This is the third aircraft loss in less than 24 months for the team. As the squadron performs no more than 88 air demonstrations each year, replacements must be trained for about half of the team each year, in order to provide a constant mix of experience. [1] Four Northrop T-38 Talon jets crashed during operational training on 18 January 1982, killing all four pilots. January 9, 1969: Captain Jack Thurman killed during solo training. in Aeronautics degree on March 23, 2018, just weeks before his death. David L. Hauck, 34 years old, a native of Mingo Junction, Ohio, who was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, Nev, a spokesman for the Air Force precision flying team said. By giving your consent, the data will be sent anonymously, thus protecting your privacy. The USAFs beloved flight demonstration team has suffered a terrible loss. He logged more than 3,500 flight hours in more than 30 . The Air Force said it was not known how the accident will impact the remainder of the 2018 Thunderbirds season. This Google Analytics integration anonymizes your IP address. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, Del Bagno served as an F-35A Evaluator Pilot and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla. [25], The first USAF jet-powered aerobatic demo team was the "Acrojets", performing early in 1949 with F-80Cs at the USAF Fighter School at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona, and was headed by Captain Howard W. "Swede" Jensen. The team switched to the F-105 Thunderchief for the 1964 season, but were forced to re-equip with the F-100D after only six airshows due to a catastrophic structural failure of the No. The year 1962 saw the introduction of dual solo routines, and the Thunderbirds went on their first European deployment in 1963, the year after the disbanding of the Skyblazers[ja] (see below). It was the third crash in the past. Additionally, there was also a later USAFE "Acrojets" team in West Germany, this one made up of USAF T-33 Shooting Star instructor pilots at Frstenfeldbruck AB in the mid-1950s. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. In the year 2026, the Tracy family run International Rescue - a top-secret organization whose ongoing mission is to rescue people trapped in extraordinarily dangerous situations using their advanced Thunderbirds machines. The report said Del Bagno was known as an inspirational leader who was always positive and put others before himself., The merger between his positive personality and pilot skills made him a perfect fit for the Thunderbirds' mission to recruit, retain and inspire, the report said. Last September at Nellis, a U.S. Air Force pilot died of injuries after a crash on the training range about 100 miles northwest of the base. Four pilots were killed when their planes went down at Thunderbird Lake. Thanks to engineer Brains, one of the world's leading scientific minds, iR is among the most . Phillip Johnson of the Air Force said that witnesses indicated the plane appeared to be having engine trouble, and that there was no engine noise just before the crash. A U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilot died Wednesday when his F-16 jet crashed at Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, defense officials told Fox News. The officers include two new formation pilots, an advance pilot/ narrator, a flight surgeon, and a maintenance lead. Personal Data collected: Tracker; Usage Data. At this time they were flying Lockheed F-80B Shooting Stars. It hit the ground and apparently cartwheeled before coming to rest on a small hill in the grassy field, witnesses said. They also performed the first American military demonstration in a communist country when the team visited Beijing, China, in 1987.[3]. He is a 2005 graduate of Utah Valley State University, and commissioned from Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. in 2007. [6][Note 1]. 4 slot plane, now regularly cleaned and shined like the others. [citation needed], Unlike the Thunderbirds, the Skyblazers seldom appeared outside of the realm of USAFE operations in Europe. The 2007 European Goodwill Tour was the Thunderbirds's first visit to Europe after the 11 September attacks. Google Analytics is a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited ("Google"). Scott, the oldest of the brothers, is pilot of Thunderbird 1 and also serves as backup crew on Thunderbird 3. More information will be provided as it becomes available.". The Air Force is constantly evaluating its procedures with regard to flight safety, and the Thunderbirds will incorporate the findings of this report into their procedures and process improvements. Google may use your Personal Data to contextualize and personalize ads in its advertising network. 3 (now one of . December 11, 1954: Captain George Kevil killed during solo training.. The Air Force on Tuesday. During the Korean War, the 30th attacked North Korean targets with B-29's. Passenger Technical Sargent Kenneth Cordova is trapped during the crash but uninjured. 4 (slot). Stricken With A Debilitating Tick-Borne Illness, The First Female Thunderbird Pilot Shares Her Resilience Secret More From Forbes Feb 25, 2023,08:30am EST The Gender Divide When Working From. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. The leader of the Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying team died today when his T-38 jet crashed, apparently after it lost power when its engines sucked up several seagulls on takeoff. The form of anonymisation is no longer acceptable. Thunderbirds pilot Maj. Stephen Del Bagno temporarily lost consciousness during a high G-force maneuver and was incapacitated right before a fatal crash in April. I'm the first female to fly in that . One manifold, then another barked, several people backed up, but Sally stood her ground mesmerized by the sound. In fact, the number 5 on this aircraft is painted upside-down, and thus appears right-side-up for much of the routine. The pilot was Capt. "Bill" and C.C. [7], "At the speed they were going when they came out of the loop, I just thought, "That's the end of that for them fellows,'" said W. G. Wood of Indian Springs, who witnessed the crash as he drove along US95. Much of the Thunderbirds' display alternates between maneuvers performed by the diamond, and those performed by the solos. For the latest news and updates regarding the 2022 and 2023 air show seasons, stay tuned to our website and social media. Lauren "Threat" Schlichting, Exec They became the world's first supersonic aerial demonstration team in 1956 but had to stop after the FAA banned all . In 1953 they became the aerobatic display team in 1953, taking the name Thunderbirds from the southwestern US folklore around Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The team also conducted community outreach by meeting with needy children throughout Europe. However, in 1974 they switched to the more economical T-38 Talon. Personal data that are processed:Tracker; Usage Data. '', The city airports director, George Doughty, said that Colonel Smith ''was advised by the tower that there were birds in the area before he took off.''. David L. Hauck, 34 years old, a native of Mingo Junction, Ohio, who was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, Nev, a spokesman. The same day, a Marine Harrier jet crashed during takeoff from an airport in the East African nation of Djibouti. All maneuvers are performed at speeds of 450 to 500mph (720 to 800km/h). The switch saw an alteration of the flight routine to exhibit the aircraft's maneuverability in tight turns, and ended the era of the black tail on the No. As Thunderbird #4 Slot Pilot, he flew the #4 jet, aft of #1 and between the . Creators Gerry Anderson Sylvia Anderson Stars Sylvia Anderson Peter Dyneley David Graham A pilot with the Navy's elite Blue Angels squadron was killed Thursday in Tennessee just hours after an Air Force Thunderbird pilot was forced to eject from his jet in Colorado, authorities. A pilot with aerospace defense contractor Draken International died after one of its aircraft assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, crashed in north Las Vegas around 2:30 p.m. local time . The teams participation at the March Air Reserve Base The March Field Air & Space Expo has been canceled. January 2004 - June 2006, Pilot Career Field Manager, Headquarters Air Force, Washington, DC 13. Since Heard's release last November, two-year team veteran Lt. Col. Kevin Walsh has led the Thunderbirds. Both the pilot, Lieut. The unit transitioned to the F-84E in 1950, the F-86F in 1955 and the F-100C in 1956. Heavy smoke could be seen coming from an area . Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. See the article in its original context from. U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. At the end of the routine, all six aircraft join in formation, forming the Delta. Maj. Zane Taylor, Thunderbirds 3-right wing pilot, climbs a ladder to the cockpit of an F-16 as he prepares to take off from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. United States Air Force Thunderbirds emblem, For the operational history of the USAF Thunderbirds, see, Relationship to other USAF aerial demonstration teams, A five-page report of the mishap was published by. Five T-38s used the same amount of fuel needed for one F-4 Phantom. The Air Force's premier air. Broughton was hand-selected by Catledge to replace him, and is the only captain to serve as commander/leader of the team. June 2006 - August 2007, Chief Fighter Ops, NATO Combined Air Operations Center Six, Eskisehir AB, Turkey 14. December 21, 1972: Captain Jerry Bolt and Technical Sargent Charles Lynn killed during a flight test. Four pilots were killed when their planes went down at Thunderbird Lake. With Sylvia Anderson, Ray Barrett, Peter Dyneley, Christine Finn. He flew 47 combat missions during the Persian Gulf War earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals. In June 2005, the Thunderbirds selected Major Nicole Malachowski for the No. [1] The Thunderbirds are assigned to the 57th Wing, and are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. On 19 September 1985, the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron was consolidated by Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) with the 30th Bombardment Squadron, a unit which was organized on 13 June 1917.[9]. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); What are you waiting for? June 23, 2017: Captain Erik Gonsalves injured during a landing prior to the Vectren Dayton Air Show. Two have died performing in air shows and the others either in practices or on the way to shows. The F-16 was superior to the T-38 Talon that they previously flew. Gene Devlin died in an F-105 crash on May 9, 1964. In total, twenty-one Thunderbirds pilots have been killed in the team's history. He served as a navigator with the 522nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, McClellan Air Force Base, California, and McCoy Air Force Base, Florida, from February 1961 to March 1964. Below are some of the more notable members of the Thunderbirds: This article incorporates public domain material from the .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:#d33}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#3a3;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}Air Force Historical Research Agency. Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. World List 2.09M subscribers Subscribe 3.3M views 2 years ago #planecrash #worldlist #gonewrong From pilots going "too big" in their. Cajun Yesterday, we lost one of our own. Creech, a former Thunderbird pilot of the 1950s, died Tuesday at his Henderson home. The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, performs precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities ofAir Force high performance aircraftto people throughout the world. For two years, Lt.Col. Bolt Hall, the 99th Force Support Squadron building, is named for Capt Jerry D. S. Bolt who crashed 21 Dec 1972 while a Thunderbird team member. Witnesses said that after passing over the spectator area, the jet turned and headed toward the runway with its landing gear down. Performances resumed in 2014.[20][21]. FT. GEORGE G. MEADE (AFNS) -- Since 1953, the Air Force's air demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, have captivated spectators across the world and showed its audiences what the Air Force's aircraft are capable of. Created 70years ago in 1953, the USAF Thunderbirds are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team (under the same name) in the world, after the French Air Force Patrouille de France formed in 1931 and the United States Navy Blue Angels formed in 1946. One pilot died and the other survived. It was a ball of fire all the way down the runway. Smith ejected from the plane, but his parachute did not deploy. Something was not right with the Marine flier at the stick of Blue Angels jet No. [9], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}363518N 1154048W / 36.5884N 115.680W / 36.5884; -115.680, 1982 Thunderbirds Indian Springs Diamond Crash, The deadliest Thunderbird accident was the crash of a team support, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Team, "Misjudgment held 'possible' in fatal Thunderbirds crash", "Air Force finds mechanical failure led to crashes of flying team", "The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Turn 50, Part One", "Partial Videotape Erasure of 1982 Air Force Thunderbirds Crash (GAO/NSIAD-84-153)", Link access to USAF Mishap Investigation Report re 18 January 1982 "Diamond Accident", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1982_Thunderbirds_Indian_Springs_Diamond_Crash&oldid=1119514540, This page was last edited on 2 November 2022, at 00:14. [4] However, the Air Force concluded that the crash was due to a jammed stabilizer on the lead jet. ^ "GAO: April 2007: Tactical Aircraft: DOD Needs a Joint and Integrated Investment Strategy". Sep 15, 2016. Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. What a tragic loss for the team, the USAF, and the country. One of the Thunderbirds' standing engagements is the annual commencement ceremony at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. President Barack Obama meets with Thunderbird pilot Maj. Alex Turner at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, June 2, 2016, before returning to Washington, D.C., on Air . 2023 Cox Media Group. The Air Force on Tuesday released the report on the investigation into the April 4 crash at the Nevada Test and Training Range near Nellis Air Force Base. It is unknown how this accident will impact the remainder of the 2018 Thunderbirds Season. The team's activities were suspended for six months pending investigation of the crashes and review of the program, then reinstituted using the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon in 1983, 40years ago, and were upgraded to the F-16C (now produced by Lockheed Martin) in 1992. In 1961, the team was compelled to discontinue the vertical bank maneuver due to an FAA regulation prohibiting aerobatics that pointed the nose of the aircraft toward the crowd. When Quebec City celebrated its 400th anniversary, the Thunderbirds joined the Canadian Armed Forces's Snowbirds, the British Royal Air Force's Red Arrows, and the United States Navy's Blue Angels in a ceremonial flight over Quebec City. Four crew members were killed when a Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed Tuesday in California during a training mission along the U.S.-Mexico border west of El Centro. 8 ran off the runway and overturned prior to the. [3][4] Since 15 February 1974 the Thunderbirds have been a component of the 57th Wing at Nellis AFB. Eric "Miami" Tise, F-16 Instructor/Evaluator Pi 0:00 / 11:51 10 Times Air Shows Went Terribly Wrong! 6 (T-38A) crashed while performing the hi-lo Maneuver. The Thunderbirds, known formally as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, suspended public performances for six weeks after Del Bagnos loss. Christopher Boitz, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, School shooting survivor has emotional audition on "American Idol", Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed. They had cleared the runway and were airborne. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. 11 December 1954: Capt George Kevil was killed during solo training at Luke in an F-84G. The spin was . Del Bagno was killed at about 10:30 a.m.. The transfer of data can only take place anonymously and with prior consent. Captain Jeff Kuss was performing the Split-S maneuver just after takeoff when he crashed. Del Bagno was in his first season as a pilot for the Air Force Air Demonstration Thunderbird team. 16,893 were here. "Teammate and Executive Officer Ken Johansen was killed in the crash," said Brenda Little, a spokeswoman for the team. The Air Force team, like the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels, had switched to smaller aircraft after the 1973 oil crisis (the Navy switched from F-4 Phantoms to smaller A-4 Skyhawks). May 9, 1981: Captain Nick Hauck killed during an air show at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. It was awarded nine Presidential Unit Citations in World War II. The leader of the Air Force Thunderbirds precision flying team died today when his T-38 jet crashed, apparently after it lost power when its engines sucked up several seagulls on takeoff. Colonel Smith's twin-engine T-38, the Air Force's principal supersonic jet trainer, was taking off in formation with another on the way to the group's next performance. During this tour, the Thunderbirds performed at their first-ever air show in Ireland. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. The difference in altitudes at Nellis and Mountain Home may have contributed to the pilot's error. On Oct. 16, 2018 Air Combat Command (ACC) released an accident investigation board report regarding the F-16 Thunderbird crash which occurred on Apr. The team had flown 26 shows by that August. May 9, 1964: Captain Eugene J. Devlin killed during a three-plane formation pass. [citation needed] Additional stops along the way included aerial demonstrations in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria's Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Italy, France and England, where the Thunderbirds participated in the Royal International Air Tattoo, the world's largest military air show. OUR TEAM The officers and enlisted Airmen who make up the Thunderbirds embody professionalism and skill. Anyone can read what you share. Dwight Roberts, ejected from the flaming jet before it went down. He had a reputation for exceptional physical fitness and had carried out many high-G maneuvers successfully in the weeks prior to the mishap. [19] Team members made recruiting appearances in the Las Vegas area that did not require travel. The crash involving the jet . ''The plane got about 30 to 40 feet off the ground and then came back down,'' said Mike Barth, deputy commissioner at Burke, who saw the crash. More than 1.2 million people saw the shows in person and more than 120 million were exposed to the shows through their national media. 26 September 1957: 1st Lt Bob Rutte was killed in solo training at Nellis. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 3 (, 9 May 1981: Capt Nick Hauck was killed in the crash of Thunderbird No. "Larson and a team of 10 to 15 experts are expected to spend three weeks studying the wreckage of the four T-38s the worst [training] crash in the 28-year history of the Air Force aerial demonstration team. They are the Air Force's marquee recruiting and public outreach tool. In January, an unspecified military aircraft aborted takeoff and caught fire at Nellis, but no serious injuries were reported. Visually cueing off the lead aircraft during formation maneuvering, the wing and slot pilots disregarded their positions relative to the ground. It's with great sadness that we inform you that the pilot of that F-16 died in the incident. They perform formation loops and rolls or transitions from one formation to another. He was the first F-35A pilot to serve as a Thunderbird. 5960. Behind the scenes at Thunderbird training Behind the scenes at Thunderbird training. [2], After six months training in an unofficial status, the Thunderbirds were activated on 25 May 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team at Luke AFB, just west of Phoenix.[10]. Christopher Boitz/Air Force, Artworkcourtesy ofAircraftProfilePrints.com. The team traveled abroad again in 1996, visiting Romania, Bulgaria, and Slovenia. The opposing solos usually perform their maneuvers just under the speed of sound (500 to 700mph (800 to 1,130km/h)), and show off the capabilities of their individual aircraft by doing maneuvers such as fast passes, slow passes, fast rolls, slow rolls, and very tight turns. Photo courtesy of the Geico Skytypers Air Show Team. The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" fly over Las Vegas, Nev., April 11, 2020. Later in the year, the team returned to Canada for the Abbotsford International Airshow at Abbotsford International Airport, British Columbia. [9], On 2 April 1984, at the direction of Gen. Wilbur Creech, Commanding General, USAF Tactical Air Command, the two authorized and only known copies of the crash videotape were destroyed, with Creech himself erasing the portion of the master tape that showed the final impact and subsequent fireball of the four aircraft. Erik Gonsalves was injured when, during landing, Thunderbird No. A U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilot crashed his F-16 Fighting Falcon in April after experiencing a gravity-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) during an aerial maneuver over the Nevada Test and . At the end of the last show season, Thunderbird #1, the team's commanding officer, was relieved of his position. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Thunderbirds pilot Maj. Stephen Del Bagno temporarily lost consciousness during a high G-force maneuver and was incapacitated right before a fatal crash in April. Created 70 years ago in 1953, the USAF Thunderbirds are the third-oldest formal flying aerobatic team (under the same name) in the world, after the French Air Force Patrouille de France formed in 1931 and the United States Navy Blue Angels formed in 1946. This team was formed in early 1949 by a group of 22d Fighter Squadron pilots from the 36th Fighter Wing at Frstenfeldbruck AB in West Germany. 4, crashed over the, Organized as: 3600th Air Demonstration Team, 25 May 1953, Organized as: 3595th Air Demonstration Flight, 19 November 1956, Constituted as: USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, and activated 13 February 1967, Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with 30th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), first organized on 13 June 1917, 3600th Fighter Training Wing, 25 May 1953 23 June 1956, USAF Advanced Fighter School, 19 November 1956 25 February 1967, USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, 25 February 1967, Nellis AFB, Nevada, 19 November 1956 25 February 1967, North American F-100 Super Sabre, 19641966, North American F-100 Super Sabre, 19671968, This page was last edited on 20 January 2023, at 16:43. A mid-air collision occurred during a performance in 1952. Del Bagno is in his first season with the team and hails from Valencia, Calif.". As a combat pilot, Creech flew 280 missions and was decorated 39 times, including 22 awards for bravery in combat. Stephanie Englar at Nellis, said plans were being made for a memorial but a date had not been selected. >> MORE:NewsCenter 7 had rare access to Thunderbirds just weeks before crash. On 1011 November 2007, the City of Las Vegas and Nellis AFB saluted the U.S. Air Force, hosting the capstone event of the USAF's 60th anniversary celebration. All rights reserved. The planes also perform as part of a six-jet team based at Nellis. He then entered pilot training with the 3615th Pilot Training Wing, Craig Air Force Base, Ala., and graduated first in his class in March 1965. This team flew together until August 1950, when it was inactivated due to the American commitment to the Korean War. 3 position, making her the first female to hold a pilot position in the team's 53-year history. All rights reserved. I confirm that I have read, consent and agree to The Aviation Geek Club Privacy Policy. The Facebook Like button and social widgets are used to interact with the Facebook social networkand are provided byFacebook Ireland Ltd. The jets crashed almost simultaneously with what near-by Indian Springs residents described as an earthquake-like explosion that looked like a napalm bomb. He was one heck of a "good dude." The jets fly over Falcon Stadium at the precise moment the cadets throw their hats into the air at ceremony's end. Despite inclement weather, more than 100,000 people attended the air show, garnering nationwide exposure by Irish media. Howard Hall, Headquarters, HQ USAF Warfare Center, is named for Maj Joseph C. Howard, a Thunderbird pilot killed when his F-4 Phantom crashed during a show on 4 June 1973. 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The air around the exhaust manifolds shimmered like a mirror from fuel fumes as the huge prop started to rotate. Capt. During its operational history, the 30th served in World War I as a training unit in France, its mission to train fighter pilots to go into combat on the Western Front. "[2], Technical Sergeant Alfred R. King filmed the accident from the ground. In this file photo, Maj. Stephen Del Bagno, Thunderbird 4/Slot Pilot, preforms preflight checks in his F-16 Fighting Falcon at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 26, 2018. The first team leader was Major Richard C. Catledge (19531954), and the first plane used by the unit was the straight-wing F-84G Thunderjet.
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thunderbird pilot death