Deep in the pine barrens of Jackson, New Jersey lies a powerful and highly advanced military fortress. Combining some of the most integral parts of the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard is the joint base McGuire AFB-Fort Dix-Lakehurst NAS or JB MDL for short. Responsible for joint operations along the East Coast, JB MDL is a strategic installation for America’s armed forces. The base was merged in October 2005 and is the only military base in the nation that performs this special, trifecta mission. JB MDL is home to multiple units from the five branches, as well as serves as one of their training grounds. One of the base’s biggest events is its annual airshow, hosted at McGuire Air Force Base.
Named after the Medal of Honor recipient and World War II ace, the air base is home to the 504th Air Mobility Wing, as well as the Air National Guard Air Refueling Wing. Every year, the base hosts their “Power in the Pines” airshow and open house. The event is a celebration of the men and women serving in the armed forces as well as a great day for the community to learn more about the many unique service members that work at the joint base. Various military and civilian performers take to the skies to demonstrate their talents and combat capabilities. Participating in this show are members of the U.S. Air Force, as well as units from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. Civilian performers, such as the GEICO Skytypers Team, are also part of the aerial festivities to take place this year.
Headlining this year’s show are the ambassadors of the United States Air Force, the USAF Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds take to the skies in their F-16 Fight Falcon aircraft, emblazoned in their trademark colors of red, white, and blue. Through an amazing array of skills, precision, and discipline, they entertain and demonstrate the extraordinary talents of the world’s greatest air and space force. Unique to this airshow is to see the squad perform from take-off to performance to landing.
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform at the 2003 “Defenders of Freedom” air show held May 10-11. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Denise A. Rayder)
The airshow will takes place on Saturday, May 14 and Sunday May 15,, 2016, at McGuire Air Force Base in Jackson, New Jersey. This event is free to the public. For more information please visit the “Power in the Pines” website.
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