United States Air Force Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds USAF Air Demonstration Squadron
United States Air Force Thunderbirds emblem
Active	25 May 1953 – present (as air demonstration squadron) 13 June 1917 – 1 February 1963 (as operational squadron)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Aerobatic display team
Size	12 officers 132 enlisted support personnel 3 civilian support personnel
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Nellis Air Force Base Las Vegas, Nevada
Nickname(s)	"TBirds"
Colors	Red, White and Blue
Engagements	World War I World War II (Pacific Theater) Korean War
Commanders
Commander/Leader	Lt. Col Justin Elliott
CEM	CMSgt Harvey McReynolds
Aircraft flown
Fighter	six F-16C Fighting Falcons two F-16D Fighting Falcons

The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron ("Thunderbirds") is the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force (USAF).^[1] The Thunderbirds are assigned to the 57th Wing, and are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Created 71 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.

The Thunderbirds Squadron tours the United States and much of the world, performing aerobatic formation and solo flying in specially marked aircraft. The squadron's name is taken from the legendary creature that appears in the mythologies of several indigenous North American cultures.