Active duty Thunderbirds founded the Association in 1975. THE THUNDERBIRDS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXISTS TO PROMOTE THE COMRADESHIP OF FORMER AND CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE U. S. AIR FORCE AIR DEMONSTRATION SQUADRON "THE THUNDERBIRDS- AND TO ENSURE THAT "ONCE A THUNDERBIRD, ALWAYS A THUNDERBIRD" IS A CONTINUED COMMITMENT FROM EACH MEMBER AND THAT EXCELLENCE REMAINS THE BENCHMARK BY WHICH WE MEASURE ALL WE DO.