VIDEO: Air Force Thunderbirds Arrive at Pease

Seven Air Force Thunderbirds made arrived at Pease International Airport in impressive fashion Thursday afternoon two days before the pilots perform their aerial exercises in the Service Federal Credit Union Boston-Portsmouth Air Show.

They made several passes over Pease as members of the media looked in awe below. There were times when two of the seven jets passed by one another above the runway just 18 inches apart. They also flew in groups of four and circled the airport and Pease Air National Guard Base several times before they touched down and joined Captain Kristen Hubbard, the group's narrator and pilot of the No. 1 aircraft who arrived on Wednesday evening.

Air Force Major John Gallavance, whose nickname is "Nuke," said he has been flying with the Thunderbirds for two years and loves every opportunity he gets to take to the skies.

"I've always wanted to fly jets," said Gallavance, who joined the Air Force while attending Texas A&M University in his home state. "I always wanted to serve my country."

Air Force Capt. Joshua Hawkins said several members of his family have served or currently serve in different branches of the military and that inspired him to join the Air Force. He has been with the Thunderbirds as the executive officer for the No. 10 aircraft.

Hawkins said he has served a tour in Afghanistan as well as Air Force bases in the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf. Gallavance said he served a tour in Iraq in 2008. Being able to perform with the Thunderbirds at Pease is very special for Gallavance.

He said the first time he ever came to Pease was when he was on his way home from his tour of duty and was met by dozens of Pease Greeters in the airport terminal at 2 a.m.

Hawkins said the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks and the Thunderbirds' commitment to honor fallen heroes had made every show that much more significant this year.

Gallavance said the Thunderbirds have dedicated the Boston-Portsmouth Air Show to of East Kingston, a medic who was killed in Afghanistan on June 25. Bernier's name will be printed on the gear well of Hubbard's No. 1 aircraft, he said, and she will read his name during her narration of the show.

Air Force Maj. Kristin Haley, public affairs officer for Thunderbird No. 12, said the seven Thunderbirds traveled four and a half hours from Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nev. to Pease. She said the Thunderbirds do 70 shows each year and did eight of those shows this year in Europe.

Besides the pilots, Haley said the Thunderbirds require the services of many more Air Force members to stage successful shows.

"We travel with about 70 people," she said.