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Thunderbird 50th Anniversary Covers |
| (Certificate of Authenticity front | rear) |
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds began in 1953 when Brigadier General Charles Born was given the task of forming the air demonstration unit. The original name for the team was “Stardusters”, however, the selection was over-ruled in favor of the name “Thunderbirds”. The first plane flown by the new Thunderbird team was the Republic F-84 Thunderjet. The Thunderbirds flew their first public airshow on June 16, 1953. In 1954, the Thunderbirds flew the F-86 Sabre, and made a 12 country tour of Central and South America. In 1955, the Thunderbirds flew the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, a swept-wing version of the Thunderjet. For the 1956 airshow season, the Thunderbirds switched to the North American F-100C Super Sabre, and became the first flight demonstration team with supersonic capability. In 1964, the Thunderbirds flew the Republic F-105 Thunderchief, however, they flew the F-105 for only six shows, and then switched to the F-100D. |
| "Thunderbirds - (Dayton)" |
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Wright Brothers Stamp – Dayton, OH 45401 - May 22, 2003 – First Day Issue Edition: 6 $100.00 Sold Out |
| During the Vietnam War, the Thunderbirds transitioned to the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, and a white base paint was applied to each plane, compared to the unpainted aluminum skin on previously used Thunderbird aircraft. In 1971, the Thunderbirds performed at the Paris airshow in front of the largest crowd ever, more that 2.3 million people in two days. In 1973, the Thunderbirds switched to the Northrop T-38 Talon, and performed their 2,000th airshow in 1976. On January 18, 1982, the Thunderbirds suffered a devastating crash during a practice show over the Nevada desert. Later in 1982, the Thunderbirds began flying the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Thunderbirds have performed shows in over 60 countries and all 50 states in America for more than 315 million people. |
| "Thunderbirds - (Kill Devil Hills)" |
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Wright Brothers Stamp – Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 - May 22, 2003 – First Day Issue Edition: 6 $100.00 Sold Out |
| Each envelope features the painting “Teamwork at its Finest”, and each envelope is hand signed by the six pilots of the original 1953 Thunderbird team, and the six pilots from the 2003 Thunderbird team. Envelope set one was First Day cancelled at the Main post office in Dayton, Ohio, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Flight. Envelope set two was First Day cancelled at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Flight. Envelope set three was First Day cancelled in Washington DC, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War. Each envelope is numbered and signed by the artist. Artist Proof 1/1 was First Day cancelled at the Wright Brothers Branch in Dayton, Ohio, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Flight. |
| "Thunderbirds - (Korean Memorial)" |
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Korean War Memorial Stamp – Washington DC 20066 - July 27, 2003 – First Day Issue Edition: 30 $100.00 Sold Out |
| Signatures: 1953 Team: Major General Dick Catledge – Commander/Leader; Lt. General Charles C. (Buck) Pattillo – Left Wing; Major General Cuthbert A. (Bill) Pattillo – Right Wing; Lt. Colonel Bob Kanaga – Slot; Colonel Bob McCormick – Spare pilot; Lt. Colonel Aubrey D. “Brownie” Brown – Spare pilot and Maint. Officer. 2003 Team: Lt. Col. Richard G. McSpadden, Jr., – Commander/Leader; Major Mark D. Smith – Left Wing; Captain D. Chris Callaghan – Right Wing; Major Matthew R. Beckley – Slot; Major Todd Canterbury – Lead Solo; Captain Chris R. Stricklin – Opposing Solo. |
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