The son of a test pilot, Captain Dale Snodgrass grew up in Eastern Long Island, New York. He attended the University of Minnesota on a NROTC Scholarship, and received All-American status as a member of the swim team, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Captain Snodgrass retired June 1, 1999 after 26 years of Naval Service. Capt. Snodgrass passed away tragically on July 24, 2021, in his SIAI-Marchetti 1019 while taking off from the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport in Idaho
Dale’s Navy career highlights include: first Flight School Graduate to be selected for F-14 Tomcat training; first non fleet experienced pilot to carrier qualify in the F-14 both day and night;12 operational Fighter Squadron/Wing tours including having commanded Fighter Squadron 33 during Desert Storm as well as the command which included all of the Navy’s F-14’s as Commander Fighter Wing Atlantic. He was also selected as the Navy’s Fighter Pilot of the Year in 1985 and TOPGUN Graduate; selected by Grumman Aerospace as “Topcat of the Year” (or best F-14 Pilot) in 1986.
The Captain was considered to be the highest time F-14 pilot with 5,000 hours in the Tomcat, 7,800 hours in Fighters, and over 13,000 hours total, including 1,287 Carrier Arrested Landings, led 34 missions in Desert Storm as overall Strike or Fighter Lead, F-14 Tomcat Flight Demonstration Pilot 1985-1997.
Military decorations presented to Captain Snodgrass include: Legion of Merit (3) for superior performance in positions of great responsibility, Bronze Star for Leadership and Valor during Desert Storm, Meritorious Service Medal (2) for exceptional service in a position of senior leadership, Air Medal (3) for Valor during Desert Storm, Navy Commendation Medal (3) for Valor during Desert Storm, numerous campaign medals and service ribbons.
Captain Snodgrass had over 25 years of airshow experience with over 850 performances. He was Surface Solo and Formation Aerobatic qualified in F-14 Tomcat, F-86 Sabre, Mig 15, Mig 17, P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, Curtiss P-40, T-6 Texan/Harvard and 8KCAB Super Decathlon. Not surprisingly, Dale was designated one of only ten USAF Heritage Pilots.
Captain Snodgrass served on the Board of Directors of the National Warplane Museum, Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum and the Wings Over Miami Air Museum. Dale was welcomed as a Director Emeritus of Wings Over Miami Air Museum in 2009 in recognition of his many years of service as a naval aviator, his support of civilian warbird aviation and for the guidance he had unselfishly provided to the Wings Over Miami Air Museum.
Miami