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for sale the "First Blue Angel" Butch Voris Hand Signed 50 YEARS Trading Card.
ES-5348
A native of California,
Captain Roy Voris graduated from Salinas Junior
College in 1939. Born on September
17, 1919, he entered the U.S. Navy in
1941 and by February 1942, he was commissioned an ensign and designated a naval
aviator. During his first deployment in World War II, Captain Voris flew
the Grumman F4F "Wildcat" from the aircraft carrier Enterprise. In
his following cruise, he flew Grumman F6F "Hellcats" from Guadalcanal
in support of the First Marines and from the carriers Enterprise and Hornet. During
his air battles in the Pacific, he earned "fighter ace" status
recording eight fighter to fighter confirmed kills. Captain Voris
commanded Fighter Squadron 113, Fighter Squadron 191, and Attack Carrier Air
Group 5. Captain Voris superb combat skills, resulted in his selection by
Admiral Arthur W. Radford and Commander "Butch" O'Hare, as one of
four fighter pilots to conduct experimental night fighter operations to
intercept and destroy enemy bombers attacking U.S. landing forces at Tarawa. He
earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses, 11 Air Medals, three
Presidential Unit Citations, and the Purple
Heart. He participated in numerous fighter sweeps against enemy
airfields and other enemy installations as the Navy advanced through the
Pacific. After World War II, Captain Voris was assigned to the Advanced
Training Command at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. In 1946, the
Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations directed the
establishment of a Navy flight exhibition team to demonstrate precision fighter
maneuvers at Navy air shows and at public events. Captain Voris was selected as
Officer-in-Charge and Flight Leader of this precision flying team. In forming
the Navy Flight Exhibition Team, Captain Voris selected his aircraft, pilots
and maintenance personnel from the Navy's best officers and Sailors. The
Grumman F6F "Hellcat" was selected because of its outstanding flight
characteristics. Captain Voris directed modifications to the Hellcat to reduce the
aircraft weight and implemented a new paint scheme with traditional Navy colors
- blue and gold. Approved by Captain Voris' chain of command, the team flew its
first air show at the Southeastern Air Exposition at Craig Airfield,
Jacksonville, Florida. The Blue Angels first public performance earned the team
its first trophy. That trophy sits in a place of honor at the current home of
the Blue Angels in Pensacola, Florida. In his first tour with the Blue Angels,
Captain Voris flew the F6F "Hellcat" and the F8F "Bearcat."
In 1951, Captain Voris returned to reform and lead the team flying the F9F
"Panther" jet. After Captain Voris retired from the Navy in 1963, he
worked for the Grumman Corporation in Bethpage, New York, for the next 10
years. In 1973, he joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) in the Office of Industry Affairs. In 1985, Captain Voris retired from
civilian employment to Monterey, California,
with his wife, Thea; they have been married
53 years. In 1993, he was honored by the Air Force in a "Gathering of
Eagles" ceremony as one of 20 aviators internationally who had made
significant contributions to the world of aviation. Butch Voris was inducted
into the International Air show Hall of Fame late last year. He is being inducted
into the Navy Aviation Hall of Fame in
Pensacola in May, 2002. Others being inducted this year are Admiral Ernest King
and Kenneth Walsh.