{"id":13244,"date":"2018-04-05T18:29:39","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T18:29:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/05\/air-force-identifies-thunderbirds-pilot-killed-in-f-16-crash\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:17:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:17:05","slug":"air-force-identifies-thunderbirds-pilot-killed-in-f-16-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/2018\/04\/05\/air-force-identifies-thunderbirds-pilot-killed-in-f-16-crash\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force identifies Thunderbirds pilot killed in F-16 crash"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/atype-video-jwplayer>
U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Slot Pilot Thunderbird 4, Maj. Stephen Del Bagno was killed at about 10:30 a.m. during routine training on April 4.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

The Air Force on Thursday identified the Thunderbirds<\/a> pilot killed in the F-16 crash<\/a> at the Nevada Test and Training range as Maj. Stephen Del Bagno.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Del Bagno was killed at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday during what the Air Force called a routine aerial demonstration training flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are mourning the loss of Maj. Del Bagno,\u201d Brig. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, commander of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, said in a release. \u201cHe was an integral part of the team<\/a>, and our hearts are heavy with his loss. We ask everyone to provide his family and friends the space to heal during this difficult time.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Del Bagno, of Valencia, California, was an experienced pilot in his first season with the Thunderbirds, according to his biography on the squadron\u2019s official website. He was the squadron\u2019s slot pilot and flew its No. 4 jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Del Bagno graduated from Utah Valley State University in 2005 and got his commission when he graduated from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama in 2007.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He served as an F-35A evaluator pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation with the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida before joining the Thunderbirds. He also was a civilian flight instructor, corporate pilot, skywriter and a banner tow pilot before joining the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Thunderbirds website said Del Bagno had more than 3,500 total flight hours in 30 different aircraft, including 1,400 hours as an Air Force pilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Del Bagno, whose call sign was Cajun, was the first F-35 pilot to serve on the Thunderbirds, Nellis said in a June 2017 release announcing the newly-added members of the 2018 team. As the Thunderbirds\u2019 slot pilot, Del Bagno flew in close formation, just behind the team\u2019s No. 1 aircraft and between the lead aircraft\u2019s two wingmen to create its signature diamond formation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was photographed shaking hands with Vice President Mike Pence when Pence visited the Thunderbirds hangar at Nellis Jan. 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n