The Thunderbird, a mythical creature found in many American indigenous cultures, symbolizes strength and power and in some interpretations, creates the sound of thunder by flapping its wings. Established in 1953 at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, in close proximity to many reservations and where indigenous cultures of the Southwest left an indelible mark, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are one of the oldest air demonstration teams in the world.

In an attempt to capture the American market with its booming post-war economy, Rolex aligned themselves with the Thunderbirds in their promotional materials, and nicknamed their Datejust Turn-O-Graph the ‘Thunderbird’, placing the team’s emblem directly on the dial. However, it is believed that these wristwatches with the Thunderbird emblem were never available in serial production and were instead only given to those who qualified to serve on the prestigious air demonstration team. Only a small handful of other Datejusts with the actual Thunderbird emblem have ever been seen publicly, with two having been sold by Phillips in 2018 and 2020 respectively.

The present reference 6605, in 18K yellow gold with Jubilee bracelet, is the first ever offered publicly, consigned directly by the family of the original owner, Captain Gayle Williams, who flew in the left wing for the Thunderbirds between April 1958 and August 1959. Captain Williams, also known as “Willie”, was part of the Thunderbirds’ first East Asian deployment, a tour including Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hawaii. During the 1959 deployment, the team flew F-100Cs, also known as Super Sabres, the Air Force’s first aircraft capable of flying faster than the speed of sound. 1959 would be the last year the Super Sabres were flown by the USAF. The caseback is engraved with Captain Williams’ name and “The Thunderbirds” written in charming period script. As a pilot and mechanic, Williams cherished the Datejust as a precision instrument, having it serviced regularly by Rolex. During one of these factory services, Rolex painstakingly restored its dial. Williams went on to serve in Vietnam, achieving the rank of Major in the U.S. Air Force.

The watch itself is offered with a treasure trove of Thunderbirds memorabilia, as well as its original guarantee and chronometer certificate. With its extraordinary provenance, and coming from the family of a Thunderbird pilot, the present reference 6605 is an exceptionally rare opportunity to possess a piece of American history, and is sure to delight Rolex aficionados the world over.