Blue Angels Leader, Keith "Casey" Jones

Produced by Ryan Nothhaft
www.blueangelphantoms.com
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @blueangelf4
Instagram: @blueangelphantoms
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Stock footage from:

Wingtip to Canopy - Produced by Douglas Aircraft Company & Pratt and Whitney
Portrait of the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team - Produced by McDonnell Douglas
1976 Bicentennial Air Show Footage - Private collection of Blue Angel Phantoms
Still Images: U.S. National Archives
Vance Parker & Nile Kraft Photos: website: In Pics and Word
Interview filmed in January 2021 by Ryan Nothhaft on a Sony A7 III

Keith "Casey" Jones serve as the leader of the Blue Angels from 1976 through the 1977 air show seasons.

From Shreveport, Louisiana, Jones graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., in 1960. After completing flight training in both Pensacola, Fl and Kingsville, TX, Jones was assigned to NAS Lemoore where he flew the A4 Skyhawk. Eventually he'd be deployed aboard the USS Hancock and would participate in the early stages of the Vietnam War.

After his combat tour, Jones reported to the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA and received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Holding the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Jones entered the Navy's Bobby Sox program, elevating his responsibilities one grade above his actual rank. However, at the completion of the program, Jones had difficulties finding a job within the Navy that aligned with his experience. It was this challenge that served as the catalyst for Jones to submit an application to become leader of the Blue Angels.

Jones took command of the Blue Angels at the conclusion of the 1975 season and officially flew his first air show as leader in March of 1976, which also served as the 30th anniversary of the Blue Angels as well as the bicentennial of the United States. After enjoyed a successful first season, tragedy would strike during winter training of 1977 when Lt. Nile Kraft, the team's new opposing solo, lost his life during a training accident. Devastated, the team regrouped, brought back former pilot Vance Parker to fill the opposing solo position, and flew their first air show with 6 airplanes just weeks later. The 1977 team would go on to have a successful season with the focus of flying the perfect air show.

Jones served a total of 29 years in the Navy, eventually retiring from active duty in 1985.

COMBAT TOURS:

Vietnam: USS Hancock (CVA19), VA-216 2/65-5/65.
USS Kitty Hawk (CV63), VA-192 12/70-6/71.
USS Kitty Hawk (CV63), VA-192 3/72-3/72.

AVIATION COMMANDS:

CO, VA-153.
CO, Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels). CO, CVW-3 USS Saratoga (CV60).
CO, USS Shreveport (LPD12).

COMBAT AWARDS:

1 Distinguished Flying Cross
1 Individual Air Medal
19 Strike/Flight Air Medals
1 Navy Commendation Medal
1 Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm and Silver Star

DUTY ASSIGNMENT CHRONOLOGY:

6/56-6/60: US Naval Academy.
7/60-10/60: US Navy School of Preflight, NAS Pensacola. VT-1 NAAS Saufley Field.
10/60-12/60: VT-7 NAAS Kingsville.
1/61-6/61: VT-4 NAS Pensacola.
7/61-8/61: VT-22 NAAS Kingsville.
9/61-12/61: VT-23 NAAS Kingsville.
1/62-2/62: Duty Assignment Chronology
4/62: VA-127 NAS Lemoore.
4/62-9/63: VA-125 NAS Lemoore.
10/63-12/65: VA-216 NAS Lemoore/USS Hancock (CVA19).
1/66-9/67: Naval Post Graduate School (Aeronautical Engineering).
10/67-3/70: VA-122 NAS Lemoore.
3/70-3/72: VA-192 NAS Lemoore/USS Kitty Hawk (CV63).
4/72-6/72: VA-122 NAS Lemoore.
8/72-1/73: Armed Forces Staff College.
3/73: VA-127 NAS Lemoore.
3/73-6/73: VA-125 NAS Lemoore.
7/73-9/75: VA-153 NAS Lemoore/USS Oriskany (CV34).
9/75: VA-127 NAS Lemoore.
10/75-2/78 NFDS (Blue Angels) NAS Pensacola. VT-86 NAS Pensacola.
2/78-3/78: VA-174 NAS Cecil Field.
7/78-8/78: VF-171 NAS Oceana.
8/78-9/78: VS-41 NAS North Island.
9/78: VAQ-129 NAS Whidbey Island.
9/78-12/79: CVW-3 NAS Cecil Field/USS Saratoga (CV60).
12/79-5/81: Naval Military Personnel Command, Washington.
5/81-1/82: Deep Draft Training.
2/82-7/83: USS Shreveport (LPD12) Norfolk.
7/83-12/85: Commander Naval Air Forces US Pacific Fleet.
12/85: Retired from active duty.

1977 BLUE ANGELS TEAM:

1. CDR Casey Jones
2. Capt Bill Holverstott, USMC
3. LT Al Cisneros
4. LT John Patton
5. LT Denny Sapp
6. LT John Miller
7. LT Nile Kraft
8. LT Jim Bauer
MO LT Mike Deeter
Doc LCDR Tim Peterson
AO LCDR Leo Boor
SUPO LT JG Al Pulley

1977 BLUE ANGELS TEAM

1. CDR Casey Jones
2. Capt Dan Keating, USMC
3. LCDR Don Simmons
4. LT Al Cisneros
5. LCDR John Miller
6. LCDR Vance Parker
7. LCDR Bruce Davey
8. LT Ray Sandelli
MO LT Jack Johnson
Doc LCDR Tim Peterson
Doc LT Bernard Gipson
AO LCDR Leo Boor / LT Bill Clark
SUPO LT JG Al Pulley / LTJG Robert Faul