Last updated on May 1st, 2023 at 03:44 pm
The beach, warm weather, clear skies, and fast jets. What’s not to like? The United States Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration came to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi on April 29 and 30, 2023. What made this such a great event is that you could stake a claim on a piece of white sand beach. Bring food and refreshments including the adult type and watch the great show over the Gulf of Mexico on Biloxi Beach.
For the few days preceding the show, I have seen the Thunderbirds fly in formation as I was out and about on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. What a wonderful sight. The engineering and talent combination is amazing. It makes you feel protected and proud to be an American.
The event is over but I have included lots of information about Keesler Air Force Base, its history, and the Thunderbirds for you to enjoy including some videos. It’s worth a read.
The Thunderbirds helped bring thousands of people together to watch and associate. With all of the bad stuff happeing elsewhere, this event was an example of how we can come together.
Thunder over the sound
If you want to explore more, you can visit Keesler Air Force Base and see their displays of various aircraft. This is an opportunity for you to get up close as this is a special open house for the event. The base is normally closed to the public so this is a chance to see a real working Air Force base.
The City of Biloxi and Keesler has developed a local area partnership for many decades. Keesler has a very long history and is currently one of the largest training bases for the Air Force. The air show is a good reason to open the base for visitors. I am a veteran of the Air Force as is my brother. He works with the USO and is frequently on the base. I worked at an event last year and it was great to meet the fine people who are defending our nation.
Love Jets, you need to be in Biloxi for the Air Show. Thunder over the Sound. Check out the schedule below.
Show Schedule
Suggestion
Arrive in the morning at the shuttle bus stop after 9:00 AM. Take the shuttle to Keesler Air Force Base to see the exhibits there. Then to the beach in the afternoon for the big air show. Plan on the day. Bring folding chairs and water. Don’t forget sunscreen, towels, and sunglasses. Head protection is recommended. Bring your cameras or cell phones. If you have sensitive hearing, bring earplugs. Enjoy.
U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds – Biloxi Beaches
The main attraction is the 6 blue jets of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. They have a full schedule of approximately 30 maneuvers in their F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. Most of their flights will be over the water where anyone at the beach will have an unobstructed view. Of course, it’s free to view the show. In addition to the US Air Force Thunderbirds, other aerial demonstrations are planned.
Wings of Blue – Keesler Flightline
The wings of the Blue demonstration team will give visitors a view of precision parachuting. This team consists of instructors in basic free-fall parachuting at the Air Force Academy.
Tora!-Tora!-Tora! – Keesler Flightline
This show includes a Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” from World War II and a pyrotechnic display. The intention is to recreate the historic attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Jet Provost Aerobatic – Keeslerllight Line
This British jet trainer is a side-by-side seating configuration aircraft with dual controls.
AceMaker – Keesler Flightline
Gregory “Wired” Colyer will be demonstrating the T-33 trainer jet.
Trojan Phlyers – Keesler Flightline
This group of pilots will be flying in formation and doing solo aerobatics demonstrating the excellence of the former North American Aviation Company.
Fighter Jets Inc. – Keelser Flightline
Patty Wagstaff – Keesler Flightline
Chiefpitts – Keesler Flightline
Best Viewing Area at Biloxi Beach
intersection of white ave and the beach between I110 off ramp on the East and Acacia drive on the West
PARKING
The general public is required to take shuttle buses from off-base parking to the Keesler Air Force Base flight line. You can not walk onto the base without a DOD identification card. No base parking except for vehicles with military identification. The shuttle buses are free. Shuttle bus service starts at 9:00 AM for all parking areas.
Parking Areas (off base):
- The intersection of Bayview Avenue & Kensington Drive
- IP Casino at 867 Bayview Ave
- Intersection of Benachi Avenue & Lasalle Drive
Parking Areas (on base)
- The intersection of Fisher Street & H Street
- Across from Tyler House
- Dragon Fitness & Dolan Hall
- Handicapped at Hangar Road & Phantom Street
Much more
You will see a demonstration of a MiG-17F aircraft designed by the Soviet Union. Chief Pitts’s Special airplane will demonstrate the capability of the aircraft and pilot. Static displays of many aircraft will be on display at Keesler Air Force Base. Jets on the ground at Keesler are part of the entire air show. Don’t miss seeing them.
Watching the precision of Air Force Pilots is a key reason for attending the show. Many will use this air show as a reason to go somewhere with the family and have fun at no cost. If this is your first time attending an air show, I suggest that you bring some earplugs as the sound when the jets are close to you can be intense.
Their most famous flying is the four-aircraft diamond formation. This takes great skill and shows everyone that our men and women in the military services of the United States are superior to any military on the planet.
Your appearance at the beach and on the base shows our service members that you support them. By the way, the Thunderbirds are not the Blue Angels. The Blue Angels have performed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the past and they are equally great to watch. I wanted to clear this up.
PROHIBITED ITEMS ON BASE
- Weapons
- Handheld knives
- Pepper spray
- Pets (except service animals)
- Alcohol or drinks except for infant formula
- Flammable items
- Artificial noise makers
- Laser Pointers
- Signs, flags, banners
- Glass containers
- Pop-up tents and umbrellas
PERMITTED ITEMS ON BASE
- Small purses
- School-sized backpacks
- Folding chairs (must remove from bags at the entrance)
- Camera, video cameras, and phones
- Strollers and wagons
- Water bottles not glass
About Keesler Air Force Base
Keesler is not just about the Jets and the air show, there is much more you need to know, read on.
Keesler started when the City of Biloxi contacted the U.S. Army in 1941 about building a base. This was prior to the start of World War II. It seemed at the time that everyone knew the war was coming. My parents told me that war was in the news on a daily basis as Germany and Japan were fighting around the world.
The elected officials in Biloxi understood that with war, the military would need bases. The city offered the Army what was then the old Naval Reserve Park and parts of Oak Park including a small airport.
The War Department notified the City in March 1941 that they had decided to activate Army Air Corps Station #8, Aviation Mechanics School on the property. The base was ultimately named after 2nd Lt. Samuel Reeves Keesler Jr. from Greenwood, MS. Lieutenant Keesler died fighting in France during World War I.
The construction of Keesler Army Airfield cost more than $10 million dollars at the time. In today’s dollars, the base would cost more than $203 million to build today, a big project at the time. The first squadron to move in was the 304th Technical School Squadron which moved in in September 1941.
What started out to be just a school became more
The Army decided to make Keesler a basic training center for the Army as well as a technical school. According to the records, the population of Biloxi doubled within a short time. The primary focus was to train mechanics for B-24 bombers. Many women were used as instructors due to the manpower shortage. All of this led to World War II.
Later during the war, Keesler began training copilots for B-24s and other crew members. In 1945, a major effort was undertaken to train recruits for air-sea rescue as part of the Air Transport Commands’ new Air Rescue Service. The base was very busy during the war contributing substantially to the growth of Biloxi and its economy.
Unlike many other bases which were closed at the end of the war or years later, Keesler continued to serve the Army Air Corps and then the Air Force as a critical training base. Aircraft engine mechanics and radar technician training were added in 1947.
Tuskegee Airmen were here
More than 7,000 African American airmen were stationed at Keesler Field by 1943. These soldiers included pre-aviation cadets, radio operators, bombardiers, aviation mechanics, and aviation technicians. These soldiers supported the Tuskegee Airmen fighting in Europe.
In 1950 Congress allocated $44 million to reconstruct Keesler. A school was set up to instruct technicians in support of the SM-65 Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile. Scott AFB sent its training mission to Keesler when it closed adding a control tower and radio maintenance schools to Keesler.
As more training bases were closed after the Vietnam War, responsibility for this training was shifted to Keesler. By the time Chanute and Lowery AFBs were closed, Keesler has assumed responsibility for weather forecasting and meteorology.
It needs training, it’s done at Keesler
Keesler has been training not only Air Force personnel but Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and other government agency members in a variety of subjects. Doctors, nurses, and technicians are also trained there. This is a busy base and it remains a critical part of the Air Force support network.
Biloxi has become home to many former military members
I could not close this article without mentioning that many former Air Force and Navy members (plus Army, Marines, and Coast Guard) have returned to Biloxi after their tours and settled in as their retirement homes. Others left the military service and years later remembered the good times they had in Biloxi and they returned to live here. Interested in a home in or around Biloxi, click here to see what is available.
With the Veterans Administration Hospital and Armed Forces Retirement home plus the facilities at Keesler AFB and the SEABEE base, retirees can feel at home.
Please read our other articles about events in and around the Mississippi Gulf Coast. This is a terrific place to live and visit.
