SMYRNA, Tenn. (WKRN) – A pilot was killed after a U.S. Navy Blue Angels jet
crashed Thursday afternoon in Smyrna ahead of the Great Tennessee Airshow
this weekend.

The F/A-18 aircraft crashed at 3 p.m. behind the Sam Davis Home, about 2 miles
from the runway, while practicing for the now-cancelled demonstration. Authorities arrived within minutes.

The U.S. Navy confirmed the pilot died in the crash. While military officials have
not identified the pilot, the Associated Press said it is Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss
(shown above).

Kuss is said to have maneuvered his jet away from populated areas when he
crashed, possibly saving lives before he was killed.

During its history, 27 Blue Angels pilots have been killed in air show or training
accidents.

SANDY KOZEL

William Martin "Billy" Joel is 67 today

Billy Joel learned boxing to defend himself from bullies, and won twenty-
two bouts in the amateur Golden Gloves circuit. He played the piano at
bars to help support his mother while in high school.

SANDY KOZEL

George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985)

Welles received a scholarship to attend Harvard University after high school,
but chose instead to travel through Europe.

A Japanese balloon bomb photographed in New York, July 2, 1945.

A Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon on
this day in 1945. A pregnant woman and five children who were on an
outing were killed after discovering the explosive balloon launched by
the Japanese military. These are the only known fatalities on the U.S.
mainland from enemy attack during World War l l.

ROSS SIMPSON

Elvis Presley and Priscilla’s private wedding ceremony on
May 1, 1967 in Las Vegas.