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| Aviation Art Collecton - Captain R M Butch Voris USN |
 Died : 2005 | Butch Voris was born in Los Angeles, California. Growing up only a few blocks from the airport at Alhambra, Butch became fascinated with flying and airplanes at a young age. In 1940 Butch joined the U. S. Navy as an. aviation cadet. Following preliminary training at Oakland he was sent to NAS Corpus Christi for elementary and advanced flying schools. His final training was as a dive bomber pilot. He received is commission in February of 1942, only a few months following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Butch quickly jumped at the opportunity to switch to fighters. He received his advanced carrier training on the USS Saratoga piloting the F6F Hellcat. Butch's first combat tour was with VF-10 Grim Reapers flying off the USS Enterprise. As part of Air Group 6, Voris was under the command of Butch O'Hare. Voris attained two aerial victories (both Zeros) during his first tour, and was also shot down one time. He was selected by Admiral Radford to participate in the 'Night Bat Tearn,' which was a unique attempt to utilize radar-equipped TBF Avengers to guide F6F Hellcats to intercept low-flying Japanese bombers at night. This concept was abandoned after Butch O'Hare was shot down by one of the Avengers. On his second combat tour with VF-2, Voris served on the Enterprise and then the USS Hornet. He attained six more confirmed aerial victories, bringing his total to eight (all were Japanese Zeros), before receiving his orders to return to the States. Following the War, Butch was selected to organize at Jacksonville, Florida a Navy flight exhibition team. This group, which would become known as the 'Blue Angels' following their first public performance, has marveled tens of millions of spectators since its organization. The Blues were temporarily disbanded during the Korean War, but Butch was called upon again to reorganize the team following the war. This time the Blue Angels entered the jet age flying the F9F-5 Panther. Butch survived one of the worst accidents in Blue Angel's history in 1952 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Captain Voris commanded two carrier fighter squadrons during his career (VF- 113 flying off the USS Valley Forge and VF- 191 Satan's Kittens that flew off the USS Oriskiny.) Butch was also commander of Air Group 5, which was based in San Diego in the late 1950s. Voris retired from the Navy in 1963. He joined Grumman Aircraft as a Special Assistant to the Senior Vice President. In 1973 he joined NASA in Washington, DC where he worked on technology transfer between private industry and the space program. Butch formally retired in 1985. In addition to his recognition as 'the first Blue Ange' Butch was awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, eleven Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several Unit Citations. Following retirement he resided in California with Thea, his wife of forty-eight years, who passed away in 2003. Butch has two daughters and several grandchildren. He enjoyed traveling, golf, family, and public speaking. Butch passed away on August 11, 2005. He will be missed by his family, friends, and a thankful nation. |
| Based on many years of experience in dealing with thousands of aviation signatures, we have estimated the value this signature adds to a print as £45 |
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This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com |
