Produced by Ryan Nothhaft email: blueangelphantoms@gmail.com Website: www.blueangelphantoms.com Twitter: @blueangelf4 Instagram: @blueangelphantoms Curt Watson served with the United States Navy Blue Angels from 1983 to 1986. During that time, he held several positions, including as Narrator, Left Wing, Slot, and Lead Solo. Born in Winchester, Tennessee, Curt focused much of his early attention on sports. He attended the University of Tennessee, where he played college football and earned the nickname "The Crossville Comet". Curt would later be drafted by New Orleans Saints in the 6th round of NFL Draft. Unfortunately, Curt's NFL career would be cut short when he was cut by the Green Bay Packers following an injury in training camp. Curt joined the Navy and earned his Wings of Gold in the summer of 1977. After serving two West Pacific Deployments aboard the USS Constellation, he would apply for the Blue Angels on three separate occassions, only being accepted on his third attempt. One of many career highlights Curt enjoyed while with the Blue Angels includes the time that he gave actor Tom Cruise a ride in the two-seater. As the story goes, Tom had yet to accept the role as Maverick in the movie "Top Gun", so the producers of the film asked if the Blue Angels could give him a flight in one of their jets to persuade his decision. Tom enjoyed the experience so much that immediately following his flight with Curt, he found a payphone and officially committed to the film. After leaving the Navy, Curt joined FedEx as a pilot, where he worked for 28 years flying a number of different aircraft including the MD-11 and the Boeing 777. In 2015, Curt was inducted into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame. Blue Angels 1983 Team 1. CDR Dave Carroll 2. Maj Mark Lauritzen,USMC 3. LCDR Scott Anderson 4. LT Kevin Miller 5. LCDR Jim Ross 6. LCDR Chris Ives 7. LCDR Curt Watson 8. LCDR John Virden Blue Angels 1984 Team 1. CDR Larry Pearson 2. Maj Mark Lauritzen 3. LCDR Curt Watson 4. LCDR Scott Anderson 5. LCDR Chris Ives 6. LCDR Andy Caputi 7. LCDR Mike Gershon 8. LCDR John Virden Blue Angels 1985 Team 1. CDR Larry Pearson 2. Capt Mark Bircher, USMC 3. LCDR Pat Walsh 4. LCDR Curt Watson 5. LT Andy Caputi 6. LCDR Mike Gershon 7. LCDR David Anderson 8. Maj Bill Campbell, USMC Blue Angels 1986 Team 1. CAPT Gil Rud 2. Capt Mark Bircher, USMC 3. LCDR Donnie Cochran 4. LCDR Pat Walsh 5. LCDR Curt Watson 6. LCDR David Anderson 7. LCDR Wayne Molnar 8. Maj Bill Campbell, USMC

• published: 15 Jun 2019
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