with the F-105 Thunderchief due to a catastrophic structural failure of the No. 2 aircraft during a pitch-up maneuver that resulted in the death of the pilot at Hamilton Air Force Base. The North American F-100D Super Sabre was flown through the 1968 season and was replaced with the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II in 1969. Photo Credit: USGov Photo Date: 1964-1968 Location: Unknown Photo ID: TB0045
