Because Doyle Ruff and Bill Elander are each modest gentlemen, many members of Mondongueros are unaware that both are alumni of the USAF Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team. Team members usually serve for two-years, but Doyle was a part of the team for two successive tours in 1968-69 and 1970-71. Because the transition from the F-100D to the F-4E occurred between 1968 and 1969, Doyle flew both types for the team. Bill served for the 1969-70 period, and did double-duty as the team’s maintenance officer. As such, our two Brothers Mondongueros served together for the 1969-70 season.

Below is a team picture for the 1970 season – Doyle is third from the left and Bill sixth from the left.

Originally formed in 1953 as one of several aerial demonstration teams within the USAF, reserve and guard forces, the Thunderbirds became the surviving team as the others were retired one-by-one. Originally the Thunderbirds flew the Republic F-84G Thunderjet, replaced the following year with its swept-wing brother, the F-84F Thunderstreak. From 1956 through 1964, the Thunderbirds flew the North American F-100C Supersabre, followed by a very short-lived switch to the Republic F-105 Thunderchief. After only six shows, an inflight structural failure during a show event resulted in a return to the F-100 – this time to the later F-100D model. In 1969, the team began flying the McDonnell F-4E Phantom II, which was replaced with the Northrup T-38 Talon in 1974, reflecting the industry-wide sensitivity to the issue of fuel burns. A major accident during a 1982 practice session resulted in the loss of the entire four-ship diamond formation, and when the team resumed operations in 1983, the General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon was the new steed. The final airplane change to-date occurred in 1992, when the team switched to the F-16C.

Following is an article on the Thunderbirds from the May-June 1967 issue of Popular Aviation discovered by Mondongueros Member Mel Watson.