Alfred Taddeo

2008 NAS Jax Air show special guest, Alfred 'Al' Taddeo
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"Al" Taddeo, Lt.
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Alfred Taddeo served as a gunnery, tactics and formation-flying instructor at NAS Miami's Opalocka Field. "Mel Cassidy (Lt.j.g.) and I volunteered at the same time, but only Cassidy was called up," said Taddeo in a telephone interview.
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Like his team leader and the two other pilots, the 27-year-old Taddeo was a Pacific theater combat veteran and a bachelor. With three Japanese kills to his credit, Taddeo had been awarded several Distinguished Flying Crosses, as well as Air Medals and battle stars - so he was a smooth fit with the fledgling flight exhibition team. He began as the spare pilot, training as left wing number three.

"The squadron flew four blue-and-gold F6F Hellcats, but the formations were designed to three aircraft, with one held in reserve. Our first civilian air show at Craig Field on June 15, 1946 was just 12 minutes long, but when our pilots exited their cockpits, they got a tremendous ovation from the audience," said Taddeo.
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Taddeo remembers that Voris and his teammates were not enthusiastic.
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We all really liked the 'Blue Angels' but nothing would happen until the Omaha, Neb., air show," said Taddeo.

The 1946 Omaha show, July

19-21, attracted U.S. and foreign military notables, along with national press coverage.

"The entire team was sold on being called the Blue Angels, so Butch Voris talked on the sly with some of the reporters that weekend - and we started getting press as the Blue Angels. When we landed at NAS Jax, Gentner expressed his displeasure to Butch - but the name stuck," said Taddeo.
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A mission Taddeo will never forget was flying to the Grumman factory in Bethpage, N.Y. in August of 1946 to receive the team's new F8F Bearcats.
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Needless to say, the tailhooks were reinstalled along with some additional ballast," explained Taddeo.

Taddeo's rotation with the Blue Angels ended in June of 1947 when he received orders to an F4U Corsair squadron aboard USS Coral Sea. He returned to NAS Jax in 1954, flying with VF-43.

He also served at the Pentagon, and as commanding officer of VF-144 and VA-52. Cmdr. Taddeo retired Feb. 1, 1963 after 21 years of service.

Alfred Taddeo served as a gunnery, tactics and formation-flying instructor at NAS Miami's Opalocka Field. "Mel Cassidy (Lt.j.g.) and I volunteered at the same time, but only Cassidy was called up," said Taddeo in a telephone interview. [ More ]