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Blue Angels Pilot: John Chehansky (1973 - 1975)

John Chehansky is a former narrator and pilot for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron where he served on the Team from 1973 through the 1975 airshow season. Raised in Royal Oak, Michigan, John Chehansky was exposed to aviation at a young age through a friend of his parents, Mike Krichko, an F8F Bearcat pilot and veteran of World War II. Krichko captured Chehansky’s imagination by sending naval aviation magazines in the mail that planted the seeds of early inspiration to pursue a military career. After graduating high school where he maintained an “A” average, Chehansky applied to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Despite encountering initial issues receiving a congressional appointment, he was accepted to the prestigious military academy where he set his sights on becoming a naval aviator. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Chehansky graduated from the Naval Academy in 1967 and reported to NAS Pensacola to begin his formal indoctrination into flight training. Receiving his wing in April of 1969, he was assigned to NAS Miramar as part of Fighter Squadron 121, the Pacemakers, for training in the F4 Phantom. After a year of gaining proficiency in the F4, Chehansky transferred to VF-154, a squadron rich with former Blue Angel pilots including Ken Wallace, Harley Hall and Don Bentley. Aboard the USS Ranger, Chehansky deployed to South East Asia where he flew over 100 missions and made 180 carrier-arrested landings, for which he received four Air Medals, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Vietnamese Service and Campaign Medals. Upon returning from combat deployment, Chehansky attended the Navy Fighter Weapons School, TOPGUN, at NAS Miramar. Dan Pedersen, Jim Ruliffson and Jerry Sawatzky among the other founders of the elite institution served as Chehanksy’s instructors and all of whom he attributes to being his hero. TOPGUN curriculum put aircrews through graduate level courses in all aspects of fighter weapons systems including tactics, techniques, procedures and doctrine. Reporting back to VF-154 as fighter weapons and tactics instructor, Chehansky was inspired to submit an application to join the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team after receiving encouragement from Ernie Christensen and Harley Hall who had previously served with the Team. Despite initial apprehension that he may not be selected due to the Team’s record of only selecting one Naval Academy graduate in their 26 year history, Chehansky officially joined the Blue Angels for the 1973 season. His appointment marked the first time in Team history that the narrator would transition into a demonstration pilot in the following year. Due to fuel shortages and an incident at Lakehurst, New Jersey that claimed the lives of the Team’s Flight Leader, Skip Umstead and Slot Pilot, Mike Murphy, the 1973 season was truncated. Facing possible disbandment, the Blue Angels transitioned into an official naval squadron for the 1974 season, with Cdr Tony Less taking the helm as the Team’s first official Commanding Officer. 1974 also saw the Blue Angels replace their F4 Phantoms with the Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II as Chehansky moved into the Left Wing #3 position. The first season flying the A4 Skyhawk was a complete success with the Blue Angels flying shows at 36 locations including Offutt AFB, NAS Selfridge and NAS Key West. Chehansky would fly his final year with the Blue Angels as the Team’s Slot Pilot #4 for the 1975 season. Special thanks to John Chehansky, Laura Bogan, Jim Preston, Mat Garretson, Ron Rentfrow, Sergio Galindo and the Blue Angels Association for supporting this project. Produced & edited by Ryan Nothhaft | Filmed by 410 Films LLC | Thumbnail photo by U.S. Navy Blue Angels taken by Jim Preston Visual Resources by: Gary Fong, Jason Jaworski, Mat Garretson, Ron Rentfrow, TOPGUN Association, Threshold, Wingtip to Canopy 1973 Blue Angels: 1. LCDR Skip Umstead 2. LCDR Marlin Wiita 3. Capt John Fogg, USMC 4. Capt Mike Murphy, USMC 5. LT Steve Lambert 6. LT Jerry Tucker 7. LT John Chehansky 8. LT Chuck Newcomb CDR Ken Wallace, Program Manager Maj Don Stiegman, USMC Capt Al Coley, USMC 1stLt Joe Rodgers, USMC MO LCDR Fred Wiggins SUPO CW04 Clinton Swart 1974 Blue Angels: 1. CDR Tony Less 2. LCDR Marlin Wiita 3. LT John Chehansky 4. Capt John Fogg, USMC 5. LT Jerry Tucker 6. LT Vance Parker 7. LT John Patton 8. LT Chuck Newcomb Maj Don Stiegman, USMC Capt Al Coley, USMC 1stLt Joe Rodgers, USMC Capt Ron Fleming, USMC MO LCDR Fred Wiggins / LT Mike Deeter Doc LCDR Bob Randolph AO LCDR Leo Boor SUPO CW04 Clinton Swartz 1975 Blue Angels: 1. CDR Tony Less 2. Capt Bill Holverstott, USMC 3. LT John Patton 4. LT John Chehansky 5. LT Vance Parker 6. LT Denny Sapp 7. LT Al Cisneros 8. Jim Bauer Capt Ron Fleming, USMC Capt Steve Petit, USMC MO LT Mike Deeter Doc LCDR Bob Randolph DOC LCDR Tim Peterson AO LCDR Leo Boor SUPO CW02 Chinton Swartz