"In 1982, the Thunderbirds suffered a catastrophic loss during pre-season training on 18 January. While practicing the four-plane diamond loop, the formation impacted the ground at high speed, instantly killing all four pilots: Major Norman L. Lowry (commander/leader), Captain Willie Mays, Captain Joseph N. "Pete" Peterson, and Captain Mark Melancon."
Sook-ja Kim was a Korean-American singer who performed in many Las Vegas, Nevada hotels and casinos. Sook-ja was a member of the musical group named The Kim Sisters that began performing for American soldiers in the Korean War. In 1959, Sook-ja was invited to perform at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and continued to play in various hotels and casinos until she retired from performing in 1989. As of 2019, Sook-ja Kim Bonifazio works as a real estate agent in Las Vegas.