Blue Angels Crash

[carnold1836]

I just heard the the Blue Angles lost an aircraft and most likely the aviator today during an air show in South Carolina.

Here is the CNN story from their website:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/21/blueangels.crash/index.html

Here is the AP story from Fox News website:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,267681,00.html

[DNall]

just saw it on the news, sucks. RIP

[LtCol White]

Yes, the pilot was killed.

[Becks]

Yup, we were taking our cadets to go see them tomorrow too.

[John Bryan]

This is the info from the Blue Angel's website......seems the pilot killed was a former CAP cadet:

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis is a native of Pittsfield,
Massachusetts, and graduated from Reading Memorial High School in
1992 where he played football and was active with the Civil Air
Patrol. He attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, earning a
Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science with honors in
1996.

Kevin reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for
Officer Candidate School and aviation indoctrination in September
1996. He completed primary flight training at NAS Corpus Christi,
Texas, and transferred to NAS Meridian, Mississippi, for
intermediate and advanced flight training. While there, he flew the
T-2C Buckeye and TA-4J Skyhawk, and received his wings of gold in
June 1999.

Kevin reported to Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101) at NAS Oceana,
Virginia, for training in the F-14 Tomcat and was the "Top Stick" in
his class. In July 2000 he reported to the VF-11 "Red Rippers" where
he completed deployments aboard the aircraft carriers USS Dwight D.
Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). While with
the "Red Rippers," Kevin served as the airframes/corrosion branch
officer, air-to-ground training officer and head landing signals
officer. His deployments included extended operations in the North
Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom.

In July 2003, Kevin transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet through Strike
Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California, and then
reported to the Fighter Composite Squadron (VFC-12) "Omars,"
stationed at NAS Oceana, Virginia. While at VFC-12, Kevin served as
a Navy adversary pilot providing valuable air-to-air training for
fleet squadrons. In December of 2004, Kevin graduated from the
United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) as an adversary
pilot. During his tour at VFC-12, Kevin worked as the schedules
officer, legal officer, FRS/SFARP officer and assistant operations
officer.

Kevin joined the Blue Angels in September 2005. He has accumulated
more than 2,500 flight hours and 200 carrier arrested landings. His
decorations include the Air Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps
Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit awards.

[John Bryan]

Just FYI.....the Navy and local ES officials have not confirmed the name of the pilot....but CNN reports the plane was # 6 which is piloted by Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis (a former CAP Cadet)

[RogueLeader]

What a tragedy!!!  May God be with them all.