The Blue Angels will fly their first air show as a complete unit this weekend since the death of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, who died in a plane crash June 2 during a practice session. Kuss, a Durango native, had loved jets since he was a little boy.
The family of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss arrives at the Durango-La Plata County Airport Friday afternoon. Photo by Luke Perkins/Durango Herald
Police, firefighters, airport personnel and Marines await the arrival of the remains of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss at the Durango-La Plata County Airport on Friday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Military personnel await the arrival Friday afternoon of the remains of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss at the Durango-La Plata County Airport. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Airport personnel, police, firefighters and Marines at the Durango-La Plata County Airport to welcome Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss home. Photo by Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
Memorial bracelets were made in honor of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, a Durango native. Photo by Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
The Kuss family prepares to leave the Durango-La Plata Airport Friday afternoon with the remains of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, who died in a jet crash last week during a Blue Angels practice flight. Photo by Luke Perkins/Durango Herald
Military personnel prepare for the arrival Friday afternoon of the remains of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss at the Durango-La Plata County Airport. Photo by Luke Perkins/Durango Herald
U.S. Marines stand outside a Blue Angels carrier on Friday afternoon to escort the remains of Blue Angels pilot and Capt. Jeff Kuss, a Durango native who died June 2 when he was flying his plane in Tennessee. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard await the arrival of family members of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss and his remains in a C140 Blue Angles plane as it taxies at Durango-La Plata County Airport on Friday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard await the arrival of family members of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss and his remains in a C140 Blue Angles plane as it taxies at Durango-La Plata County Airport on Friday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard stands behind the plane that carried the remains of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss from Pensacola, Florida, home to Durango on Friday. Photo by Claudia Laws/Durango Herald
A Blue Angels transport plane arrives with Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss’ remains on Friday afternoon at Durango-La Plata County Airport. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A Blue Angels transport plane arrives with Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss’ remains on Friday afternoon at Durango-La Plata County Airport. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
An escort was provided for family members of the late Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss as they leave the Durango-La Plata County Airport on Friday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
A Blue Angels transport plane carrying family members of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss and his remains arrives at the Durango-La Plata County Airport on Friday afternoon. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Christina Kuss, the widow of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, and their children Calvin, 4, and Sloane, 1, thank the Blue Angels crew that flew her husband’s remains and family members to the Durango-La Plata County Airport on Friday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Christina Kuss, the widow of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, and their children Calvin, 4, and Sloane, 1, thank the Blue Angels crew that flew her husband’s remains and family members to the Durango-La Plata County Airport on Friday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Family members of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss carry his ashes out of the plane on Friday afternoon at Durango-La Plata County Airport. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Family members of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss carry his ashes out of the plane on Friday afternoon at Durango-La Plata County Airport. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Family members of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss carry his ashes out of the plane on Friday afternoon at Durango-La Plata County Airport. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Another pilot will fly in the opposite solo role when the elite
Kuss died in a plane crash June 2 while the Blue Angels were preparing for an air show in Tennessee. His replacement, Cmdr. Frank Weisser, served with the Blue Angels from 2008 to 2010.
“I am grateful that I can, in some small way, do my part to further the mission of the Blue Angels,” Weisser said in a Blue Angels news release. “I am sad, because this is Capt. Kuss’ team, this is his position I am flying. I am thankful that I can honor his memory and his legacy here.”
The Blue Angels, which had been flying as a five-plane unit, underwent a rigorous training schedule in August to integrate Weiss into the team. They will fly at the Cleveland National Air Show during the Labor Day weekend.
Herald Staff
