Thunderbirds!

[Route 66]

...

[RickO]

Awsome shot Dirk. The townhouse we recently bought is about 3 miles from Luke AFB... F16 training base. It's just hard to stand still when those guys are doing what they do.

Rick

[Finhawk]

We watch them practice all winter at Nellis AFB. Pretty amazing when they pass over the Fam Camp at low level!

[njs42]

I have their presentation picture on my wall---signed by four of the pilots killed in the awful crash at Nellis-- in the late seventies-------wonderful men, great program proud to have known Capt. Pete Petersen (right wing) if only for a short time.

May God bless them all----and the USA

[Shellback1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66 Attachment 12498...

Blue Angels in MS

[Steve N Sal]

Had the opportunity to meet the entire Blue Angel team last year in Traverse City, MI. It was quite an honor. They were there for their performance at the Nat'l Cherry Festival. They had a meet and greet one evening at the Northwester Mich College aviation terminal. That in itself brought back a lot of memories as that's where I took my flight training. I was amazed at how down to earth they were in interest of flying a Cessna 150 or a Piper over the sofisticated jets that they fly. Great bunch of guys and gals and boy did put on a show.

[fansill]

The flyovers are one of the main reasons that I attend the NASCAR races. I get shivers and start to cry whenever I witness any of our proud military...PSST...Don't tell hubby...he thinks that I go to NASCAR races to watch the cars....

Faith

[Shellback1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shellback1 Blue Angels in MS

Last winter I saw the Blue Angels 3 times, once at El Cetro, CA their winter home, San Diego and Keesler AFB. I would have thought the T-Birds woud have been at Keesler.

[salvagediver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shellback1 Last winter I saw the Blue Angels 3 times, once at El Cetro, CA their winter home, San Diego and Keesler AFB. I would have thought the T-Birds woud have been at Keesler.

That's a long haul from Nashua to see the Blues Shellback1! ...or are you a GOLDEN SHELLBACK?

[Shellback1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by salvagediver That's a long haul from Nashua to see the Blues Shellback1! ...or are you a GOLDEN SHELLBACK?

Just a Shellback. I travel every winter to CA to see the kids and grandkids, then sloooooly work my way east on I-10

[Acker1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by njs42 I have their presentation picture on my wall---signed by four of the pilots killed in the awful crash at Nellis-- in the late seventies-------wonderful men, great program proud to have known Capt. Pete Petersen (right wing) if only for a short time. May God bless them all----and the USA

Was one of the sigs "Chip" Thomas? I went to school with him and I believe he was the leader at that time.

DICK

[njs42]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acker1 Was one of the sigs "Chip" Thomas? I went to school with him and I believe he was the leader at that time. DICK

These are the signature---plus support

Maj. Norm Lowry---Commander/Leader
Capt. Willie Mays --Left wing
Capt. Pete Peterson --Right wing
Capt. Mark Melanson--Slot

Maj. "Hoss" Jones ---solo
Capt. Dale Cooke---solo

I was told at the time this was the last presentation picture from that group. If i'm not mistaken the rotation was two years so the teams changed often.

[njs42]

Turns out it was early eighties not late seventies---I left Las Vegas in 1982 shortly after this-----my associationwas not through the Air Force I worked with them in a civilian capacity.

Here is the information---worst crash in history---caused by a very small part in the lead aircraft.



In 1982, the Thunderbirds suffered a catastrophic loss, occurring during pre-season training on January 18. While practicing the four-plane diamond loop, the formation impacted the ground at high speed, instantly killing all four pilots: Major Norman L. Lowry, commander/leader, Captain Willie Mays, Captain Joseph N. "Pete" Peterson, and Captain Mark Melancon. The cause of the crash was officially listed by the USAF as the result of a mechanical problem with the #1 aircraft's control stick actuator, resulting in insufficient back pressure by the formation leader on the T-38 control stick during the loop. Visually cueing off of the lead aircraft during formation maneuvering, the wing and slot pilots completely disregarded their positions relative to the ground. A five-page report of the mishap was published by Aviation

[Acker1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by njs42 These are the signature---plus support Maj. Norm Lowry---Commander/Leader Capt. Willie Mays --Left wing Capt. Pete Peterson --Right wing Capt. Mark Melanson--Slot Maj. "Hoss" Jones ---solo Capt. Dale Cooke---solo I was told at the time this was the last presentation picture from that group. If i'm not mistaken the rotation was two years so the teams changed often.

It was Lowry. Nickname 'Chip'. I don't know where I got Thomas from. He hung around with my younger (by 2 yrs) brother. Had a Studebaker Golden Hawk in high school and then bought a '58 Impala with a 348 cu in engine (Tripower). His dad was a bird colonel at Chanute AFB in Illinois.

DICK