38:
779:
711:
809:
623:
693:
745:
702:
736:
768:
752:
727:
786:
641:
424:
680:
655:
617:
605:
803:
796:
762:
721:
687:
662:
580:
370:
668:
635:
599:
592:
1556:
414:
In the Navy, Snodgrass was considered the "highest time Tomcat pilot," logging more than 8,000 hours of flight time including more than 4,800 hours in the F-14 and more than 1,200 arrested carrier landings, both more than any other pilot. He was the first Tomcat pilot to complete carrier
395:
aircraft carrier. A photo of the pass was captured, taken by a Naval photographer, and it is considered one of the most famous aviation photos of all time. Snodgrass' F-14 wings are vertical, and appears to be very close to the ship and the crew members seen in the foreground.
1129:
1163:
1606:
37:
438:
Snodgrass had performed in over 850 airshows over the course of 20 years. Having flown F-14 demos at airshows for 14 years, he has additionally qualified in other warbirds, like the
1221:
1510:
346:
1641:
1170:
384:
Snodgrass was famous for his low-level flybys. During the summer of 1988, Snodgrass performed a low-level "banana pass" or a knife-edge pass during an air show for a
1248:
366:. As the best F-14 pilot in 1986, Grumman Aerospace awarded Snodgrass "Topcat of the Year." He later became a demonstration pilot, a role he kept for 10 years.
1636:
360:
In 1985, the US Navy selected
Snodgrass as "Fighter Pilot of the Year." The following year, Snodgrass reportedly did a little bit of the flying in the film
1409:
940:
477:, Snodgrass served as their Chief Pilot as well as the Director of Deployed Operations and Congressional Liaison. He also taught formation flying and
1611:
407:. Leading 34 missions as overall strike or fighter lead in 12 operational fighter squadron and fighter wing tours, he was awarded honors including a
1459:
1340:
260:
pilot," after having accumulated more than 4,800 hours in the F-14 and more than 1200 arrested carrier landings, both more than any other pilot.
1276:
1616:
1586:
1481:
1626:
1436:
172:
1026:
411:
for leadership and valor. In
September 1994, he became commander of all US Navy F-14 Tomcats for Fighter Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
867:
184:
1646:
1601:
880:
1631:
525:
1362:
1621:
533:
1596:
1591:
1100:
919:
1075:
914:
549:
1222:"Dale "Snort" Snodgrass, legendary US Navy F-14 Tomcat pilot, killed in the crash of a SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019"
331:
Snodgrass graduated first in his flight school in 1974. He was the first student selected to begin flying the
901:
930:
887:
490:
1027:"Tributes pour in for flying legend Dale 'Snort' Snodgrass after fatal crash Saturday at Lewiston airport"
778:
240:
126:
1546:
935:
289:
982:
808:
847:
305:
710:
1389:
Top Gun pilot Capt Dale "Snort" Snodgrass
Lectures At The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
692:
1079:
701:
312:
802:
795:
761:
720:
686:
661:
507:
892:
822:
744:
521:
502:
486:
400:
1310:
679:
654:
616:
282:
70:
735:
1581:
1576:
1511:"National Naval Aviation Museum Dedicates Ready Room and Exhibit to Dale "Snort" Snodgrass"
1413:
1030:
474:
467:
249:
767:
8:
389:
374:
332:
257:
751:
634:
598:
591:
553:
385:
237:
108:
1341:"The story (and video) behind Dale "Snort" Snodgrass legendary super low Banana Pass"
726:
339:
167:
785:
1560:
640:
568:
During his military career, Snodgrass received a number of decorations including a
1363:"Dale Snodgrass Obituary (1949 - 2021) - St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Record"
829:
529:
161:
87:
423:
1387:
1570:
908:
512:). From a prior marriage, Dale had two daughters and four granddaughters.
323:
swimmer. Snodgrass graduated with a
Bachelor of Science in biology in 1972.
622:
443:
293:
286:
1311:"Legendary F-14 Pilot Dale 'Snort' Snodgrass Dies In A Tragic Plane Crash"
983:"Dale Snodgrass Bio: Facts about the Legendary Pilot Who Died in a Crash"
944:
838:
833:
604:
569:
459:
408:
320:
263:
He was called "The Real Top Gun" or the real "Maverick" in reference to
1607:
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States
923:
896:
875:
851:
557:
478:
439:
428:
301:
264:
579:
369:
1437:"Famed Navy fighter pilot Dale 'Snort' Snodgrass dies in Idaho crash"
858:
537:
463:
447:
316:
178:
871:
862:
842:
667:
244:
148:
415:
qualifications, both night and day, without any fleet experience.
482:
362:
297:
269:
455:
451:
388:'s Day Cruise for the families of carrier personnel aboard the
253:
was considered one of the greatest fighter pilots of all time.
1460:"NTSB Cites Failure To Remove Control Lock In Snodgrass Crash"
435:
Snodgrass retired from the Navy in June 1999 after 26 years.
404:
136:
1537:
347:
United States Navy Strike
Fighter Tactics Instructor program
223:
1280:
285:, to Reuben and Virginia Snodgrass. His father had been a
532:. Snodgrass was the sole occupant of the aircraft. The
1101:"A legend dies: Dale "Snort" Snodgrass has an accident"
1076:"The Real Top Gun – Nobody handled a Tomcat like Snort"
353:", the Navy Fighter Weapons School. He later became a
1544:
1482:"Snodgrass SIAI-Marchetti SM-1019B NTSB Final Report"
1277:"AIRSHOW PILOT DALE SNODGRASS KILLED IN IDAHO CRASH"
1410:"Update: Pilot killed in plane crash is identified"
941:
Navy and Marine Corps Sea
Service Deployment Ribbon
1642:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 2021
976:
974:
972:
970:
968:
966:
964:
962:
1568:
1164:"Meet the Real Top Gun – Dale "Snort" Snodgrass"
520:On July 24, 2021, Snodgrass was killed when his
1304:
1302:
1300:
1298:
1169:. Grumman World. July 25, 1986. Archived from
1158:
1156:
1154:
1152:
1150:
959:
1334:
1332:
1330:
1328:
1242:
1240:
1238:
1069:
1067:
1637:United States Navy personnel of the Gulf War
1457:
1124:
1122:
1120:
1118:
1093:
1065:
1063:
1061:
1059:
1057:
1055:
1053:
1051:
1049:
1047:
536:has cited the pilot’s failure to remove the
466:. He has been designated as one of only ten
1295:
1147:
1020:
534:National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
276:
190:
1428:
1325:
1308:
1235:
1018:
1016:
1014:
1012:
1010:
1008:
1006:
1004:
1002:
1000:
403:, Snodgrass was the commanding officer of
311:After high school, Snodgrass attended the
1215:
1213:
1211:
1115:
1044:
563:
373:Snodgrass' famous "banana pass" over the
1612:Military personnel from New York (state)
1209:
1207:
1205:
1203:
1201:
1199:
1197:
1195:
1193:
1191:
868:Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
422:
368:
185:Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
997:
881:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
418:
1569:
1271:
1269:
1451:
1338:
1246:
1219:
1188:
1024:
560:display and an exhibit to Snodgrass.
506:
236:(May 13, 1949 – July 24, 2021) was a
1617:People from Suffolk County, New York
1587:20th-century American naval officers
1513:. Aviation Museum News. June 5, 2022
1434:
1073:
980:
540:as the probable cause of the crash.
16:United States Navy pilot (1949–2021)
1266:
13:
326:
296:in the Pacific and later became a
14:
1658:
1627:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
1529:
1309:D'Urso, Stefano (July 26, 2021).
526:Lewiston–Nez Perce County Airport
140:Fighter Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
1554:
1339:Leone, Dario (October 4, 2018).
1130:"CAPTAIN DALE "SNORT" SNODGRASS"
1103:. Austrian Wings. August 9, 2021
981:John, Caroline (July 26, 2021).
920:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
807:
801:
794:
784:
777:
766:
760:
750:
743:
734:
725:
719:
709:
700:
691:
685:
678:
666:
660:
653:
639:
633:
621:
615:
603:
597:
590:
578:
524:crashed while taking off at the
496:
427:Snodgrass in his Korean War-era
256:Snodgrass was the "highest time
36:
1503:
1474:
1458:O'Connor, Kate (July 7, 2022).
1402:
1380:
1355:
247:performer who according to the
1647:University of Minnesota alumni
1602:Aviators from New York (state)
1220:Leone, Dario (July 25, 2021).
915:National Defense Service Medal
550:National Naval Aviation Museum
505:. and was married to Cynthia (
1:
1134:Navy Legacy Flight Foundation
1025:Mills, Joel (July 25, 2021).
952:
902:Meritorious Unit Commendation
1632:United States Naval Aviators
1435:Ress, Dave (July 27, 2021).
931:Southwest Asia Service Medal
888:Joint Meritorious Unit Award
335:right out of flight school.
319:scholarship and was also an
7:
1622:Recipients of the Air Medal
267:'s character in the movie,
10:
1663:
1597:American aviation pioneers
1592:Accidental deaths in Idaho
1247:Staff (October 15, 2009).
1074:Gary, Debbie (July 2010).
936:Humanitarian Service Medal
572:for Leadership and Valor.
939:
934:
929:
918:
913:
907:
900:
891:
886:
879:
866:
857:
848:Meritorious Service Medal
846:
837:
828:
821:
577:
543:
489:for corporate pilots and
342:in the Navy was "Snort".
306:Lake Ronkonkoma, New York
217:
209:
201:
173:Meritorious Service Medal
154:
144:
132:
122:
114:
102:
94:
77:
57:
49:
30:
23:
1343:. The Aviation Geek Club
1080:Air & Space Magazine
515:
345:In 1978 he attended the
308:with his three sisters.
277:Early life and education
250:Spokane Spokesman-Review
313:University of Minnesota
304:. Snodgrass grew up in
893:Navy Unit Commendation
823:Naval Aviator insignia
564:Awards and decorations
522:SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019
503:St. Augustine, Florida
432:
401:Operation Desert Storm
381:
281:Snodgrass was born on
985:. EarnTheNecklace.com
485:owners, and provided
426:
372:
349:, commonly known as "
283:Long Island, New York
115:Years of service
71:Long Island, New York
1414:The Lewiston Tribune
1031:The Lewiston Tribune
475:Draken International
468:USAF Heritage Flight
419:Post-military career
538:flight control lock
501:Snodgrass lived in
405:Fighter Squadron 33
137:Fighter Squadron 33
1176:on August 12, 2021
554:Pensacola, Florida
548:In June 2022, the
433:
382:
238:United States Navy
192:Others (see below)
109:United States Navy
1313:. The Aviationist
950:
949:
817:
816:
231:
230:
168:Bronze Star Medal
1654:
1559:
1558:
1557:
1550:
1541:
1540:
1538:Official website
1523:
1522:
1520:
1518:
1507:
1501:
1500:
1498:
1496:
1486:
1478:
1472:
1471:
1469:
1467:
1455:
1449:
1448:
1446:
1444:
1432:
1426:
1425:
1423:
1421:
1406:
1400:
1399:
1398:
1396:
1384:
1378:
1377:
1375:
1373:
1359:
1353:
1352:
1350:
1348:
1336:
1323:
1322:
1320:
1318:
1306:
1293:
1292:
1290:
1288:
1273:
1264:
1263:
1261:
1259:
1249:"Dale Snodgrass"
1244:
1233:
1232:
1230:
1228:
1217:
1186:
1185:
1183:
1181:
1175:
1168:
1160:
1145:
1144:
1142:
1140:
1126:
1113:
1112:
1110:
1108:
1097:
1091:
1090:
1088:
1086:
1071:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1037:
1022:
995:
994:
992:
990:
978:
819:
818:
811:
805:
798:
788:
781:
770:
764:
754:
747:
738:
729:
723:
713:
704:
695:
689:
682:
670:
664:
657:
643:
637:
625:
619:
607:
601:
594:
582:
575:
574:
511:
491:MS-760 Paris Jet
356:
352:
227:
226:
224:Official website
104:
84:
67:
65:
40:
21:
20:
1662:
1661:
1657:
1656:
1655:
1653:
1652:
1651:
1567:
1566:
1565:
1555:
1553:
1545:
1536:
1535:
1532:
1527:
1526:
1516:
1514:
1509:
1508:
1504:
1494:
1492:
1484:
1480:
1479:
1475:
1465:
1463:
1456:
1452:
1442:
1440:
1433:
1429:
1419:
1417:
1416:. July 24, 2021
1408:
1407:
1403:
1394:
1392:
1386:
1385:
1381:
1371:
1369:
1361:
1360:
1356:
1346:
1344:
1337:
1326:
1316:
1314:
1307:
1296:
1286:
1284:
1283:. July 26, 2021
1275:
1274:
1267:
1257:
1255:
1245:
1236:
1226:
1224:
1218:
1189:
1179:
1177:
1173:
1166:
1162:
1161:
1148:
1138:
1136:
1128:
1127:
1116:
1106:
1104:
1099:
1098:
1094:
1084:
1082:
1072:
1045:
1035:
1033:
1023:
998:
988:
986:
979:
960:
955:
830:Legion of Merit
813:
812:
806:
799:
772:
771:
765:
731:
730:
724:
697:
696:
690:
683:
672:
671:
665:
658:
645:
644:
638:
627:
626:
620:
609:
608:
602:
595:
566:
546:
530:Lewiston, Idaho
518:
499:
446:, F4U Corsair,
421:
354:
350:
329:
327:Military career
292:aviator flying
279:
222:
221:
197:
162:Legion of Merit
139:
88:Lewiston, Idaho
86:
82:
69:
63:
61:
45:
44:
43:
42:
41:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1660:
1650:
1649:
1644:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1619:
1614:
1609:
1604:
1599:
1594:
1589:
1584:
1579:
1564:
1563:
1543:
1542:
1531:
1530:External links
1528:
1525:
1524:
1502:
1491:. July 6, 2022
1473:
1450:
1427:
1401:
1379:
1354:
1324:
1294:
1265:
1234:
1187:
1146:
1114:
1092:
1043:
996:
957:
956:
954:
951:
948:
947:
938:
933:
927:
926:
917:
912:
905:
904:
899:
890:
884:
883:
878:
865:
861:, 3, one with
855:
854:
845:
836:
826:
825:
815:
814:
800:
793:
792:
791:
789:
782:
774:
773:
759:
758:
757:
755:
748:
740:
739:
732:
718:
717:
716:
714:
706:
705:
698:
684:
677:
676:
675:
673:
659:
652:
651:
650:
647:
646:
632:
631:
630:
628:
614:
613:
612:
610:
596:
589:
588:
587:
584:
583:
565:
562:
556:dedicated its
545:
542:
517:
514:
498:
495:
487:upset training
420:
417:
328:
325:
278:
275:
234:Dale Snodgrass
229:
228:
219:
215:
214:
211:
207:
206:
203:
199:
198:
196:
195:
188:
182:
176:
170:
165:
158:
156:
152:
151:
146:
142:
141:
134:
130:
129:
124:
120:
119:
116:
112:
111:
106:
100:
99:
96:
92:
91:
85:(aged 72)
79:
75:
74:
59:
55:
54:
51:
47:
46:
35:
34:
33:
32:
31:
28:
27:
25:Dale Snodgrass
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1659:
1648:
1645:
1643:
1640:
1638:
1635:
1633:
1630:
1628:
1625:
1623:
1620:
1618:
1615:
1613:
1610:
1608:
1605:
1603:
1600:
1598:
1595:
1593:
1590:
1588:
1585:
1583:
1580:
1578:
1575:
1574:
1572:
1562:
1552:
1551:
1548:
1539:
1534:
1533:
1512:
1506:
1490:
1483:
1477:
1461:
1454:
1439:. Daily Press
1438:
1431:
1415:
1411:
1405:
1391:
1390:
1383:
1368:
1364:
1358:
1342:
1335:
1333:
1331:
1329:
1312:
1305:
1303:
1301:
1299:
1282:
1278:
1272:
1270:
1254:
1250:
1243:
1241:
1239:
1223:
1216:
1214:
1212:
1210:
1208:
1206:
1204:
1202:
1200:
1198:
1196:
1194:
1192:
1172:
1165:
1159:
1157:
1155:
1153:
1151:
1135:
1131:
1125:
1123:
1121:
1119:
1102:
1096:
1081:
1077:
1070:
1068:
1066:
1064:
1062:
1060:
1058:
1056:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1032:
1028:
1021:
1019:
1017:
1015:
1013:
1011:
1009:
1007:
1005:
1003:
1001:
984:
977:
975:
973:
971:
969:
967:
965:
963:
958:
946:
942:
937:
932:
928:
925:
921:
916:
910:
909:Navy E Ribbon
906:
903:
898:
894:
889:
885:
882:
877:
873:
869:
864:
860:
856:
853:
849:
844:
840:
835:
831:
827:
824:
820:
810:
804:
797:
790:
787:
783:
780:
776:
775:
769:
763:
756:
753:
749:
746:
742:
741:
737:
733:
728:
722:
715:
712:
708:
707:
703:
699:
694:
688:
681:
674:
669:
663:
656:
649:
648:
642:
636:
629:
624:
618:
611:
606:
600:
593:
586:
585:
581:
576:
573:
571:
561:
559:
555:
551:
541:
539:
535:
531:
527:
523:
513:
509:
504:
497:Personal life
494:
492:
488:
484:
480:
476:
471:
469:
465:
461:
457:
453:
449:
445:
441:
436:
430:
425:
416:
412:
410:
406:
402:
397:
394:
393:
387:
379:
378:
371:
367:
365:
364:
358:
348:
343:
341:
336:
334:
324:
322:
318:
314:
309:
307:
303:
299:
295:
291:
288:
284:
274:
272:
271:
266:
261:
259:
254:
252:
251:
246:
242:
239:
235:
225:
220:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
194:
193:
189:
186:
183:
180:
177:
174:
171:
169:
166:
163:
160:
159:
157:
153:
150:
147:
143:
138:
135:
131:
128:
125:
121:
117:
113:
110:
107:
101:
98:United States
97:
93:
89:
81:July 24, 2021
80:
76:
72:
60:
56:
52:
48:
39:
29:
22:
19:
1515:. Retrieved
1505:
1493:. Retrieved
1488:
1476:
1464:. Retrieved
1453:
1441:. Retrieved
1430:
1418:. Retrieved
1404:
1393:, retrieved
1388:
1382:
1370:. Retrieved
1366:
1357:
1345:. Retrieved
1315:. Retrieved
1285:. Retrieved
1256:. Retrieved
1253:The Flagship
1252:
1225:. Retrieved
1178:. Retrieved
1171:the original
1137:. Retrieved
1133:
1105:. Retrieved
1095:
1083:. Retrieved
1034:. Retrieved
987:. Retrieved
567:
547:
519:
500:
472:
444:P-51 Mustang
437:
434:
413:
398:
391:
383:
376:
361:
359:
357:instructor.
344:
337:
330:
321:All-American
310:
300:engineering
294:F4U Corsairs
287:World War II
280:
268:
262:
255:
248:
233:
232:
205:Cynthia West
191:
145:Battles/wars
83:(2021-07-24)
68:May 13, 1949
18:
1582:2021 deaths
1577:1949 births
945:award stars
911:, 2 awards
874:and bronze
839:Bronze Star
834:award stars
570:Bronze Star
493:customers.
460:A-4 Skyhawk
409:Bronze Star
338:Snodgrass'
333:F-14 Tomcat
50:Nickname(s)
1571:Categories
1495:August 17,
1443:August 11,
1420:August 11,
1367:Legacy.com
1347:August 11,
1317:August 12,
1287:August 11,
1258:August 11,
1227:August 11,
1180:August 11,
1139:August 11,
1107:August 23,
1085:August 11,
1036:August 11,
989:August 11,
953:References
924:award star
922:w/ bronze
897:award star
876:award star
852:award star
850:w/ 1 gold
558:Ready Room
510: West
479:aerobatics
440:F-86 Sabre
429:F-86 Sabre
302:test pilot
265:Tom Cruise
95:Allegiance
64:1949-05-13
1561:Biography
895:w/bronze
859:Air Medal
832:w/2 gold
464:F-5 Tiger
448:T-6 Texan
386:Dependent
317:Navy ROTC
202:Spouse(s)
179:Air Medal
118:1973–1999
1517:June 17,
1466:July 11,
1395:April 3,
1372:April 3,
872:Combat V
863:Combat V
843:Combat V
470:pilots.
340:callsign
245:air show
210:Children
149:Gulf War
133:Commands
103:Service/
1462:. AVWeb
483:warbird
399:During
392:America
380:in 1988
377:America
363:Top Gun
298:Grumman
270:Top Gun
241:aviator
218:Website
127:Captain
53:"Snort"
1547:Portal
544:Legacy
462:, and
456:MiG-21
452:MiG-17
431:, 2004
355:TOPGUN
351:TOPGUN
290:Marine
258:Tomcat
155:Awards
105:branch
1489:AvWeb
1485:(PDF)
1174:(PDF)
1167:(PDF)
516:Death
315:on a
1519:2022
1497:2023
1468:2022
1445:2021
1422:2021
1397:2023
1374:2023
1349:2021
1319:2021
1289:2021
1281:AOPA
1260:2021
1229:2021
1182:2021
1141:2021
1109:2021
1087:2021
1038:2021
991:2021
943:w/2
390:USS
375:USS
243:and
123:Rank
90:, US
78:Died
73:, US
58:Born
552:in
528:in
508:née
481:to
473:At
187:(3)
181:(3)
175:(2)
164:(3)
1573::
1487:.
1412:.
1365:.
1327:^
1297:^
1279:.
1268:^
1251:.
1237:^
1190:^
1149:^
1132:.
1117:^
1078:.
1046:^
1029:.
999:^
961:^
870:w/
841:w/
458:,
454:,
450:,
442:,
273:.
1549::
1521:.
1499:.
1470:.
1447:.
1424:.
1376:.
1351:.
1321:.
1291:.
1262:.
1231:.
1184:.
1143:.
1111:.
1089:.
1040:.
993:.
213:2
66:)
62:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
