A fighter jet turned heads in Southern California after being hauled through city streets under police escort as part of preparations for the 64th Annual City of Torrance Armed Forces Day celebration.
Video from above showed the aircraft, identified as an F-5, being transported around 10:30 p.m. Thursday from Torrance Airport to City Yard, where it will be put on public display for the weekend’s festivities.
The move is part of a larger military exhibit setup ahead of Saturday’s parade.
The aircraft exhibit is scheduled to open to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, giving visitors an early look at the hardware featured in this year’s celebration.
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Additional military vehicles and equipment have also been staged in a parking area across the city.
The main parade is set for Saturday, beginning at 1:30 p.m. along Torrance Boulevard, drawing thousands of participants and spectators to the longtime civic tradition.
The City of Torrance has hosted the Armed Forces Day parade since 1960, when then-Mayor Al Isen, working with the Torrance Chamber of Commerce, launched the event to honor US service members.
Over the decades, it has grown into one of the nation’s most prominent military celebrations and is recognized as the longest-running military parade in the United States.
Organizers say the event regularly attracts up to 100,000 spectators and as many as 8,000 parade participants, featuring military units, vehicles and floats.
In its early years, the celebration included Friday night fireworks behind City Hall, a Saturday morning parade, and a full day of military displays open to the public.
For attendees this year, Torrance Transit will offer free shuttle service, with parking available at the Mary K. Giordano Transit Center at 465 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503.
