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Stephen Mish is a former Air Force Thunderbirds pilot who served as the team's narrator for the 1974 air show season before transitioning to the right wing for 1975 and 1976.

Bio from the 1976 Thunderbirds yearbook:

Flying right wing for the USAF Thunderbirds is Captain Steve Mish of South Boston, Virginia. Joining the Thunderbirds in 1974, Steve first served as team narrator, moving to the right wing position in 1975.

"Former Thunderbird officers and pride in the Air Force influenced my decision to apply for the team," says Steve., who graduated in 1968 from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

Steve, one of two children, followed his father's footsteps as an Air Force pilot by earning his wings in 1969 at Randolph AFB, Louisiana, where he received fighter pilot training in the A-37B.

No stranger to travel as the son of an Air Force officer, Steve hit the road for Southeast Asia and his first operational assignment with the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) in the Republic of South Vietnam.

While flying 243 combat missions and accumulating 316 combat fight hours, Steve earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf clusters, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal.

After his Vietnam tour,, Captian Mish was assigned to Hurlburt Field, Floria and in 1971 returned to England AFB as an A-37 instructor-pilot. He was on duty with the 23rd TFW there when notified of his selection to the Thunderbirds. In 1974, Steve served as the Thunderbirds narrator, describing the intricate maneuvers of the Thunderbirds to more than 2,300,000 spectators who viewed the team's first demonstration season in the supersonic T-38 Talon.

Captain Mish was selected as one of the "Outstanding Young Men of America" in 1975 by the United States Junior Chamber of America. He is married to the former Jayne Ralston of San Antonio, Texas, and lives with his wife and son Jerry at Nellis AFB Nevada.

1974 Thunderbirds Team:

1. Roger Parrish
2. Gil Mook
3. Doug Roach
4. Tim Roels
5. Kirk Brimmer
6. Ray White
7. Steve Mish

1975 Thunderbirds Team

1. Chris Patterakis
2. Gil Mook
3. Steve Mish
4. Doug Roach
5. Jim Simons
6. Ray White
7. Lloyd Newton

1976 Thunderbirds Team:

1. Chris Patterakis
2. John Lapointe
3. Steve Mish
4. Lloyd Newton
5. Lacy Ceach
6. Joe Prater
7. Walt Parker


Links & Thanks

Special thanks to Steve Mish for sharing his story and providing many of the pictures featured in the interview.

Special thanks to the Thunderbirds Alumni Association for coordinating. website: http://www.thunderbirdsalumni.org

Thanks to Patrick McCollam for assisting with research and providing access to team yearbooks.

Footage used from the following Videos:
USAF Air Force Thunderbirds T-38 Talon Aircraft Introduction Video:    • USAF Air Force Thunderbirds T-38 Talo...  

Thunderbirds a Team Portrait:
   • Thunderbirds a Team Portrait  

Fly with the Thunderbirds:
   • Fly with the Thunderbirds