| Signatures for : Panther | | A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name. | | Name | Info |
Captain R M Butch Voris USN
Click the name above to see prints signed by Captain R M Butch Voris USN
 | Died : 11 / 8 / 2005 |
 | Ace : 7.00 Victories |
| Captain R M Butch Voris USN
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 AngeP' 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.
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Capt E Royce Williams USN
Click the name above to see prints signed by Capt E Royce Williams USN | Capt E Royce Williams USN
Royce Williams was born in Wilmot, South Dakota in 1925. In 1936 his family moved to Clinton, Minnesota where a familyowned grocery business was established. Royee worked in the business, but preferred outside work including activities at his Uncle's farm and lakeside resort. He was active in the 411 club and the Boy Scouts, and became the first young man from Clinton to attain Eagle Scout status. In high school Royce played three sports, including quarterback on his school's football team. He graduated first in his class. Royce had boyhood dreams of becoming a military pilot. His older brother had Joined the Navy in 1942, becoming a Marine Corps aviator. In March of 1943 Royce Joined up, and he became a naval aviator. Royce became carrier qualified in the F6F Hellcat on the old USS Ranger (CV-4.) He flew the F6F, and later the F4U Corsair and the F8F Bearcat. Royce attended the University of Minnesota where he earned his Bachelors Degree. He later would attend the Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey. Royee eventually transitioned to jets, where his first operational deployment was on board the USSOriskany, flyingthe17917-5 Panther. While deployed in Korea with the VF-781 (later redesignated V17-121) Pacemakers, Royee engaged seven Soviet-piloted Mig-15s on November 18, 1952. The Oriskany was only 100 miles from V1adivostok. Shortly after take-off Williain's flight of four Panthers encountered the seven Migs. Royce was instructed to reverse course and hold a barrier between the Migs and the Task Force, but the Migs attacked. It is believed that Royce downed three of the bogies, although official reports credited him with only one. With his Panther badly shot-up R oyce limped back to the Oriskany and got his aircraft home with the help of the LSO and ship's Captain. The engagement was politically sensitive as the US Government feared escalating Soviet involvement in the War in Korea. Mig kills were rare for the Navy in Korea (only 55 aerial victories), and the Panther was generally outclassed by the Mig-15 in most dogfights. Royce remained in the Navy until his retirement in 1980. He served as an exchange pilot with the USAF flying the F-86 and F-100. He also served as CO, XO and of VF-33 on board the USS Enterprise flying the F8-E Crusader, and later on board the USS America flying the F-4 Phantom 11. He also served as an Air Wing Commander during the Vietnam War. He also served as CO of the USS Eldorado, with CINCPAC Staff as COS ConiFAITWestPac, and as ACOS OPS ComTracPac. Royee's decorations include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Combat V, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Bronze Star Medal. He married his hometown sweetheart, Cam, in 1947. They have three sons. Royce currently resides in Southern California.
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