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| In
1947, while the jet age was still in its infancy, military
aviation was hurtled into the future with the creation of the
U.S. Air Force as a separate service. |
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| Just
six years later, on
May 25, 1953
, the Air
Force’s official air demonstration team, designated the 3600th
Air Demonstration Unit, was activated at Luke Air Force Base,
Arizona
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| The
name “Thunderbirds” was soon adopted by the unit; influenced
in part by the strong Indian culture and folklore of the
southwestern
United
States
where Luke is located. |
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| Indian
legend speaks of the Thunderbird with great fear and respect. To
some it was a giant eagle … others envisioned a hawk. When it
took to the skies, the earth trembled from the thunder of its
great wings. |
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| From
its eyes shot bolts of lightning. Nothing in nature could
challenge the bird of thunder, the story said, and no man could
stand against its might. |
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| The
story of the Thunderbird was repeated, voice-by-voice, across
the generations, until at last, it assumed the immortality of
legend.
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| A
more appropriate name couldn't have been selected, as it is with
the same commanding presence the Thunderbirds took to the skies.
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| Seven
officers and 22 enlisted were selected for the first
demonstration team, most were handpicked from the cadre at Luke. |
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| Maj.
Dick Catledge, a training squadron commander at Luke, was chosen
as the team’s leader. Twins Bill and Buck Pattillo were
selected and would fly left and right wing, respectively. |
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| The
Pattillo's, both captains, were ideal choices as both had been
with the “SkyBlazers”, a USAF/Europe demonstration team, for
the past 3 years. For the difficult position of slot, the
position sandwiched between both wingmen and behind the leader,
Capt. Bob Kanaga was selected, an instructor at Luke. |
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