Blue Angels Solo Pilot: Jerry Tucker (1973 - 1974, 1979)
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- čas přidán 31. 10. 2017
- www.blueangelphantoms.com
Produced by Ryan Nothhaft
email: blueangelphantoms@gmail.com
Jerry "Turkey" Tucker served as both a lead and opposing solo pilot for the United States Navy Blue Angels Fight Demonstration Team. During his tenure on the team, which included the 1973, 1974, and 1979 air show seasons, Jerry flew both the F4 Phantom and A4 Skyhawk, and played a critical role in the team's transition between the two aircraft.
Jerry, originally from Tilden, Nebraska, became fascinated with aviation at a young age, when his father took him to his first air show at the age of two. He would go on to enter the Navy and get his Wings of Gold in 1969, before joining fighter squadron VF-211 and executing 235 combat missions.
After retiring from the Navy, Jerry went on to fly commercially for Southwest Airlines and now serves as a pilot for a private aviation charter company.
Special thanks to Jerry Tucker who selflessly gave up an entire Friday to spend sharing his incredible life story with me.
1873 Blue Angels Team:
#1 LCD Skip Amsted
#2 Lieutenant Marlin Wita
#3 Capt John Fogg
#4 Capt Mike Murphy
#5 LT Steve Lambert
#6 LT Jerry Tucker
#7 LT John Chehansky
Naval Flight Officer/Public Affairs Officer: LT Chuck Newcomb
Maintenance Officer: LCDR Fred Wiggins
Product Service Engineer: Mr. Bill Pritchett
Also special thanks to:
David Marlow for allowing me to use video footage from the movie Threshold. (See link below to purchase the DVD) which features the 1970 & 1971 Blue Angel teams. The history behind each of the pilots featured in the film is absolutely amazing. The film also features a look at how time-intensive it is to maintain the F4 Phantom and gives a glimpse behind the scenes of the maintenance team that kept the planes up and flying so that the Blues never missed a show.
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
www.thresholdtheblueangelsexpe...
Emmanuel Rodriguez, the author of Phantoms and Angels, for assistance with research. Phantoms & Angels is an outstanding book that chronicles the history of the Blue Angels while in the F4 Phantoms. See link below:
Phantoms and Angels
www.phantomsandangels.com - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Jerry was in my Southwest Airlines class in 1988. He was an awesome guy and just as friendly as he comes off as in the video. It was a pleasure and an honor to have worked with guys like Jerry. We had Blue Angel pilots, Thunderbird pilots, Space Shuttle pilots, fighter pilots, SR-71 pilots, you name it. I kept pinching myself to make sure it wasn't a dream. How did I get to work with such a great group of people? In looking back at 30 years of aviation, it was the wonderful folks I got to work with like Jerry that made it so memorable.
Every single Blue Angel pilot is a fully qualified combat pilot. They're all heroes. Every one.
God Bless Naval Marine Corps Aviation past present future......🇺🇸
BEST airshow I’ve ever seen was at FFZ “Falcon field” in Mesa Arizona in 1972. The Blues gave a performance down the single runway at the time in their F-4’s on the deck and because it was in 72 the crowd could stand at the taxiway edge to watch it all, which no doubt is one of the reasons it made it so awesome and memorable. When they came down the edge of the runway and began to pass the largest part of the crowd they’d roll into knife edge or a 90 degree roll so they’re vortices would hit the ground so hard dirt would seemingly explode up from the Earth and they were RIGHT There in front of us. The sound blasting so loud in afterburner with the air pressure blasting us all standing so close and with the visual of them being able to make the ground explode was something I’ll never forget. I will always Thank the Blues for the best airshow I ever saw.
Sonny, I was there! btw...are you any relation to the late George Burnett. My Dad was avionics supervisor at Aviation Specialties.
His #5 was the one that kept overflying my school where I happened to have the window seat, that made me ask to go to the show and so got to meet them all. In Pensacola for college I knew more of the Angels and again it was #5 that woke me daily looping out my room window (7:46a like clockwork), if I rolled over at first sound I'd see him inverted going over the top then rolling out(!)... Always loved these guys!!!
I still have a Jerry Tucker autographed Blue Angels program from when they flew at Dobbins AFB in Marietta, GA. Best of the Best.
I served with Commander Turkey Tucker when he was assigned to VF-1 Tomcats and he is truly a genuinely good guy. He had some great catwalk stories to tell!!
What a cool segment. I’m a huge fan of the Blues and the F4!!!!!
Glad you enjoyed the video. Check out the rest of the channel. Lots of similar content! Thanks for watching!
I most definitely will, thank you so much!!!! Blue skies!
Saw my first airshow at NAS Jacksonville, where I was born , by the way. The Angels were flying the F11 Tiger. Awesome show. Must have had a huge budget. All military aircraft. Even saw several jato assisted takeoffs by an A3. WOW. More bottles added for each takeoff. Plenty of smoke and noise. Beautiful noise. God bless the Blue Angels. NAVAIR!!!
The F4 days were the most exciting times to see an airshow. The T-Birds were in F4s too. Many of the great pilots from the glory days were still flying. The show would even shoot a sidewinder. I love military aviation because of those early air shows. It was a privilege to work the flight deck on 6 ships.
Blue Angel Phantoms I’m so happy to see you doing these videos. The air shows I saw with these planes flown by those guys left an indelible impression on me. I hope you continue to do interviews and maybe even some behind the scenes footage for us F-4 Blue Angel fanatics. Thanks for your excellent work.
As a small boy back in 1979 I got Mr. Tucker's autograph when the Blues came to our area. I still have the program to this day. What a great American!
Great video. Really enjoyed the footage and likely saw Jerry when I was a kid. Thanks for your service.
Jerry is as articulate and professional and heart warming as any man you will ever meet. Proud to be related to him.
Well said!
Very fascinating.
Thank you for your service.
Thank you for your performances and Thank you for sharing your story.
Such a nice guy. Liked the Paris airshow trivia. Well done Sir
Awesome interview & story, I salute any aviator on the "Blues" & the "T- Birds" ,they both flew the F4 @ the same time, albeit different models!
Thanks for the SH video, Jerry. Hey, I've been looking for you on the senior tour leader boards, but no joy!!
As a small boy growing up in the 70’s, they used to host the Florida State Air Fair in Kissimmee, Fl which is about 45 minutes from Sanford. I just barely remember the F4’s but loved those A4’s. You would be watching the formation of 4 planes doing their diamond formation and along came the solos that would come out of nowhere and startle you. It was an exciting thing to go to the air show and look up at these guys. They were rock stars with their razor sharp routine and then would come down the flight line and shake hands with little kids like me. Thanks for the cool memories.
Wow!!!!! Such a wonderful interview with a special man. Thank you!!
Thanks, Howard! Appreciate the kind words. Jerry really is a special man. Cheers!
Thanks for your service, Turkey. I'm ex-Navy myself and live in Altamonte Springs, FL - about 10 miles from Sanford.
Jerry you are awesome! My Dad was a NavyF-4 Pilot in Nam and China Lake California
Saw my first blue Angel show at Sanford also! Born and raised in Sanford,FL!
great interview..thank you
Jules talley so glad you enjoyed it!!!
Thank you and your fellow service members service!
Very Nice and thanks for sharing. The Blue Angels are and always have been my hero's!
I was in fighter squadron 161 on the USS Midway back in 81 or 82 and I loved it . I truly loved being the plane capt of a F4 Phantom. I took care of that bird like it was my own.
If you were the plane captain it was your plane. Those of us who sat in the front seat knew it and appreciated the time and professional skills it took to get the bird in the air and back safely.
Capt. Craig Lehrke Thank you Sir! Very much your exactly right. It helps to love airplanes.
I was stationed at KMCAS (Honolulu) in the mid `70`s. It was an F-4 squadron and I worked with ordnance. The sound of an F-4 taking off w/afterburners in Kaneohe Bay was outstanding. I saw the Blue angels in La Crosse,Wi. in about `01. Flew my RV-4 there. Good show. I had more flight hours than most of the Angel pilots at the time.
And this is a very special video.Thank you for sharing. USN 77-81. ADJ on TA-4J. Yes that was a great airplane. I remember it well.
I was living at Pt Mugu 1973-76. I saw many shows of the Blues back then. My Dad was CO of VXE-6 at the time flying the ski equipped C-130, stationed at Mugu. Loved watching you guys back then!
Nicely done with vintage film inserts. Good interview.
Thank you!
I saw him fly as a boy. I tell people I remember when Blue Angels flew the A4. It was 1979 I saw you guys practice. Thank you for sharing!
What a great video. It captures Turkey perfectly and shows his love for the Blue Angel experience. Thanks for capturing these treasured moments with a good friend. I’m glad to be able to see him again and listen to the stories again. Funny, he never mentioned getting kicked out of the Paris Air Show before! He’s got more stories. That’s for sure!
Thanks for the kinds words. Jerry is an amazing man with an amazing career. He still flies professionally to this day. Amazing!
My daughter also has Edberg and Johnson blood and you will not disrespect her they come from two music lines and military lines please understand
Fantastic interview ....as a Brit very proud of our Red Arrows i bow to the skill and brilliant airmanship of the Blue Angels.....
I love seeing the Phantoms on old videos! I grew up seeing the Blue Angels in F-18s, one of my favorite planes!
Seen the "show" hundreds of times, and I know where it's coming from. Still makes me jump every time. Great Stuff.
This is outstanding! Very well done! Thanks for posting!
Thanks Russell! Was your father the famous Harry Gann, the photographer? If so, Jerry spoke very highly of him during our time together. And god bless his heart for taking all those wonderful photos.
Yes he is. Thank you.
Great video. Keep them coming 😀
Thanks, John! Really appreciate your support.
I saw some of the Blue Angels shows in the 80s when they were still flying the A-4 Skyhawk. I totally agree with Turkey: it's the best jet the Angels have yet flown. It's such an incredibly nimble jet. To see six of those buzzing about like choreographed hummingbirds was quite a sight. I was bummed when they started flying the F-18. I kept telling friends "Yes the F-18 is a cool jet, but man! If only you could have seen those Skyhawk shows!
They maneuvered like Formula one cars in the sky.
I have pics of these guys from when i was a kid...watching them fly ...soooo great !!!
Jerry was in my Southwest Airlines class in '88. Great guy. It was an honor to work with guys like Jerry.
Thanks for sharing. I can only imagine how cool it would be to have a former Blue Angels pilot as your South West pilot.
Great interview!!
Glad you enjoyed it. Really appreciate the feedback. Just interviewed a Blue Angels crew chief from the F4 days and will hopefully have the video up in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Great Job Jerry, really enjoyed your video
Awesome! Always love your videos!
Thanks Guernsey, I will keep making them! Cheers.
My Dad served in the Navy from 1961 to 1988, first as aircrew on the C-118, then on to Aviation Support. I grew up around Naval Aviation my whole life but oddly enough ended up joining the Army Infantry. The one thing my father and I bonded over was military aviation. In the late 70's he would take me and my brother to NAS (now MCAS) Miramar where he worked and I'd get to see these amazing aircraft up close. There is a distinct and unique smell....fuel....and whatever else....that I loved. My favorite was the old two tone grey F-4S's that started getting replaced by the Tomcats, and my Dad favored the Tomcat. Every time he would take me to work we would stop by the Exchange and he would buy me a model. By the time I was in my teens and left to enlist I had a room filled with models of every variety. Before I would make them, he would explain what it was, an appropriate color scheme to paint it, etc. He took me to every Air Show at Miramar, Oceana, and on several Tiger Cruises and Dependents Cruises. I got to see the Blue Angels fly their Skyhawks, but unfortunately never saw them fly Phantoms. What an amazing childhood and adolescence. Now that I'm retired and have time on my hands, I've picked up modelling again and think about how fortunate I was to be able to experience being so close to these magnificent machines, and feel fortunate to have had such an amazing Dad. I have his ashes at home, on a very nice side table in my living room, next to an exquisitely built F-14 from VF-124. Thanks for posting these videos and bringing back some good memories. Chief Wallgren, love you and miss you every day, Pops.
Outstanding! Thank you sir and thank you to all of your brothers and sisters for your service. Long live Naval Aviation!!
I watched mr.Tucker fly over my house in Jacksonville fla when I was a kid..Still love the blues!!
.Thank you for your service, Turkey. The Phantom has always been my favorite jet. I saw the Thunderbirds in about 1958-59 in Guatemala City, Guatemala. They were flying F 100s. I saw Blue Angels in Ft. Worth at a naval station (I think) in late '80s or early '90s. Incredible. I'll never forget it. My dad was a command gunner for B-29s at the end of WWII and I was Huey Crew Chief/Door Gunner in Hueys in the Nam.
Great vid - thank you!
Great piece. Thanks
I am impressed with this little documentary projects. For a limited budget they do a very good job.
I got to see those guys when I was an A-4 Plane Captain in the Marines at NAS Jax Fla. It was their first season with the A-4 and they made us A-4 people proud.
Excellent! I'm glad I got to see the Blues fly the Phantoms...NAS Los Alamitos 1969 or 70.
Wow saw you guys in Rhode Island in 73 and in A-4s in Jacksonville Fla. in74, it was my first two years of Active Duty. I later became an AirCraft Handler and got to work with a few F-4s between 84-88, F-4s forever!
He was just interviewed on the Fighter Pilot Podcast. He has a MiG kill to his name. What a great American and pilot!
Yes, the Fighter Pilot Podcast did a great interview with Jerry that focused on his time flying the F-8 Crusader. Highly recommend that if you enjoyed videos like this, that you check out the Fighter Pilot Podcast.
Great Video Cousin Jerry! Always been a fan from Texas! I still have the signed photo's you guys sent me.
Thanks for sharing.
I remember my dad saying he saw the Blue Angels when they were flying phantoms. He said the amount of noise was unreal.
Now THAT'S the "RIGHT STUFF", brother. Thanks for this interview.
bob smith thanks for watching!
Hats off, love the video.
Turkey, thank you for sharing such a great story. I remember seeing the Blues when I was very young as well so I really loved the picture with you and your parents as a child and then again as a pilot. That must have been very special for you and your parents. Like so many Americans including myself, they must have been very proud of you. I still see the Blue Angels every time they visit my hometown and I will always be envious of what they’ve accomplished to be able to do what they do. God Bless 🇺🇸
I remember the F11 Tiger but God you had to love the Phantom F4 for its sheer noise and power. It was fearful to behold. Heinemann's Hotrod was so small but it was so maneuverable. Living in the Annapolis area all my life we saw the Blues every year.
I’m so glad I found this. That’s all I can say. Bravo Ryan.
Thanks, Eli! Glad you’re enjoying the channel!
First airplane I worked on, F4J VF 92.
Living in the Annapolis area all my life I see the Blues every year. We have several that are customers as well. I've seen them from the F-11 Tigers through to the current F-18 Hornets. The F-4 Phantom was a beast. The noise was insane, it practically shook the ground. My fav was and still is the Heinemann Hotrod. The roll rate is mind bending and it's punitive size made it a scooter compared to the F-4 and the F-18. We watched the shows from the north shore at the big White House. It was one of the target points for them so I got some insane shots.
Just awesome.
Great stories. Saw my first Blue Angel shows in 1961. I lived across the street from NAS Alameda and saw them practice days before the show flying over our house and school. They were flying the F-11 Tigers back then. Great place to grow up if you liked aviation. We always knew an aircraft carrier was coming in to the base because all of it's plane would launch and land at the base. Just imagine the sound of 20 propeller-driven planes in the sky at once (AD Skyraiders) flying in formation and then breaking off to land one by one. Sweet times.
Fantastic presentation. VF-74/F-14A Plane Captain, deployed aboard USS Saratoga, CV-60; 1984-88.
Mike V thanks for the kind words and more importantly, thank you for your service!
Hey Mike - VF-74 / Maintenance Control AZ - F-4J - U.S.S. Nimitz/ Forrestal 1976 - 1980. Salute!
Early 1970's I watched the Blue Angels demonstration team at Barbers Point sporting their sleek blue F4's...when they returned a couple years later They were operating the A4's....Awesome memories.
Hello Jerry, remember seeing show in San Diego. Mom from Oakwood.
What a great story and a small piece of Naval history. Much respect.
I've followed the Blues since the days of the F9Fs and they never fail to impress and inspire. Objectively speaking, I understand his thoughts about the A4 but the F4s would just shake yorworld - just plain viseral ! Fantastc vid, thanks !
great video, thanks for sharing :)
Thanks so much. Your comment means a lot and I will hopefully have more interviews to post in the coming months. Just interviewed Steve Dwelle this last weekend, who was the solo pilot for the Thunderbirds in 1971 & 72. Will hopefully have it up in the next couple of weeks.
Well done. Very enjoyable.
Thanks so much for the kind feedback, glad you enjoyed! Jerry is the real deal!
Very cool. My first air show, at the age of nine, was in 1974 at what is now Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. Both the Blues and the Thunderbirds performed - the Blues in the J model and the Birds in the E model. So, I guess I saw "Turkey" peform that day. I remember that it an overcast day and both teams flew a "Low" show. Years later after finishing college, I applied to AOCS, but didn't get accepted. I ended up getting picked up by the Army to fly helicopters, but because my dad had been Navy, I was always a huge fan of the Blues.
I think it was about '67 or so when I saw the Blue Angels fly the Grumman F11 Tiger at Hensley Field Navy Dallas. I still have an autograph from Red Hubbard Blue Angel Pilot written on the back of a personal check that my Dad had with him.
First time I saw them at Pt Mugu they were in F4s...that'll always be my aircraft of choice with both the 'Angels and T'Birds...sheer power
Thank you for your service!🇺🇸
great video,. seems like a great person...
Blue Angels, you all have my deepest respect! Best PILOTS ever! F-4 Phantom - forever!
I saw them in 1971. Incredible pilots.
FLY NAVY🇺🇸
Thank you very much for that.
Thanks for watching!
I have seen every Blu Angels plane since the F-4...... F-4 is still my favorite
I could listen to him talk and tell stories for hours
Love your channel. If you ever visit the home of the Blue Angels, Pensacola, I am here and you have a place to stay. Always.
Thanks, Max! Appreciate the offer. It is my goal to get out to Pensacola sometime in the next year. A lot of people from the Phantom years living out there that I'd love to interview. Cheers!
Absolutely :)
Annapolis of the Air
Love the family photos as a kid then as a pilot.
Great pics. Good looking parents. Kinda reminds me of my family back in those good days and times.
Fantastic!
"The sound of our Freedom"....Thank You very Much!
You know It, Dude.
Well Done!!!!!
Different times... So awesome
I miss the A-4 as the Blue Angel jet. That thing was an amazing.
Every year in the late 60s through the 70s we went to the Redding PA show. It was the best in the world. Blue Angels, Thunderbirds and later the Snowbirds the Golden Knights. The show was better than Disneyworld back then. The F4s were amazing.
The F4 Blue Angel was beautiful and badass. I saw my first Thunderbird show at homestead in ‘77 and Blue Angels the year after I believe. I think the Thunderbirds flew A4’s at the time.
Great interview . . . Jerry seems like a really good guy! It would be a pleasure and honor to meet him sometime.
Thanks for the kind words, Jerry really is an amazing guy and there is so much of his amazing career that I wasn't able to cover in this video without it being 3 hours long!
Well, I wouldn't mind seeing a three hour interview with "Turkey!" Being a professional-level scale aircraft modeler (as an avocation), I now have plans to build a Blue Angels #5 or #6 Phantom II with Jerry's name on the rail.
Thanks, Michael. Jerry shared a lot with me that I hope to include in a future long form story of the Blue Angels Phantom era. I'd love to see the model when your done. Jerry is an amazing human being. Cheers.
Blue Angel Phantoms great video
Absolutely love the Blues in F4s!
Nice guy. Good work!
Thanks! He truly is an amazing man with contributions that far exceed what's featured in the video.
Great story loved it you must be so proud.I fly an F86 but it’s radio controled
In the summer of 1972 the Blue Angels came to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and they brought their Phantoms with them. This was the one and only time I got to see them flying the F4 but I had a front row seat on the flight line to see them from. This was before all the safety precautions and flight restrictions and, Lord!, did they put on a show!! I've seen them a few more times in subsequent years flying Skyhawks and Hornets and while their mastery of the air is unquestionable the impact of speed, close proximity to the viewers and low level flight was totally absent. I consider myself so very fortunate to have seen them flying the way the Good Lord meant them to and in a plane that demonstrated both its and their abilities to the max. Fly Navy and Semper Fi!
What a cool dude. Thanks.
I was a member of VA-75 in Virginia Beach when the Blue Angeles stayed in the next hangar. The F-4 was beautiful in the air, but on the ground you could see the perfect Navy paint. They were amazing then.
No doubt, wish I had had the opportunity to see them. That's why I love the Threshold movie so much. They did a great job capturing the true magic of the F4.
I remember between 1959 and 1968 the Blue Angels flew the beautiful Grumman F-11 Tiger. One of them, still in Blue Angel colors, is displayed at the Chino Planes of Fame.
One of my passions is visiting former Blue Angel aircraft that actually were assigned to the team. There is a restored F11 at the Pima Air Museum (next to the famous boneyard) in Tucson, AZ. A must stop for any aviation enthusiast.
That was awesome!!!!!