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From U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team booklet: Blue Angels 1973 page 15: LCDR SKIP UMSTEAD, USN OFFICER-IN-CHARGE/FLIGHT LEADER, PLANE NO. 1 LIEUTENANT COMMANDER SKIP UMSTEAD, USN, 30, of Detroit, Michigan, first joined the Blue Angles in October 1969. A member of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, in 1964. Commander Umstead then entered the Aviation Officer Candidate Program, was commissioned in October 1964 and received his wings in February 1966. He was then stationed at naval Air Station Miramar, California, for training in the F-8 Crusader with Fighter Squadron 124. Skip was assigned to Fighter Squadron 53, and while with the squadron, he made one combat cruise to Southeast Asia aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard and another aboard the USS Hancock. He flew a total of 202 combat missions and accumulated 284 carrier-arrested landings. He was awarded 13 Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V". the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Navy Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals. Commander Umstead reported to the Blue Angels from Fighter Squadron 124, where he instructed Fleet Replacement Pilots in the F-8 Crusader. Skip left the Blue Angels in December 1972 and reported to VF-2 as Safety Officer of the newly-formed F-14 Fighter Squadron. In April 1973, Commander Umstead was called back to the Blues to perform the duties of the Officer-in-Charge and Flight Leader. |
