Blue Angels Flight Leader, George Dom | Pushing the Limits (NEW DOCUMENTARY)

In their relentless quest to fly the perfect flight demonstration, Boss George Dom and his Blue Angel teammates pushed the boundaries of human capability everyday during his tenure as Commanding Officer and Flight Leader of the U.S. Navy’s elite squadron. Recognizing the intricate challenge of orchestrating a six-plane formation, executing high-performance maneuvers with paper-thin margins, Boss Dom adhered to a straightforward motto: “Practice until we get it right, and then keep practicing until we can’t get it wrong”. This creed proved invaluable for the Blue Angels as they embarked on a demanding schedule, showcasing their blue and gold F/A-18 Hornets across the United States to represent forward-deployed sailors and marines stationed around the world.
In this new short documentary, Boss Dom delves into his Navy journey, early deployments, and the challenges he faced in trying to secure a pilot position with the Blue Angels before eventually being appointed as the Team’s command officer for the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Boss Dom also offers valuable insights into the demands of serving as the Flight Leader of the Blue Angels and recounts cherished memories from the road, including an unforgettable surprise flyby over a San Francisco 49ers football game at Candlestick Park, which left a lasting impression on renowned commentator John Madden. In addition, he underscores significant milestones such as the implementation of the Cuban Eight on Takeoff and the Diamond Landing, while also conveying his deep gratitude for the Blue Angels’ maintenance team.
About George Dom, Captain, USN (ret.):
From: Westmorland County, Pennsylvania
Graduated: Duke University 1977 | Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship
Callsign: Elwood
Total Flight Hours: 6,970
Arrested Carrier Landing: 1,023
Dates of Active Duty: 1977 - 2003
Navy Career Highlights:
Joined the Navy: June, 1977
Wings of Gold: July 28, 1978
Navy Fighter Weapons School, TOPGUN: June, 1986 - April, 1989
CO, Strike-Fighter Squadron 37: April, 1995 - July 1996
Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron: November, 1996 - November, 1998
CO, Carrier Air Wing Seven: July, 2000 - January 2002
Joint Staff, J-5, Pentagon: January, 2002 - June, 2003
Combat Tours:
USS Coral Sea / VFA-131: Operation Eldorado Canyon, Libya: April, 1986
USS America / VFA-82: Operation Desert Storm, Iraq/Kuwait: Jan-Mar 1991
USS Eisenhower / VFA-37: Operation Southern Watch, Iraq: November, 1994
USS Eisenhower / VFA-37: Operation Noble Anvil, Kosovo: March, 1995
USS Eisenhower / CVW-7: Operation Southern Watch, Iraq: Feb-Jul 2000
Awards:
Tailhooker of the Year - 2001
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Navy Commendation Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
Honorary Doctor of Science, Seton Hill University
__________________________
VIDEO CREDITS:
Produced by Ryan Nothhaft | Blue Angel Phantoms
Visual Resources
ABC News
America’s Flying Aces | MK2
Blues & the Birds
Cody Hendrix - photo used in thumbnail
DVIDS
Fox Sports
National Archives
rulenumberone2 | Flickr
steve.moss88 | Flickr
The Blue Angels, In Pursuit of Excellence | Stirlin Harris & Peter Lang
The Magic of Flight | IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Wittmann51 | KZbin
__________________________
1997 Blue Angels Team
1. CDR George Dom
2. Maj Pat Cooke, USMC
3. LT Mark Dunleavy
4. LCDR Scott Moyer
5. LT Ryan Scholl
6. LT Scott Beare
7. LT Doug Verissimo
8. LT Kevin Lacasse
Capt Stuart Smith, USMC
Capt Daren Martin, USMC
Capt Rob Wunderlich, USMC
MO LT Clark Merritt
Doc LT Bryan Buchanan
AO LCDR Patricia Tezak
PAO LT Tanya Wallace (Presser)
SUPO LT Duke Heinz
1998 Blue Angels
1. CAPT George Dom
2. Maj Scott Wedemeyer
3. LT David Silkey
4. LCDR Mark Dunleavy
5. LCDR Scott Beare
6. LT Doug Verissimo
7. LT Scott Ind
8. LT Kevin Lacasse
Capt Darren Martin, USMC
Maj Dwight Neeley, USMC
Capt Andy Hall, USMC
MO LT Neal Austin
Doc LT Bryan Buchanan
AO LCDR Nancy Lake
PAO LT Tanya Wallace (Presser)
SUPO LT Michelle Saari (Flynn)
______________________________________________
Topics Mentioned:
Blue Angels Documentary
U.S. Navy Blue Angels
Navy Pilot
Naval Air Station Lemoore
Naval Air Station Pensacola
William Hayden
Chief of Naval Air Training
LTV A-7 Corsair II
Boeing FA-18
San Francisco Fleet Week
1997 San Francisco 49ers Game
Rams at 49ers
Football game flyover
Blue Angels cockpit
Blue Angels cockpit footage
Half Cuban Eight takeoff
Half Squirrel Cage
Diamond Dirty Loop
Line-Abreast Loop
Delta Roll
Delta Pitch Up Carrier Break to Land
Diamond Landing

[@divindragon1302]

My respect to. all you Blue Angles, Thank you for all the wonderful shows, but most of all, thank you all for your service.

[@BlueAngelPhantoms]

The story of the 49er flyover never gets old. I recently went back through old personal photos and realized that I actually attended that San Francisco Fleet Week with my family. Didn't know about the flyover of the game until years later. THANK YOU Boss Dom for your willingness to participating in this project!

[@timp.6127]

Same here, I attended that year's Fleet Week, and did not know that flyover. Thank you Boss Dom!

[@lightningmcqueen181]

His cadence was Phenomenal!

[@jenmichaels8917]

#❤

[@ronwilsontringue6574]

O.K but not as good as ""The Red Commies"

[@klacasse2903]

Great job Boss and Ryan! Brought back a lot of memories. Lax

[@keithstalder9770]

So well done Elwood, pure class, as always. The Blues and their people are National treasures. Many thanks.

[@robertlafnear7034]

BEST of the BEST Here ! GO NAVY ! HCU-1 Pearl YRST-1 '71-'73😁

[@edwardgrabot798]

Elwood! He's a good guy! I knew him from the TOPGUN instructor days and did something minor for the Blue Angels when they were at NAS Miramar and he countered that with a signed, matted and framed photo of the Blues in formation. Also was known to wear the famous tuxedo t-shirt to certain events.

[@れんとんさーすとん-c3w]

世界最強！ ブルースのデモを見たら、他が子供だましにしか見えません。 と、言っても自国の各アクロバットチームとUS.AIRFORCEのTBしか見てなくて、いまだにナマでは見てないですけどね…😅 一度いいから見てみたいです👍

[@CesarDelgado-fu2nd]

First saw them 8 year's olds chicago blue angels 💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙 2008

[@barrymccockiner6641]

Heck yea, leaving now to see them in GJC this weekend!

[@BlueAngelPhantoms]

Have fun!

[@hanknothhaft]

Ryan one of your best. Boss Dom set the standard for Blue Angel leaders.

[@fernandoramirez3778]

Where did you find the shots from Blues and the Birds?? I have been trying to find it ever since I lost the DVD and would love to see this documentary again, thanks!!

[@BlueAngelPhantoms]

It’s a great film. I think I got my copy on eBay if I recall. But that was many years ago.

[@fernandoramirez3778]

I would love to see a copy made available for the world to see. It was my childhood and defined my love for aviation and the blues specifically @@BlueAngelPhantoms

[@taoh780]

If I didn't attend Fleet Week that year, I was probably looking west out my window from Downtown Oakland. I love watching the Blue Angels perform. First time I went to see the Blues was probably around '95 or '96, and it was a foggy Sunday. Just as a MiG-17 was about to perform, the show was cancelled.

[@55Reever]

First time I saw the Blue Angels was in 1966, and every time I see a demonstration it is just as exciting as the first time at NAS Lemoore.

[@mycurbalert5846]

From all of me, Thank you all for what you do. I believe you all are part of the untouchables of this world. I love what you do. Maybe in another life I flew together with you, because maybe that's why I feel so close to the topic of the Blue Angels. God Bless! Always, Janine

[@winkyflorida]

Boss Dom is one of the best!

[@joebag6474]

Wow! and Thanks for your service!!! Wow!

[@KenNewberry]

Thank you Ryan for all the effort you put into these videos!

[@BayAreaTraveler]

A huge Blue Angels fan here and really enjoy this documentary. I had watched that other 1 hour video of Boss Dom leading the BA through Fleet Week and that was just awesome.

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Thanks Ryan. I enjoyed the bio in the description. Well done.

[@daviddunkerley7198]

This is an amazing, humbling video. Beautifully presented.

[@CadetClark1996]

This was SO GOOD! I enjoyed every minute of this video! The Blues still inspire me to follow my dreams!

[@BB-zs9hp]

Excellent piece, Boss and Ryan. As this time of year rolls around, I always think about Fleet Week, the Bay Area, and our airshows there. Great memories. And you’re right, Ryan, the stories never get old! BW

[@mattischlese5385]

Great video, first class entertainment and really well edited and curated. Thank you!

[@gunndish]

Elwood ... you are the man! Awesome piece. "Gunz" sends

[@rmk1283]

As a 6th generation Pensacola native I am really liking these videos. We love our hometown Blue Angels! Been watching them fly over our house and beaches since I can remember.

[@fernandodanielramirez8781]

I noticed a lot of clips from the “Blues & Birds” DVD; it would be amazing if anyone could steer me to a digital copy since that DVD was my childhood and the reason I love the Blue Angels so much

[@RolandF1822]

Boss Dom was my first and favorite CO after boot camp in 1997.

[@SWog617]

Question for anyone who might know the answer... I found a website that lists all the members of the Blue Angels by year. As you know, they each serve 2 or 3 years, and seem to advance to a new slot each year. For example, the #7 pilot/narrator one year will be the #6 opposing solo the next year, and the #5 lead solo after that. I think most of the diamond pilots do something similar, but... The #1 Boss "seems" to be brand new whenever there's a new one. It seems like that would make them the least experienced member of the team in terms of the Blue Angels' acrobatics. Am I understanding that right? Is it because they're the highest rank? It seems like a ton of responsibility for a new guy that first year. Thanks!

[@OriginalThisAndThat]

1997-1998 is a important years in my life also. My lifetime dream was to become AF pilot. Unfortunately 6 months before joining the army I had lifechanging injuries in car accident that wasnt my fault, and never could continue my dream to fly hornets.

[@gregmarchegiani6656]

George I stumbled across your 1997 fleet week show video with audio and I loved it. You may say you don’t have stick and rudder skills: ok I may have even less, as I am a turboprop cargo driver, but your callouts during the show, albeit standardized, are a true inspiration and in some strange way apply to my profession as well. Congrats

[@stephenbrown1077]

That was fantastic, please come to the UK 🇬🇧 someday 🙏

[@semperfidelis8386]

who DECLINES an invitation to take a ride in an F-18 hot rod?!?!?! Send ME that invitation, dude....

[@patricklaine6958]

Fantastic interview George. I'm so proud to have had the privilege to fly with him as a young lieutenant. It was obvious he was destined for great things --- and you see it here.

[@thewildgoose1979]

Formation landing. I had read they tried it once in the F-18 and never again due to safety issues. I didn't know they fixed that and did it more than once. Maybe that was the Delta Landing?

[@semperfidelis8386]

sheeeeeit...I'll take one of their rides!!! WHO turns down a ride in a hot rod F18??

[@richardchamberlain6011]

Humility at that level is exceptional!!

[@jimmygadd]

as a swede, the blue angels is the top dog, no other group can reach that status!

[@kawai99100]

I'm a female sailor who served on the USS LEXINGTON and then the USS FORRESTAL. Always a pleasure coming back from training out in the Gulf and the Blues buzzing us. Of course I'm going to give a shout out to LCRD Amanda Lee. In my day, ladies were just coming aboard carriers and it wasn't made easy for some time. The Blues are always awesome and something to look forward to since I now get to see them practice from my yard in Pensacola 😊

[@JonnyJonJon]

Nicely done! Imagine if the Blue Angels flew the F-22 Raptors now, how cool that would be ;)

[@tilneyaviation]

F-22s are flown by the airforce, but maybe the thunderbirds will use them some day

[@palleh.jensen4648]

Thanks for sharing your story Boss.

[@TheChaz81]

Sir you Da Man Boss Dom! Semper Fi

[@SteveParrish-j5v]

Well done Boss! Well done!

[@t.r.766]

TEAM ALL MADEN !! ❤

[@wesreeder7755]

Very well done Boss and Ryan! Hope to see you EOS weekend.

[@KenKellySWFL]

Great video!