CHICAGO -- The U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap Frogs, wrapped up a two-week show schedule Aug. 19, which saw them performing in two major air shows as well as a trio of sporting events in conjunction with the Navy Week celebrations of Milwaukee and Chicago.
The back-to-back shows included multiple performance jumps at Milwaukee's Bradford Beach and Chicago's lakefront, as well as game-opening performances at Miller Field, Wrigley Field, and Soldier Field.
All together, the team performed for more than 3 million people during the 11-day tour.
"This was my first time seeing a SEAL," said 10-year-old Jacob Garza at the Milwaukee Air & Water Show. "I've seen them in the movies, but now I've seen them in real life."
The team partnered with South Carolina's Air National Guard's 440th Airlift Wing for the performances in Milwaukee, and teamed up with Missouri's 139th Airlift Wing in Chicago. In addition, the Leap Frogs had the rare opportunity to work with their counterparts in the Army Parachute Demonstration Team, the Golden Knights, for some inter-service team work performances in Chicago.
"It was amazing," said Austin Dorr, one of the spectators at the Chicago Air & Water Show. "This is not something you see every day."
Other military performances at the air shows included a demonstration of the Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon, a demonstration of the Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet, and the precision stunt flying of the Navy's Blue Angels.
These performances were part of the 35 major events on the Leap Frogs' 2012 schedule. Their next performance is scheduled for August 31 in Cleveland, Ohio.
The team is based in San Diego and performs aerial parachute demonstrations across America in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.
