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Fri, Aug 23, 2013

Gone West: Last Original Blue Angel Al Taddeo

Had Shot Down Three Japanese Airplanes Before Joining The Demonstration Squadron Following WWII

The last of the original Blue Angels, Cdr. Al Taddeo, passed away August 19 at the age of 94.

According to the Blue Angels Facebook page, Taddeo was the last surviving member of the first Blue Angels squadron. He flew the F6F Hellcat on the team from 1946 to 1947.

"Al was a great role model, often sought out by pilots and Blue Angel team members to talk about Blues’ history and what it is like to fly maneuvers in combat," according to Facebook post announcing his passing.

This WWII hero shot down three Japanese airplanes while aboard the USS Enterprise. He was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and retired as a Commander in 1963.

(Pictured: Al Taddeo, the oldest living former pilot of the U.S Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, gives a thumbs up in the back seat as pilot David Marco taxies his North American P-51D, Sizzlin' Liz, for a demonstration flight. Public Domain photo)

FMI: www.facebook.com/USNavyBlueAngels

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