Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

Blue Angel Fired for ‘Inappropriate Relationship’
October 31, 2008
Military.com|by Ward Carroll

The Blue Angels will fly the balance of their 2008 season with five jets instead of six because of pending administrative action against one of the team's pilots. Marine Corps Capt. Tyson Dunkelberger, the Blue Angel's spokesman, allowed that the pilot had been removed from flying duties for an "inappropriate relationship" with a female member of the demonstration team. Dunkelberger would not, however, identify the rank or squadron billet of either party involved, citing legal reasons.

The five-plane demonstration will employ a diamond formation without the "slot" position, but Dunkelberger was quick to point out that the loss of Blue Angel No. 4 in the show did not necessarily mean that the pilot who has flown in that position during this season is involved in the inappropriate relationship. The mystery will be short-lived, however, as the Blue's are scheduled to perform a practice show today in San Antonio minus the flyer in question and his absence will be obvious to anyone in attendance holding a show program.

The Blue Angels have dealt with other personnel issues in recent years. In 2000 Blue Angel No. 2, a Marine Corps officer, was removed from the team for having another "inappropriate relationship" with the team's female public affairs officer. And last year, Lcdr. Kevin Davis, Blue Angel No. 6, flew his F/A-18 into the ground and was killed during a show near Beaufort, South Carolina. In each of these cases a pilot who had been on the team the year prior was pulled out of a fleet squadron and returned to the Blue Angels so that the team could fly the balance of the season with a full six-jet complement. Dunkelberger stated that there weren't enough shows left to justify that sort of effort in the current case. After the San Antonio shows this weekend, the Blue Angels will perform at the Kennedy Space Center and then close their season with two shows at their home base in Pensacola, Florida.

http://www.military.com/news/article/bl ... 6032310810

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I read somewhere that it was the #4 pilot, he had an affair with someone else on the team (he's married), and that he was sent back to Pensacola in an un-numbered jet.

Being married and doing something stupid like this is bad enough, but it will be especially bad if the girl is an E. But, I don't like to gossip or speculate, so I'll wait until the facts are in, before nailing the coffin shut.

As far as the 2000 incident goes, there has to be more to that story than the article said. It's perfectly ok for a male and female in the same squadron to date each other, provided it is either an E and another E, or an O and another O, and there is no adultery involved. I'm thinking, that in the 2000 incident, there was probably adultery involved. Dunno why. Out of all of the Blue Angels' pilots' wives I've ever seen, they were pretty much all hot!

Then again, I've been on the road for long stretches of time. I know how things can (and sometimes do) get. Not saying that it's right, I'm just saying I understand.

".....it is not only possible, it is essential."

"But I... I do deny them my essence."

regards, OL

TC wrote:

It's perfectly ok for a male and female in the same squadron to date each other, provided it is either an E and another E, or an O and another O, and there is no adultery involved.

Hold on there, Hoss. I'm no JAG/lawyer, and can't recite legal documents, but that is simply not the case. While you and I may have seen it happen, and in some circumstances, it might be permitted, your generalization is far from correct.
Two examples: Squadron Commander (Lt Col) and one of his lady Captains having an affair. Or UPT student and UPT IP.
It falls under the "good order and discipline" criteria, I'd guess.

And, yes, the 2000 case had more to it than just a relationship between the two officers.

The tip of the iceberg.

regards, OL

From what I've read, both were officers with no command influence issues. It's just that one is married.

You're right, huggy, I had thought about that, but neglected to put it in my post. Thanks for setting me straight, so to speak. Cool

Yes, it is entirely wrong for two to be dating when one party is in a supervisory position over another. So no, the Ops Officer can not date the new LT who comes to the squadron to fly.

Now, that being said, can an LT and a Captain date? Sure. No problem with that, as long as neither are married, which was apparently the case we have here.

Well, all I can say for the now former Blue Angel #4, is that he'd better hope he hasn't lost the number for that truck driving school...Truck Masters, I think it is?

Being sent home in a jet with a blank tail - they eviscerated him.

Such a big screw up. I just hope everyone makes a decent recovery in the end.

I think this qualifies as a both a military and civilian career ending event for him.

Ah, somebody will see that he has multi-engine jet experience. All hope is not lost for him. I have known of a pilot who got himself into much hotter water than this, but with an E...and he was married on top of that! But, again, he has multi-jet experience, so now, he's in a much more lucrative form of employment than the AF had to offer...and all of this just despite a less-than-honorable discharge.

They flew this past weekend at Lackland (old Kelly AFB flight line) with a five ship show. It was different since it was missing one. The Express-News did a story on the missing jet, but no one watching seemed to mind...

It's actually not too bad. At least it is missing in the right spot. I was there for the Pensacola show after the B model mishap at Moody that killed the two pilots. The whole show looked like a 45 minute Missing Man Formation.

That 5 plane wedge reminds me of the old Thunderbirds F-4 and T-38 shows, back when they only had one solo.

outlaw162 wrote:

".....it is not only possible, it is essential."

"But I... I do deny them my essence."

regards, OL

Oh stop it already!

Well, i am no man to talk about other's relationships, but it seems like romance and sexual behavior would ruin the performance of the pilots due to hormone and feeling related issues?

Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

Blue Angel #4? Fired for Inappropriate Relationship