USAF Thunderbirds - A poster of a plane flying in the sky

The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Thunderbirds, was created in 1953 and is the third oldest formal flying aerobatic team in the world. The squadron’s name is taken from the legendary creature that appears in the mythologies of several indigenous North American cultures. The squadron traces its origins back to the organization of the 30th Aero Squadron, formed at Kelly Field, Texas on June 13, 1917. During its operational history, the 30th served in World War I as a training unit in France and in World War II as a B-29 Superfortress squadron, being awarded nine Presidential Unit Citations. Present-day USAF Thunderbirds carry the lineage, history and honor of the 30th on active duty. Since 1974, the Thunderbirds have been a component of the 57th Wing at Nellis AFB and have flown in front of more than 300 million people. In addition to their air demonstration responsibilities, the Thunderbirds are part of the USAF combat force and, if required, can be rapidly integrated into an operational fighter unit.