Blue Angels Narrator & Pilot, J.D. Davis (1970 - 1971)
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- Produced by Ryan Nothhaft
www.blueangelphantoms.com
Email: blueangelphantoms@gmail.com
Twitter: @blueangelf4
Instagram: @blueangelphantoms
Interview filmed by Park Multimedia
parkmultimedia.com
Photos Provided by:
The Davis Family
Ron Rentfrow
Video Footage:
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
Also make sure to check out the Blue Angels Association:
Twitter: @blueangelsassoc
Instagram: @blueangelsassociation
Facebook: Blue Angels Association
J.D. Davis is a former pilot and narrator for the United States Navy Blue Angels. A native of Pennsylvania, J.D. initially tried his hand at college before making the fortuitous decision to enlist in the Navy. During his enlistment, J.D.'s strong performance created an opportunity to attend and eventually graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy.
After receiving his wings of gold, J.D. honed his skills as an aviator with VC-8 while stationed at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, where he flew a verity of aircraft including the A4 Skyhawk, F8 Crusader, and the F9 Cougar. It wasn't long until he deployed to Vietnam as part of VF-191 aboard the US Ticonderoga (CV-14) flying a total of 201 missions across multiple deployments before eventually accepting a position as flight instructor with VF-124.
It was during this time with VF-124 that J.D. successfully submitted an application and was accepted onto the Blue Angels team for the 1970 and 1971 air show seasons. Upon reporting to the Blue's HQ in Pensacola, FL, he learned that he would be taking the role of narrator for the duration of his tenure, where his voice was heard by millions of people around the globe including tours of South America and the Far East.
I was 10, my Dad worked for NASA in Quito Equador when the famed BLUE ANGELS came there to fly the F-4 Phantoms. I still remember this flight demo still today (2022). I remember that one aircraft lost a engine and I believe stayed behind for a few days for repairs. I believe my parents took the pilot and possible crew to dinner one of those day. I may be wrong - but that was my memory. One of the pilots told me he would take me up on the F-4. Most likely just kidding. But I so wanted to go - still today I have hopes on that dream flight. Now, some fifty years later, I understand the complexities of this flight and how the Andies Mountains must have been daunting to attempt such an airshow. Thank you guys for your efforts and successful flight there in Quito.
I remember after the Blue Angels left Equador, the Equadorian Air Force tried to emulate what they saw from the US Navy Pilots. One of the airmen lost his life soon after by hitting one of those mountains you avoided during your flights.
The one thing I remember about that show. We were positioned pretty close to the demo flight center point was located. I was young and had no clue what an afterburner was at the time. But then your F-4 twin jets lit the sky in that beautiful orange flame. The sound was awesome. I could almost feel the heat. Just awesome and Wow!
Thanks a bunch for the memories :-)
I never got that ride in the F-4. I later joined the US Army and was a UH-1H Huey crew chief. The closes I came to my dream to pilot a fighter jet.
Thanks for the memories!
Being a Pensacola boy in my 60's I've seen the F11F, F4, A4, and the F18's center stage and the F4's are by far my favorite. I will be glad when we have another show I cannot wait to see the new 18's.
I agree, I can't wait to see the Super Hornets in person. 30% larger than the legacy Hornet, so expected the presentation to be bigger and louder. Fingers crossed they get to fly an air show season in 2021.
Ryan, your films are always amazing, capturing the quiet confidence of men flying extraordinary jets in extraordinary circumstances during extraordinary times. A constant theme with the pilots is how grateful they are to their maintainers, how fortunate they are to be a part of an amazing organisation like the Angels, and how they handle the unexpected, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, sometimes unusual, but always memorable. Thank you so much for posting.
Helluva man! Charlie was a hell of a man too. Thanks for recognizing him. 👍
I had the honor of having Commander Davis as my next door neighbor when I was as boy living in Pensacola. He was a great inspiration that carried me though my Naval career and to this day. Thank you Sir.
Saw his son fly a demo in the F-35C in Fort Worth last year. So cool to see the generations on navy flyers doing their thing.
Beautiful, God Bless the USA and Blue Angels
Ryan , here again another great video ! , Thanks for the body of work about the Blues you are putting together . Maybe at some future time you will be able to stich these stories together as a full length video history of the Blue Angels , one that can sit right next to Threshold . JD Davis is my favorite narrator , the others do an excellent job , but JD is a classic . Much appreciation for the fine job you are doing in preserving this important history for the present and future generations to enjoy . 😎👍
When I was a kid I used to run out in the yard to watch F4's coming into Redstone Arsenal for touch and go's. You could hear them on final from a mile away. They have a very distinct sound on final that was burned into my memory. I also remember that they smoked really bad. Very loud also. I couldn't even imagine what it would have sounded like during a show. Still my favorite jet to this day.
Love hearing stories from F4 drivers. Awesome video as usual Ryan!! Such respect for the whole organization 👏
Thank you, glad you enjoyed this one. I grew up watching the Threshold documentary, so it was a tremendous honor to interview J.D. and hear his stories first hand.
Another excellent video, this man had an awesome experiences.
This may be the best that I've seen of my old pilots
Used to watch the BA’s practice in F4’s in El Centro, CA in 1970 and took a lot of black & white pics with my first SLR camera. Magnificent poetry in motion!
What a wonderful film. Thank you!
PS Reeves was my multi-engine instructor. I now know why he was an excellent instructor!
My first year on the team J.D. was our No. 7 Pilot , one funny guy , that cover wasn't regulation
Thank you for sharing your story, and thank you for your service!
Theae videos About these legends Blue Angles are so interesting to hear their stories and even sad and heart breaking hearing the bad stories for losing a Navy Marines Blue Angels pilot team.
What a great story and video again! Thanks for providing these amazing stories! Greetings from Finland!👍🤘
Great stuff as always! Keep it up.
That was sooooo coool.... Thank You...
Thanks
Ryan we need to get you a ride if you haven't had one already. Heading to El Centro mid February to watch practice with the new jets. Can't wait. You have to come this year and film the history making first practices etc.
As much as I'd love a ride, I'm just a guy that enjoys documenting this history of the team and there are far more important folks that deserve to be in that backseat. I'm sure we'll see a lot people that have been on the front lines of COVID in the back of the #7 when things are more stable. I'd also love to go out to El Centro one year and stand by the hay bales with everyone. Hopefully soon. Thanks for all the support and kinds words. Stay safe. Cheers!
@@BlueAngelPhantoms cool Ryan it's ultimately up to you. Compared to an evening magazine host or lunch news reporter you get way more priority in my book. You are one of the BA historians now. That fact, the amazing interviews and your legacy certainly earns you a ride anytime you choose to do it. Keep up the good work. One of my top YT channels.
I met JD back in the late 70s. My mom was one of his partners on a real estate investment.
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATE'S ALL MARINE'S, MILITARY, AIR FORCE'S, U.S.S. FOR HELPING. SAVE THE PLANET EARTH THIS CORONAVIRES WAS THE BEGINNING, WILD FIRE'S ARE NEXT THESE ARE HIGHLY TECHNOLOGY INTELIGENT 🚔🏩🐎🐦🌓🐿🐝🇺🇸🌎🌍🌏🇺🇸🐬🇬🇧🕌🌹
Used to be a great country. Used to be.
Any thoughts on doing a tribute to the old Legacy Hornets now that the Super Hornet transition is almost complete?
Working on that right now - aiming for a January production with COVID being the biggest threat to it happening. Finger crossed.
Damn shame this country isn't like that anymore.
100th like 💙
Charlie worked his ass off getting our hotel rooms setup
Charlie was the best
Charlie Shank is my grandpa 😍 I was so excited to watch this video!
Steve shoemaker!!!!!..front and center...
Can you do it like this now please I like this way I’m sorry lol
How is this different from the other videos I’ve produced?
@@BlueAngelPhantoms sorry I was not explaining it well I like to see how they are now and all that I like the podcast but this let’s us see pictures and all that if you know what I mean.