KNOXVILLE (WATE) – The U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot killed in a crash Thursday in Middle Tennessee was a decorated and experienced Marine pilot who had been flying with the Blue Angels for two years.
The Associated Press identified the victim as Capt. Jeff Kuss, citing a U.S. official who requested anonymity.
Kuss was a native of Durango, Colorado, according to the Blue Angels website, graduating from Durango High School in 2002. He then attended Fort Lewis College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S .Marine Corps. and began aviation indoctrination in 2007.
He completed primary flight training in the T-34C Turbo Mentor at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and completed advanced training in the T-45A Goshawk at NAS Kingsville, Texas. He received his wings of gold in November 2009, and a number of other assignments and honors followed.
Kuss joined the Blue Angels in September 2014. He accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours and 175 carrier-assisted landings.
Kuss was in East Tennessee in April for the Smoky Mountain Air Show. He told WATE 6 On Your Side Anchor Ryan O’Donnell in April he remembered seeing the Blue Angels as a boy living in Colorado and he was excited to now be the one putting on the show.
“It’s an extreme honor. The handful of us that are on the team represent the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and really the military as a whole,” said Kuss.
Kuss had nine years of flying experience with the Marines before being selected to fly with the Blue Angels.
“We’re just pumped to interact with the community and tell them a little about what we do and give them that fire in their belly to help make them successful in life,” said Kuss.
This was his second year with the famous team. Last year he flew the No. 7 plane, taking civilians up and narrating the Blue Angels performance.
“We’re just here temporarily and then we head back out to our fleet and back to our regular duties,” he said.
Photos: Crash Leaves at least one person dead in Blue Angles’ Jet crash
