Kevin Jens Davis
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy
Opposing Solo, U.S. Navy Blue Angels

Kevin Jens Davis was born on 10 June 1974 in Pittsfield, MA, the son of John and Ann Davis. Kevin began his quest for flight at the determined age of five. Because his mother is Danish, Kevin had several trans-Atlantic flights to Copenhagen and always charmed his way into the cockpit during flight to expand his early knowledge of aerodynamics. He and his parents moved to Denmark when he was ten years old, and he attended the Copenhagen International School for two years, becoming fluent in Danish. Kevin was a 1992 graduate of Reading Memorial High School, a member of the football team and area Civil Air Patrol.

Kevin worked throughout college as a CFI and was fortunate to have interned with TWA for a summer. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science with honors in 1996 from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

In September 1996, Kevin reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, FL, for Officer Candidate School and aviation indoctrination. He completed primary flight training at NAS Corpus Christi, TX, and transferred to NAS Meridian, MS, for intermediate and advanced flight training. While there, he flew the T-2C Buckeye and TA-4J Sky hawk, and received his wings of gold in June 1999.

He reported to Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101) at NAS Oceana, VA, for training in the F-14 Tomcat and was the 'Top Stick' in his class. In July 2000 he reported to the VF-11 'Red Rippers' where he completed deployments aboard the aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67).

In July 2003, Kevin transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet through Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, CA, and then reported to the Fighter Composite Squadron (VFC-12) 'Omars' stationed at NAS Oceana, VA. While at VFC-12, Kevin served as a Navy adversary pilot providing valuable air-to-air training for fleet squadrons. In December of 2004, Kevin (call sign 'Kojak' graduated from the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) as an adversary pilot. During his tour at VFC-12, Kevin worked as the schedules officer, legal officer, FRS/SFARP officer and assistant operations officer.

Kevin joined the Blue Angels in September 2005 and had accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours and 200 carrier arrested landings. In his first year as a Blue Angel, he was the Narrator flying the Number 7 jet. In 2006, he became the opposing solo flying the Number 6 jet.

On 21 April 2007, after a spectacular performance as the opposing solo at MCAS Beaufort in Beaufort, SC, in the last moments of the show when the team was in the process of forming its trademark Delta triangle formation, Kevin’s F/A-18 crashed and he died instantly.

His parents were attending the show and it was the only time they saw their son fly in a Blue Angels performance.

The January 2008 report from the Navy investigation, faulted LCDR Davis for pulling into a high-force turn too close to the ground. Investigators believe Davis fell behind the five fighter jets during a final formation in the 21 April performance. He accelerated to catch up, pulling into a low turn that brought a force of nearly seven times Earth's gravity into the cockpit. The force caused Davis' vision to narrow and brought him near unconsciousness. Once Davis saw the ground fast approaching, he tried to level his wings and pull up, the report stated, "but he was too low to recover the aircraft."

LCDR Davis' awards included the Air Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit awards.

Burial

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Jens 'Kojak' Davis was buried at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Escambia County, FL, in Section 51, Site 203.