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Materials from Colonel Nicole Malachowski including images of the United States Air Force Demonstration Squadron, aka the Thunderbirds.
Colonel Nicole Malachowski is a retired United States Air Force (USAF) officer and the first female pilot selected to join any American military demonstration team. Malachowski's interest for aviation began at the age of five when she attended her first air show. By the age of twelve, she started flying with the Civil Air Patrol and achieved her first solo flight at sixteen. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1996, she flew McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagles around the globe, including a tour in Iraq. Between October 2005 and January 2008, Malachowski served as Thunderbird #3/Right Wing within the United States Air Force Demonstration Squadron. Also known as the Thunderbirds, she made her debut in March 2006 piloting a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. After, she was on special assignments and held several leadership roles including commanding the 333rd Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Malachowski was medically retired from USAF in 2017 and inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2019.
NASM.2008.0025
United States. Air Force
2005-2007
Nicole Malachowski, Gift, 2008, NASM.2008.0025
3.735 Gigabytes
National Air and Space Museum Archives
Physical materials of this collection consist of Malachowski's 2008 resume, two autographed portraits, a 2006 United States Air Force (USFA) Thunderbirds booklet, and two copies of 2006 USFA Thunderbirds brochure as well as a DVD entitled "American Team: Being a US Air Force Thunderbird." Also included in this collection are digital images of the USFA Demonstration Squadron, a flying aerobatic team also known as the Thunderbirds, for 2005 and 2007. Images depict aircraft both grounded and in-flight, events and demonstrations, USAF crew and public crowds, and aerial views. Technical Sergeant Justin Pyle and Staff Sergeant Kristi Machado were identified as the USFA photographers.
Divided by type of material and arranged chronologically thereunder by photographer.
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Colonel Nicole Malachowski Collection, NASM.2008.0025, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Aeronautics
Women air pilots
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Gigabytes