In their relentless quest to fly the perfect flight demonstration, Boss George Dom and his Blue Angel teammates pushed the boundaries of human capability everyday during his tenure as Commanding Officer and Flight Leader of the U.S. Navy’s elite squadron. Recognizing the intricate challenge of orchestrating a six-plane formation, executing high-performance maneuvers with paper-thin margins, Boss Dom adhered to a straightforward motto: “Practice until we get it right, and then keep practicing until we can’t get it wrong”. This creed proved invaluable for the Blue Angels as they embarked on a demanding schedule, showcasing their blue and gold F/A-18 Hornets across the United States to represent forward-deployed sailors and marines stationed around the world.
In this new short documentary, Boss Dom delves into his Navy journey, early deployments, and the challenges he faced in trying to secure a pilot position with the Blue Angels before eventually being appointed as the Team’s command officer for the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Boss Dom also offers valuable insights into the demands of serving as the Flight Leader of the Blue Angels and recounts cherished memories from the road, including an unforgettable surprise flyby over a San Francisco 49ers football game at Candlestick Park, which left a lasting impression on renowned commentator John Madden. In addition, he underscores significant milestones such as the implementation of the Cuban Eight on Takeoff and the Diamond Landing, while also conveying his deep gratitude for the Blue Angels’ maintenance team.
About George Dom, Captain, USN (ret.):
From: Westmorland County, Pennsylvania
Graduated: Duke University 1977 | Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship
Callsign: Elwood
Total Flight Hours: 6,970
Arrested Carrier Landing: 1,023
Dates of Active Duty: 1977 - 2003
Navy Career Highlights:
Joined the Navy: June, 1977
Wings of Gold: July 28, 1978
Navy Fighter Weapons School, TOPGUN: June, 1986 - April, 1989
CO, Strike-Fighter Squadron 37: April, 1995 - July 1996
Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron: November, 1996 - November, 1998
CO, Carrier Air Wing Seven: July, 2000 - January 2002
Joint Staff, J-5, Pentagon: January, 2002 - June, 2003
Combat Tours:
USS Coral Sea / VFA-131: Operation Eldorado Canyon, Libya: April, 1986
USS America / VFA-82: Operation Desert Storm, Iraq/Kuwait: Jan-Mar 1991
USS Eisenhower / VFA-37: Operation Southern Watch, Iraq: November, 1994
USS Eisenhower / VFA-37: Operation Noble Anvil, Kosovo: March, 1995
USS Eisenhower / CVW-7: Operation Southern Watch, Iraq: Feb-Jul 2000
Awards:
Tailhooker of the Year - 2001
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Navy Commendation Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
Honorary Doctor of Science, Seton Hill University
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VIDEO CREDITS:
Produced by Ryan Nothhaft | Blue Angel Phantoms
Visual Resources
ABC News
America’s Flying Aces | MK2
Blues & the Birds
Cody Hendrix - photo used in thumbnail
DVIDS
Fox Sports
National Archives
rulenumberone2 | Flickr
steve.moss88 | Flickr
The Blue Angels, In Pursuit of Excellence | Stirlin Harris & Peter Lang
The Magic of Flight | IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Wittmann51 | YouTube
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1997 Blue Angels Team
1. CDR George Dom
2. Maj Pat Cooke, USMC
3. LT Mark Dunleavy
4. LCDR Scott Moyer
5. LT Ryan Scholl
6. LT Scott Beare
7. LT Doug Verissimo
8. LT Kevin Lacasse
Capt Stuart Smith, USMC
Capt Daren Martin, USMC
Capt Rob Wunderlich, USMC
MO LT Clark Merritt
Doc LT Bryan Buchanan
AO LCDR Patricia Tezak
PAO LT Tanya Wallace (Presser)
SUPO LT Duke Heinz
1998 Blue Angels
1. CAPT George Dom
2. Maj Scott Wedemeyer
3. LT David Silkey
4. LCDR Mark Dunleavy
5. LCDR Scott Beare
6. LT Doug Verissimo
7. LT Scott Ind
8. LT Kevin Lacasse
Capt Darren Martin, USMC
Maj Dwight Neeley, USMC
Capt Andy Hall, USMC
MO LT Neal Austin
Doc LT Bryan Buchanan
AO LCDR Nancy Lake
PAO LT Tanya Wallace (Presser)
SUPO LT Michelle Saari (Flynn)
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Topics Mentioned:
Blue Angels Documentary
U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Navy Pilot
Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Pensacola
William Hayden
Chief of Naval Air Training
LTV A-7 Corsair II
Boeing FA-18
San Francisco Fleet Week
1997 San Francisco 49ers Game
Rams at 49ers
Football game flyover
Blue Angels cockpit
Blue Angels cockpit footage
Half Cuban Eight takeoff
Half Squirrel Cage
Diamond Dirty Loop
Line-Abreast Loop
Delta Roll
Delta Pitch Up Carrier Break to Land
Diamond Landing