2007 Low Country Blues Festival Air Show MCAS Beaufort April 21-22, 2007

Story and photography by Jon Houghtaling

 

It couldn’t have been a more perfect day in Beaufort. With temperatures in the low 70s, no humidity, and a slight breeze out of the south east MCAS Beaufort was the place to be on April 21st.   

The sun was over my shoulder and the sky was blue with just a few scattered clouds. It would be a spectacular day for photography and a great day for an airshow. 

The small, but varied, static display was dominated by locally based F/A-18 Hornets. Marine Strike Fighter Squadrons VMFA(AW)-533, VMFA-122, 115, and 312 each had one of there jets on display for the show. VFA-86 being the last Navy squadron stationed at Beaufort also had one of the Sidewinders F/A-18’s on display.  Other notable aircraft on display included a tilt-rotor MV-22B Osprey, an ex US Navy C-131F Samaritan which is now used as a mosquito sprayer and the Omega Air Refueling KDC-10 Tanker. 

Shortly before noon the flying display commenced with a bit of Marine Corps history taking to the sky as Dan McCue put his Vought F4U-5N Corsair through the paces.  Additional warbird action took to the skies later in the afternoon with performances by Tom Riley in the B-25J “Killer Bee” and the Geico Skytypers in their SNJs followed by Dale Snodgrass in the F-86 Sabre.   Civilian performers included the Jurgis Kairys and Jim Leroy along with their Tinstix of Dynamite display and the Red Baron’s Stearman Squadron. 

Military demonstrations were limited to the F-16 East Demo, including the Heritage Flight with Snort in the F-86, and three passes by the B-2 Spirit. I enjoyed these performances but was left wondering why the locally based aircraft do not participate in the flying display. This unfortunately has become routine for MCAS Beaufort.  I have attended four shows at Beaufort and have only seen two of their Hornets participate in the show.  An air power demonstration or possibly a few low approaches by some of their jets would be a welcome addition to the show. 

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When late afternoon approached it was time for the Blue Angels to take command of the show. As the Blue Angels jets roared to life the crowd of spectators began to make their way closer to the fence line for a better view. One by one the jets taxied away with their usual precision and took to the skies over Beaufort. The crowd was enjoying another great performance by the Navy’s best.

 

Suddenly the skies on this beautiful springtime afternoon were darkened by the black smoke billowing from the trees in the distance.  Just as the Blue angels were forming up for their final maneuver tragedy struck.  One of the planes went down in a residential area just a few miles from the base. 

 

LCDR Kevin “Kojak” Davis the opposing solo and pilot of the number 6 jet was joining the delta formation for the final maneuver of the Blue Angels display, a simple break to land, when the mishap occurred.  As Kojak circled around and descended to rejoin the rest of the team his aircraft impacted the ground.  The rest of the Blues, not knowing what happened, flew their final maneuver but only numbers 2-5 landed. 

Blue Angel # 1, CDR Kevin Mannix, immediately headed to the crash site and made several passes.  Undoubtedly looking for a parachute and any sign that his friend survived the crash.  Sadly, LCDR Davis did not survive the crash. 

 

At a press conference on Saturday evening MCAS Beaufort PAO Capt Kansteiner announced “After careful consideration and consultation with local officials and commanders and with the support of the Blue Angels, we have decided to go on with Sunday’s air show as scheduled.” 

 

Sunday’s show started with a tribute to the fallen pilot.  As Taps played over the public address system the GEICO Skytypers in their six SNJs over flew the airfield in the “missing man” formation.  With smoke on, pilot Jan Wildbergh in the # 6 plane pulled away from the formation and headed toward the heavens.