"First Blue Angel" Butch Voris Hand Signed 50 YEARS Trading Card For Sale

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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.