Barksdale AFB opened its gates to more than 225,000 people May 10-11 during its annual Defenders of Liberty Airshow. This year’s show featured the Navy Blue Angels, Army Golden Knights, two Air Combat Command demo teams and multiple civilian aerial performers.
BARKSDALE AIR FORCEC BASE, La. -- Capt Daniel Agliata points out an aircraft to his daughter Lia during the Defenders of Liberty Air Show held here May 10. This air show marks the 75th Anniversary of the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The U.S. Navy Blue Angles perform fast-paced, high-performance maneuvers during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Airshow here May 9. The team performs precision aerial maneuvers to exhibit the capabilities of modern high-performance aircraft to audiences around the world. Last season, more than 15 million spectators watched the Blue Angels perform. Since its inception in 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 427 million fans. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Robert J Horstman)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Sgt. Matthew Acord, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Demonstration Team member, adjusts camera settings on his teammate’s equipment before a jump during a performance in the Barksdale Defenders of Liberty Air Show. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Amn Allison M. Boehm)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Members of the Aeroshell performance team amaze spectators during the Defenders of Liberty Air Show held here May 10. This event marks the 75th Anniversary of the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La -- Hal Gatti, 9, holds a display bazooka at the Marine Recruiting Center during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show here May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Brittany Y. Bateman)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Kirsten Wrightbert daughter of the 2d Security Forces Squadron's Senior Airman Aaron Larsen, receives a mini-football from a member of the Navy Top 40 Band New Orleans on May 9. The Navy band performed during the twilight portion of the Defenders of Liberty Air Show. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- A U.S. Air Force UH-1 Huey helicopter is displayed on the flight line here during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - The U.S. Navy Top 40 Band performs for base personnel during the twilight portion of the Defenders of Liberty Air Show held here on May 9. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - A member of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels signs autographs for Ed Nagot and his daughter, Daly, during the Defenders of Liberty Air Show held here May 9. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Maj Craig Blood plays with his daughter Alyssa, 3, during a concert by the Top 40 Navy Band from New Orleans, La. on May 9. The Navy Band was performing as part of the twilight portion of the Defenders of Liberty Air Show. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Vanessa Coreen helps her daughter, Legacy, put in her ear plugs during the Defenders of Liberty Air Show held here May 9. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - A member of the Navy Top 40 Band New Orleans throws mini-footballs into the crowd during their concert on May 9. The Navy band performed during the twilight portion of the Defenders of Liberty Air Show. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - U.S. Navy Top 40 band performs in the 2008 Twilight portion of the Defenders of Liberty Air Show here on May 9. The Navy Top 40 Band is based out of New Orleans, La. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Brittany Y. Bateman)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Members of the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron fly past a grounded B-52H Stratofortress on May 8, prior to the Defenders of Liberty Air Show this weekend. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Chris Brassard, Captain of the Bossier/Shreveport, La. Mudbugs hockey team, prepares for his first tandem jump with the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Demonstration Team during the Barksdale Defenders of Liberty Air Show. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Amn Allison M. Boehm)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Staff Sergeant Marc Owens, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Demonstration Team member, secures belts with Chris Brassard, Captain of the Bossier/Shreveport, La. Mudbugs hockey team, for their tandem jump during the Barksdale Defenders of Liberty Air show. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Amn Allison M. Boehm)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCEC BASE, La. -- Members of the Aeroshell performance team taxi off the runway during the Defenders of Liberty Air Show held here May 10. This event marks the 75th Anniversary of the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Courtney Rodgers, 7, from Florine La. prepares to watch performers with her binoculars during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show held here May 10. The air show is the 75th Barksdale Anniversary celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Rachel Morgan, 4, pats Tracker, from Shreveport Fire Search and Rescue during the Defenders of Liberty Air Show held here May 10. The air show marks the 75th Anniversary of the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCEC BASE, La. -- Capt Allison Agliata covers the ears of her daughter Lia as an air craft flies over during the Defenders of Liberty Air Show held here May 10. This marks the 75th Anniversary of the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joanna M. Kresge)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- U.S. Air Force UH-1 Huey helicopter is displayed on the flight line here during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The air show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Jesse Shico helps Taylor Lomax, 8, into the cockpit of a 1940's PT-17 Stearman airplane on the flightline of Barksdale Air Force Base, La. during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Justin Jackson,9, sits in the cockpit of a U.S. Air Force UH-1 Huey helicopter on the flight line of Barksdale Air Force Base, La. during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Zoe Garcia, 5, sits in the cockpit of a U.S. Air Force UH-1 Huey helicopter on the flight line of Barksdale Air Force Base, La. during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Zoe Garcia, 5, straps on the pilots safety harness in a U.S. Air Force UH-1 Huey helicopter on the flight line of Barksdale Air Force Base, La. during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- U.S. Air Force 1st Lieutenant Daniel Coughlin, 23rd Flight Training Squadron, discusses the capabilities of the UH-1 Huey helicopter with Marcus Thompkins (L) and Jason Barnes on the flight line of Barksdale Air Force Base, La. during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The air show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Howie Sanborn, Golden Knight Parachutist, escorts the U.S. Flag to the Barksdale Air Force Base flight line during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- U.S. Army Staff Sergeants Tramaine Rozier (L) and Timothy Dall fold the U.S. Flag during the opening ceremony of the Barksdale Air Force Base 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- U.S. Army Staff Sergeants Tramaine Rozier folds the U.S. Flag during the opening ceremony of the Barksdale Air Force Base 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Blewitt, Golden Knights Parachutist, escorts the U.S. Flag to the Barksdale Air Force Base flight line during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Howie Sanborn, Golden Knight Parachutist, escorts the U.S. Flag to the Barksdale Air Force Base flight line during the opening ceremony of the Barksdale Air Force Base 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ben Borger helps Staff Sgt. Justin Blewitt remove a smoke chain after sky diving during the U.S. Army Golden Knights performance at the opening ceremony of the Barksdale Air Force Base 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show. The Air Show commemorates the 75th anniversary of Barksdale Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- U.S. Army Golden Knights team members look for their drop zone before performing a jump during the Barksdale Air Force Base Defenders of Liberty Air Show, May 10. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Amn Allison M. Boehm)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La -- Amanda and Mike Fricks look inside of an aircraft on display during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show here May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Brittany Y. Bateman)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La -- Capt Nick Stewart of the United States Marine Corps looks at a jet on display during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air show here May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Brittany Y. Bateman)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La -- Haydek Gatti, 7, holds a display bazooka at the Marine Recruiting Center during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show here May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Brittany Y. Bateman)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La -- Brittany Marie Robinson, 10, secures her seat belt in the model helicopter that was on display during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show here May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Brittany Y. Bateman)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La -- Alexander Shultz lifts his son, Ben Schultz, 7, so he could look inside the Army tactical vehicle during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show here May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Brittany Y. Bateman)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La -- Capt Drew Baird of the 93rd Bomb Squardon, and his sons, Nathan and AJ, walk toward displays on the flight line at the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show here May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Brittany Y. Bateman)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La -- Dakota Johnson, 15, and Alexis Pearson, 14, escort 'MSgt Andy' down the flight line during the 2008 Defenders of Liberty Air Show here May 10. (U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Brittany Y. Bateman)