Dale Snodgrass

Dale Snodgrass (May 13, 1949 – July 24, 2021) was a United States Navy aviator and air show performer who according to the Spokane Spokesman-Review was considered one of the greatest fighter pilots of all time.

Snodgrass was the "highest time Tomcat pilot," after having accumulated more than 4,800 hours in the F-14 and more than 1,200 arrested carrier landings, both more than any other pilot. in reference to Tom Cruise's character in the movie, Top Gun.

Early life and education Snodgrass was born on Long Island, New York, to Reuben and Virginia Snodgrass. His father had been a World War II Marine aviator flying F4U Corsairs in the Pacific and later became a Grumman engineering test pilot. Snodgrass graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology in 1972.

In 1978 he attended the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, commonly known as "Top Gun", the Navy Fighter Weapons School.

Snodgrass was famous for his low-level flybys.

Post-military career

Snodgrass retired from the Navy in June 1999 after 26 years.

Death On July 24, 2021, Snodgrass was killed when his SIAI-Marchetti SM.1019 crashed while taking off at the Lewiston–Nez Perce County Airport in Lewiston, Idaho. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has cited the pilot’s failure to remove the flight control lock as the probable cause of the crash.

Legacy

In June 2022, the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida dedicated its Ready Room display and an exhibit to Snodgrass.

Awards and decorations During his military career, Snodgrass received a number of decorations including a Bronze Star for Leadership and Valor.

Naval Aviator insigniaLegion of Merit w/2 gold award starsBronze Star w/Combat VMeritorious Service Medal w/ 1 gold award starAir Medal, 3, one with Combat VNavy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/Combat V and bronze award starNavy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalJoint Meritorious Unit AwardNavy Unit Commendation w/bronze award starMeritorious Unit CommendationNavy E Ribbon, 2 awardsNational Defense Service MedalArmed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ bronze award starSouthwest Asia Service MedalHumanitarian Service MedalNavy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/2 award stars