NAS JRB Willow Grove 'Thunder at the Grove' Air Fest 2006 air show

Featuring the USAF Thunderbirds

The following photographs (photos) were taken at the 'Thunder in the Grove' Air Fest at NAS JRB Willow Grove Station. The air show featured the USAF Thunderbirds as well as an assortment of acrobatic smaller aircraft. From the NAS JRB Willow Grove website: In 1994 the original base name, Naval Air Station Willow Grove, changed to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Willow Grove, to accurately depict the population and efforts of the station. The original small grass farmland field purchased by Harold Pitcairn in 1926 had come a long way. Pitcairn used the fledging airfield and hanger he built to further his aviation work, most notably as a mail carrier and his promotion of the Autogyro. Although not a commercial success for Pitcairn, Igor Sikorski purchased the rights and incorporated it into his helicopters in Connecticut. Following the end of World War II, Willow Grove was designated a Reserve training station under the Chief of Naval Air Reserve Training. Activities increased during the Korean War and then in 1957, the Navy purchased additional land bordering the station to bring the area to its present total of 1,100 acres. The Vietnam War also brought a step up in operations and many Willow Grove Reservists volunteered to fly airlift and cargo missions in support of the U.S. effort. The "Thunder in the Grove" air show serves to salute all our fighting men & women in uniform and to demonstrate the capabilities of some of our front line fighting aircraft.