Thunderbirds are ‘Grrreat’

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Sept. 6, 2001 | 9:50 a.m.

Cereal shoppers may find that Tony the Tiger has been joined by some interesting friends on boxes of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes in coming weeks.

Four members of the Thunderbirds, the Air Force's Aerial Demonstration Squadron stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, are featured on collectors' boxes of the cereal, now appearing in stores and commissaries across the country.

A reported 30 million boxes are being distributed.

According to Capt. De De Halfhill, public affairs officer for the squadron, the appearance of the Thunderbird pilots on the cereal box is the result of a 15-year relationship the team has developed with the community of Battle Creek, Mich.

"We have flown at the annual air show in Battle Creek for at least 10 of the last 15 years," Halfhill said. "The Kellogg's company is a major sponsor of the show, and they offered the commercial exposure, in part, to show appreciation for the Thunderbird appearances."

Halfhill said the cereal company also recently sponsored a Public Broadcasting System documentary about the aerial demonstration team that is currently airing on PBS stations across the country. She said the documentary film crew, sponsored by Kellogg's, followed the team during most of their entire show schedule last year to produce the film, "Reach for the Sky."

In brief

He completed a seven-week course in communications skills, international relations, national objectives and employment of military force in achieving Air Force objectives. The curriculum also included management concepts and theories, analytical decision-making and behavioral science.

Agee, the son of Muriel Simpson of Las Vegas, is a management superintendent assigned to the 39th Supply Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Adana, Turkey.