Military: Precision flying teams are worth the risk, cost

A U.S. Air Force Thunderbird rests in a field where it crashed following a flyover performance at a commencement for Air Force Academy cadets, south of Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, June 2, 2016. The pilot ejected safely from the jet. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) (The Associated Press)

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Crew inside a military helicopter examine the site where a U.S. Air Force Thunderbird crashed following a flyover performance at a commencement for Air Force Academy cadets, south of Colorado Springs, Colo., Thursday, June 2, 2016. The pilot ejected safely from the jet. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley) (The Associated Press)

In this March 31, 2016 photo, Blue Angels Pilot Captain Jeff Kuss is interviewed at Naval Air Station Key West, Fla., prior to an Blue Angels show. A Blue Angels F/A-18 fighter jet crashed Thursday, June 2, 2016 near Nashville, killing the pilot just days before a weekend air show performance, officials said. A U.S. official said the pilot was Kuss.(Rob O'Neal/The Key West Citizen via AP) MIAMI OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels both suffered crashes on the same day this week, but the military says the high-drama, high-dollar flying teams are worth the money and the risk.

The Defense Department and supporters say the two squadrons help citizens feel good about their military and give a boost to recruitment.

A Blue Angels F/A-18 jet crashed Thursday near Nashville, Tennessee, killing the pilot, Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss.

Also Thursday, a Thunderbirds F-16 crashed outside Colorado Springs, Colorado, after a performance, but the pilot, Maj. Alex Turner, ejected safely.

Both crashes are under investigation.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Katie Maricle says the Thunderbirds have an annual budget of $35 million. A Navy spokesman couldn't immediately provide the Blue Angels budget.

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