THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS
Bolling AFB, Washington, DC
1949 - 1964
The USAF Drum and Bugle Corps was formed in the fall of 1949 at the urging of AF General Sidney “Rosie” Grubbs. The Corps was assigned to Bolling AFB, Washington, DC. In the beginning, the Corps was without musical instruments, and was considered part of an Air Police Squadron. By 1951 the Corps had been made part of the USAF Band Squadron, was performing in places like Yankee Stadium. During the Corps’ best years, arguably 1953 - 1963, they played half-time shows at every major bowl game, Rose, Orange, Sugar, Gator, and Cotton; traveled to four continents, Africa, Asia, Europe, and North Africa; performed in eighteen different countries, from Libya to French Morocco, from Korea to Japan, and across much of Europe and the US. In fact, the Corps also played in 38 states and two territories, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Despite the limited number of years of its existence, the Corps has more inductees, fifteen, in the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame than not only any military corps, but any other drum corps.
Submitted by Bob Zarfoss, September 2017