Activated on May 25, 1953 as the 3600th Air Demonstration Team it wasn't until February 13, 1967 that they officially became the Thunderbirds. In May 1967 the team toured the UK and also made an appearance at the Paris Airshow. For the 1966-68 seasons aircraft tail numbers were left off and a large single digit; representing the aircraft position in the team was painted on the rear of the fuselage. On October 21, 1967 the Thunderbirds lost one F- 100 when it disintegrated during a show at Laughlin, Texas. The pilot, Captain Merrill Anthony McPeak ejected safely. In 1967 the Thunderbirds pilots were - Ldr. Neil Eddins, Chris Patterakis, Stan Musser, Jack Dickey, Bob Beckel, M. Tony McPeak, Bob Haney, Mike Miller.
The North American F-100 Super Sabre served the USAF from 1954 to 1971 and the ANG until 1979. The F-100 commonly referred to as the Hun, a shortened version of one hundred was the first US fighter capable of attaining supersonic speed in level flight. The Hun was used extensively as close-air-support in South Vietnam. The F-100 suffered from landing gear and brake parachute failures, electrical problems, 500 of the 1,274 F- 100Ds that were built were lost mostly due to these failures.