A Naval Aviation legend...CAPT Dale 'Snort' Snodgrass

bunk22

bunk22

Well-Known Member
It's a long video but Snort tells his story. He is the all time high Tomcat driver with almost 5000 hours in it. My old boss was in his squadron as a JO and he said he was everything he was cracked up to be. Though I think he was relieved as a CAG for violating NATOPS during ACM. He supposedly never lost a 1v1.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18291871
 
This Snort's famous fly-by in 89 and no, it's not a photo-shop:

f14flyby-1.jpg


The photographer in his own words:

http://www.f14flybyphoto.com/Photo_Gallery.php
 
And here's the flight of the twin cats

[video=youtube;NEV13rLqSLw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEV13rLqSLw[/video]
 
Great video, I bet he has some great stories.

I was fortunate enough to grow up near Miramar, and remember quite well when Fightertown was still Fightertown. You always knew when the Tomcats were going flying. Certainly a sight and sound to be missed.
 
etflies said:
Great video, I bet he has some great stories.

I was fortunate enough to grow up near Miramar, and remember quite well when Fightertown was still Fightertown. You always knew when the Tomcats were going flying. Certainly a sight and sound to be missed.
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I remember going there as a kid with my folks, watching the Tomcats come in for the break, sitting out by the T-line watching jets flying around, sitting out by the pool at the oclub having lunch, etc. 20 years later, it was pretty surreal getting orders there to fly grey fighters. Best location/orders/etc ever. I've always enjoyed having beers at the club with the old timer regulars who came to Fightertown for the first time when they were my age. Must have been painful for them to see the change over the years, from being a no- fighter base with hookers dancing on poles in the oclub on friday nights, to a USMC base with helos, families, PC'ness, noise complaining neighbors, 350 kt max breaks, and our whole "0 defect" mentality. I hope that at the end of the day, my friends and I have upheld their traditions and spirit as much as our careers can afford. What I wouldn't give to have been a fighter dude here in the '60's/70's/80's
 
In addition, it seems no more leading from the cockpit. Those with the most not-flying, joint tours and least flight time get to lead from the front. Yeah!! :disgust:

///AMG said:
I remember going there as a kid with my folks, watching the Tomcats come in for the break, sitting out by the T-line watching jets flying around, sitting out by the pool at the oclub having lunch, etc. 20 years later, it was pretty surreal getting orders there to fly grey fighters. Best location/orders/etc ever. I've always enjoyed having beers at the club with the old timer regulars who came to Fightertown for the first time when they were my age. Must have been painful for them to see the change over the years, from being a no-**** fighter base with hookers dancing on poles in the oclub on friday nights, to a USMC base with helos, families, PC'ness, noise complaining neighbors, 350 kt max breaks, and our whole "0 defect" mentality. I hope that at the end of the day, my friends and I have upheld their traditions and spirit as much as our careers can afford. What I wouldn't give to have been a fighter dude here in the '60's/70's/80's
Click to expand...
 
///AMG said:
I remember going there as a kid with my folks, watching the Tomcats come in for the break, sitting out by the T-line watching jets flying around, sitting out by the pool at the oclub having lunch, etc. 20 years later, it was pretty surreal getting orders there to fly grey fighters. Best location/orders/etc ever. I've always enjoyed having beers at the club with the old timer regulars who came to Fightertown for the first time when they were my age. Must have been painful for them to see the change over the years, from being a no-**** fighter base with hookers dancing on poles in the oclub on friday nights, to a USMC base with helos, families, PC'ness, noise complaining neighbors, 350 kt max breaks, and our whole "0 defect" mentality. I hope that at the end of the day, my friends and I have upheld their traditions and spirit as much as our careers can afford. What I wouldn't give to have been a fighter dude here in the '60's/70's/80's
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My Grandad is a ret. Navy guy and says the same thing. Its still impressive to see you guys bring the Bugs in for the break. I'm bummed I've missed the airshow the last couple years.
 
bunk22 said:
In addition, it seems no more leading from the cockpit. Those with the most not-flying, joint tours and least flight time get to lead from the front. Yeah!! :disgust:
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Yeah, stupid stupid stupid. Luckily for those of us who have no aspirations to be CO, there are still a lot of flying jobs out there. The best sticks/flight leads I know are senior Capts/LT's and that is my ultimate flying goal.....to be that tactically sound. That being said, the best pilot I have ever flown with is an RAF O-4. I think they possibly are still doing things right, while we have fallen victim to the current mil mentality of PC, joint tours, IA's, etc. I'm here to support my brethren on the ground, stay in the cockpit, and hopefully lead my sailors in the right direction in the process. In 6 years, when my ISR expires, I plan on passing the torch onto other likeminded aviators, and living the rest of my life in a real city of my own/my wife's choosing. Of note, my current XO is one of the greats of Naval Air as far as I'm concerned, and hopefully will bring a little of this mindset to more senior billets in the near future.
 
There are fantastic aviators and leaders out there but so many are weeded out due to the climate of the Navy. Two years ago had a CDR "Stacker" Allen retire out of Kingsville whom I had served with at VAW-120, he was old school, an incredible pilot and outstanding leader. Unfortunately he never made command but he was one of those types you would go to hell with knowing you weren't coming back.
 
Adler said:
You in Cocoa? I wanted really badly to be down there, but stuff didn't work out. You've got such an awesome job by the way!
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Yes...here in Cocoa. We had to give Snort a bit of a hard time because there's a Tomcat in the "Warbird" Museum now. All joking aside, he's an awesome guy...

Had the opportunity to "fight" him, L-39 v L-39 over the Nevada desert. I had an awesome time getting my ass handed to me in the air.

Not too long ago, Snort and I and a few others ended up in a bar with "Boots" Blesse, Bud Anderson, and Bud Day. What an awesome time to just be quiet and listen!
 
ryan1234 said:
Yes...here in Cocoa. We had to give Snort a bit of a hard time because there's a Tomcat in the "Warbird" Museum now. All joking aside, he's an awesome guy...

Had the opportunity to "fight" him, L-39 v L-39 over the Nevada desert. I had an awesome time getting my ass handed to me in the air.

Not too long ago, Snort and I and a few others ended up in a bar with "Boots" Blesse, Bud Anderson, and Bud Day. What an awesome time to just be quiet and listen!
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If you see him again, ask him if he remembers D-Day Lucas. That's quite a trio to hang with, a WWII ace, a Korean War Ace and Bud Day, legendary Vietnam POW.
 
///AMG said:
Must have been painful for them to see the change over the years, from being a no- fighter base with hookers dancing on poles in the oclub on friday nights, to a USMC base with helos, families, PC'ness, noise complaining neighbors, 350 kt max breaks, and our whole "0 defect" mentality. I hope that at the end of the day, my friends and I have upheld their traditions and spirit as much as our careers can afford. What I wouldn't give to have been a fighter dude here in the '60's/70's/80's
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I feel the same way, and we're seeing the decay of warrior culture in the Blue service just as much.

I have the paperwork to prove that I did my best "as much as my career could afford". Do you? haha
 
Hacker15e said:
I feel the same way, and we're seeing the decay of warrior culture in the Blue service just as much.

I have the paperwork to prove that I did my best "as much as my career could afford". Do you? haha
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Ahh, the mighty paper pushers..the ultimate warriors :rolleyes:
 
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