May

Our Smithsonian: A salute to extraordinary courage

In a tribute to medical personnel and first responders on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, the famed U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S Navy Blue Angels demonstration teams performed a joint flyover of the Washington, D.C. metro area Saturday, May 2.

As the jets passed over the National Mall, Jim Preston, senior photographer at the National Air and Space Museum, and Daniel Sone were there to capture the dramatic moment.

The US Navy Blue Angels and the USAF Thunderbirds pass over the National Mall in a joint flyover in a salute to the frontline COVID-19 responders, May 2, 2020. (Smithsonian photo by Jim Preston)

The US Navy Blue Angels and the USAF Thunderbirds pass over the National Mall in a joint flyover in a salute to the frontline COVID-19 responders, May 2, 2020. (Smithsonian photo by Jim Preston)

A local family were out on the National Mall to see the US Navy Blue Angels and the USAF Thunderbirds in a joint flyover the Washington, DC region in a salute to the frontline COVID-19 responders. The teams made two passes over downtown Washington, DC, May 2, 2020. (Smithsonian photo by Jim Preston)

The US Navy Blue Angels and the USAF Thunderbirds pass over the National Mall in a joint flyover in a salute to the frontline COVID-19 responders, May 2, 2020. (Smithsonian photo by Jim Preston)

The US Navy Blue Angels and the USAF Thunderbirds pass behind a steeple of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building on the National Mall during a joint flyover the Washington, DC region in a salute to the frontline COVID-19 responders, May 2, 2020. (Smithsonian photo by Jim Preston)

The US Navy Blue Angels and the USAF Thunderbirds pass behind a CSC crane at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum during a joint flyover of the Washington, DC region in a salute to the frontline COVID-19 responders, May 2, 2020. (Smithsonian photo by Jim Preston)

The US Navy Blue Angels and the USAF Thunderbirds pass behind the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall during a joint flyover the Washington, DC region in a salute to the frontline COVID-19 responders, May 2, 2020. (Smithsonian photo by Jim Preston)

Spectators on the roof a parking garage of the Inova Fairfax Medical Center in Falls Church, VA watch the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyover DC-Metro area hospitals on May 2, 2020. The demonstration is a joint effort from the Navy and the Air Force called America Strong, a series of flyovers across the nation as a “collaborative salute” to those continuing to serve and combating COVID-19. (Smithsonian Photo by Daniel Sone)