Thunderbirds honor fallen Blue Angels pilot

2 June of this year, I believe within a short period of time, both aerial demonstration teams witnessed their own #6 jet crash. Capt. Jeff Kuss was killed guiding his plane away from civilian populations while practicing in Tennessee with the Blue Angels. Maj. Alex Turner was the pilot flying the Thunderbird 6; he was able to safely eject and the F-16 crashed in an open field shortly after the USAF Academy had their graduation.

The Thunderbirds will honor Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss by flying his name on one of their planes for the rest of the season.

Kuss, Blue Angel No. 6 Opposing Solo, died June 2 after his F/A-18 Hornet crashed shortly after takeoff. The Navy’s elite demonstration squad was practicing for an airshow in Tennessee.

The Thunderbirds announced Friday that Kuss’ name will appear on the front wheel well of Thunderbird No. 5, Lead Solo, flown by Capt. Nicholas Eberling.

“As they continue to heal from this tragedy, we give our unwavering support to the Blues and Jeff's family,” the Thunderbird team said in a statement.

On the same day — June 2 — in an unrelated incident, Thunderbird No. 6 also went down following a fly-over at the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado. The pilot, Maj. Alex Turner, was able to eject safely