The Blue Angels Association has named its new Gray Angel; Bruce Bagwell, (#7 ’55-57), the oldest living Blue Angel officer from the earliest team.
“Bags” served as #7/Narrator from 1955-1957, flying the F9F-8 Cougar and F11F Tiger with Bosses Zeke Cormier (#1 ’54-56) and Ed Holley (#1 ’57-58) and a host of colorful characters: Nello Pierozzi, Ken Wallace, Ed McKellar, Lefty Schwartz, Tom Jefferson, and Herb Hunter. He sends his greetings and best wishes to his surviving teammates: Bill Gureck and Bob Rasmussen.
A few highlights from his Blue Angels tour:
- Introduction of the 6-plane Delta Takeoff and Landing.
- Transition to the F-11 Tiger.
- 10th Anniversary Season in 1956 with appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, What’s My Line?, and The Today Show.
- Filming “The Navy’s Blue Angels” 25-minute movie, narrated by Robert Taylor, movie star and heartthrob to millions of women.
- Ernest Borgnine, Academy Award winner for Best Actor in the movie “Marty” and star of the hit TV series, “McHale’s Navy” rode with Bags in the 7-jet and spoke of his love of the Navy as a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer (later selected as Honorary Flight Leader).
- He received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Toronto International Air Exposition for his extemporaneous narration (read the story linked below).
When he retired from the Navy, he went to work in banking, beginning in a management class and retired as VP of Operations with Sovran Bank. Within the first two weeks of retirement, he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He survived that and went on to design and enjoy his home in the woods of Fairfax Station. He was married to Elise, the love of his life for 70 years, who passed away last year.
History of the Gray Angel title and trophy:
At the 75th Anniversary Reunion, the BAA announced the establishment of the honorary title of Gray Angel to recognize the oldest living Blue Angel officer from the earliest team.
The inscription on the Gray Angel trophy reads:
“The Venerable Order of the Gray Angel. Held by the most ancient Blue Angel from the earliest Blue Angels team. In recognition of the inspiration and rich legacy passed down from the Blue Angels of yore as the finest example of commitment, teamwork, and aerial excellence.”
At the top of the trophy is a youngster, looking skyward, about to launch a toy airplane, dreaming of one day taking flight. It represents the love of flight in a young heart no matter a person’s age.
The supporting structure of the trophy represents the strength of teamwork, commitment to excellence, and the discipline to seek continuous improvement every day, hallmarks of Blue Angels culture.
The silver cup in the center of the trophy signifies victory and was patterned after the championship trophy awarded to the first Blue Angels “for the finest exhibition of precision flying at the Southeastern Airshow and Exhibition in Jacksonville, Florida on June 16,1946.”
The trophy resides in the Blue Angels ready room next to the iconic 1946 trophy.
The names of all those who would have previously held the title are inscribed on the trophy’s plaque.
Roy “Butch” Voris: 1946-2005
Al Taddeo: 2005-2013
Fritz Roth: 2013-2017
“Whitey” Feightner: 2017-2020
Charles Heitt: 2020-2022
Bruce Bagwell: 2022-
Source: The Blue Angels Association’s newsletter