Missing Man

According to Fox News, Blue Angel 6, a SINGLE seat F/A-18, went down yesterday, killing LCDR Kevin J. Davis, United States Navy, Opposing Solo.

The Navy has yet to release the name, but between Fox reporting it as Blue Angel 6 and the Blue Angel website, I came up with the info on the Naval Aviator involved….

From his Bio on The Blue Angels website…

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.

This is truly sad news, as I am a military aviation nut and Navy Brat, my thoughts go out to his family…

I remember a few years ago I was driving up I-55 when I saw a Naval Aviator in a F/A-18 Super Hornet (the Super Hornet has square intakes) was doing familiarization touch and goes at the local airfield here in Cape Girardeau, MO. When he noticed I had pulled over in a vacant lot to watch and get a “Sound Of Freedom” adrenaline rush (FUCK them hippies and their Noise Pollution bullshit!!), he did a couple of barrel rolls and loops and on his last REALLY low pass, right over my head, he banked to port and waved at me from the cockpit before he punched in the afterburners and punched a vertical hole in the sky, just for me…

My heart just about jumped outta my chest pounding with pride…