The Thunderbirds were formed in Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1956 as a parade corps and in 1968 joined with members of the Shoreliners Drum and Bugle corps from North East, Pennsylvania to form The Erie Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds quickly rose to the top, capturing several American Legion and RCA Championships. In 1976 and 1979 The Thunderbirds placed 8th in the DCA Senior Championships, and maintained a placing in the top 10 into the early 80's, when in 1984, a lack of funding forced the corps to disband.

In the spring of 1991, several former members of The Thunderbirds, along with members of other regional disbanded corps, met and decided to bring the drum corps tradition back to the City of Erie. Out of this meeting came the rebirth of The Erie Thunderbird Drum and Bugle Corps!

In 1993, The Thunderbirds returned to the DCA World Championships for the first time in nearly 10 years. Not as a field corps, but as a smaller delegation determined to win the first ever DCA Mini Corps Championship! Not only did the Corps win that championship, but went on to place a strangle hold on that title that spanned 4 consecutive years. The Corps has since, returned to the DCA National Championships and were successful in reclaiming their title in 1998, and again in 2002.

The Corps performs at many local and regional events including; The Tartan Ball, Erie St. Patrick's Day Parade and Bar Tour, Erie Zoo Parade, North East Fireman's Festival, and at many area DCA and DCI Contests.

The Corps has also traveled extensively throughout the Northeastern United States, performing in shows in cities such as: Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Harrisburg, Boston, and Scranton. Several members of the Corps have participated in "All Star" events such as The Galvaston Texas Mardi Gras Parade, San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, the Daytona Beach Florida Christmas Parade and The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade