Opa Locka, Fla -- Members of the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute demonstration team dropped by Opa Locka airport May 4 to deliver their Golden Baton award to the 482nd Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Randy Falcon.
The team presented the award after a demonstration jump at events coinciding with the annual Air-Sea Show in Fort Lauderdale. After the presentation ceremony, Col. Falcon accompanied team leader Sgt. 1st Class Paul Sachs in an inspection of its members.
The Golden Baton is a solid mahogany baton that is passed in mid-air between members of the team while freefalling during their jump.
The Golden Knights trace their lineage back to 1959, Fort Bragg, N.C. Gen. Joseph Stillwell formed the Strategic Army Corps Parachute Team to compete internationally, particularly head-to-head with the then-premiere teams from the Soviet bloc nations.
The team performed so well that Army adopted them as their official parachute demonstration team and changed the name to the United States Army Parachute Team.
One year later, the name “Golden Knights” was adopted and remains the moniker used to describe the team today.
The team has dominated in numerous international sport parachuting competitions and participates in events around the world.
They have won more than 408 national championships, 65 world championships, and 14 national and six world team titles in formation skydiving.