1953-2023 “ 70 years USAF Thunderbirds “
In 1953, after deactivating the “Acrojets” due to the Korean War effort, the US Air Force activated a new aerobatic flight demo team named the “Thunderbirds” after the mythical creature known by many American indigenous cultures. The team flew subsonic F-84G Thunderjets.
In 1954, the USAF turned to Rolex to provide the team with good pilot wrist watches and Rolex suggested their revolutionary designed 36 mm stainless steel Turn-O’Graph 6609 with rotational bezel.
However, after a long duty tour with the demo team, many pilots were issued a Gold Datejust version. Rolex aligned themselves with the Thunderbirds in their promotional materials, and nicknamed their Datejust Turn-O-Graph the ‘Thunderbird’, placing the team’s emblem directly on the dial at six o’clock position.
Between 1955-1957 NASA astronaut William Pogue was Thunderbirds team member and wore his Gold Datejust during NASA training for Apollo & Skylab programs.
This photo shows US Air Force Captain Herman Griffin wearing a Gold Datejust 6605 during the 1958 season... 65 years ago!
(Photo: USAF)
