Alfred Taddeo is from Portland, Oregon. While there with a group of classmates at the University of Portland Oregon [Annotator's Note: University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon] in the late 1930s, they decided to join the civilian pilot training program [Annotator's Note: CPTP, Civilian Pilot Training Program, 1938 to 1944]. The men knew war was looming. In the early 1940s, Taddeo's friend, Jim Billow [Annotator's Note: spelling not confirmed] joined Navy aviation. Taddeo had accompanied Billow when he joined up in Seattle, Washington. Billow encouraged Taddeo to take the physical for the program. Taddeo was accepted but was not yet ready to enlist. Taddeo had never been interested in flying but when Billow sent photographs of the F4F [Annotator's Note: Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter aircraft] with the red and white stripes on its tail, he was hooked. On 5 November 1941, he joined the Navy, just prior to the United States entering the war on 7 December [Annotator's Note: the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 7 December 1941]. Taddeo was accepted for fighter training in Seattle. After the initial phase, he was sent to Corpus Christi, Texas where he received his wings. He began operational and field carrier landing training in Jacksonville, Florida piloting old worn out Navy aircraft. Flying SNJs [Annotator's Note: the SNJ is the Navy designation for the North American AT-6 Texan advanced trainer aircraft] and Brewster Buffalos [Annotator's Note: Brewster F2A Buffalo fighter aircraft], the rookie pilots felt like hotshots. From Jacksonville, Taddeo, along with his training group, was sent to the Great Lakes [Annotator's Note: Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois] for carrier qualifications. Upon first sight of the carrier, the USS Wolverine [Annotator's Note: USS Wolverine (IX-64)], did not look like a carrier to him. He was carrier qualified after eight landings on the Wolverine. Shipped to Alameda Naval Air Station [Annotator's Note: in Alameda, California], he joined Squadron VC-21 [Annotator's Note: Composite Squadron 21 (VC-21)] aboard the carrier USS Nassau (CVE-16) which was composed of both experienced pilots and the nuggets [Annotator's Note: slang for new pilots]. They went to San Diego [Annotator's Note: San Diego, California] and then to the Aleutians [Annotator's Note: Aleutian Islands, Alaska] and participated in the Attu [Annotator's Note: Battle of Attu, 11 to 30 May 1943, Attu Island, Alaska] and Kiska [Annotator's Note: Operation Cottage, 15 August 1943, Kiska Island, Alaska] campaign [Annotator's Note: Aleutian Islands campaign, 3 June 1942 to 15 August 1943] in early 1943.

[Annotator's Note: Alfred Taddeo served in the Navy as a fighter pilot aboard the USS Nassau (CVE-16) in the Aleutian Islands in early 1943.] Taddeo experienced rough seas and bad weather when his ship was deployed. The ship was on station providing ground support for the recapture of Kiska [Annotator's Note: Operation Cottage, 15 August 1943, Kiska Island, Alaska] and Attu [Annotator's Note: Battle of Attu, 11 to 30 May 1943, Attu Island, Alaska] from the Japanese. During the engagement, the Nassau suffered a 25 percent loss of pilots. Many of those pilot were experienced aviators. The squadron skipper, Greenamyer [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Commander Lloyd Keys Greenamyer] was lost in action. Taddeo's plane was hit but not seriously. The ship returned to North Island [Annotator's Note: North Island, San Diego, California] where Taddeo was treated for appendicitis [Annotator's Note: inflammation of the appendix] that he had contracted before Nassau's arrival. When he recovered, he knew he wanted to join an F6F [Annotator's Note: Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft] and not an F4F [Annotator's Note: Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter aircraft] squadron. Taddeo was pleased to join VF-10 [Annotator's Note: Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10)] aboard the Enterprise [Annotator's Note: USS Enterprise (CV-6)] being repaired in Seattle, Washington. VF-10 had been commanded by Jimmy Flatley [Annotator's Note: later US Navy Vice Admiral James Henry Flatley, Jr.] prior to his reassignment. Killer Kane [Annotator's Note: later US Navy Captain William R. "Killer" Kane] became VF-10's skipper [Annotator's Note: slang for commander or captain]. Flash Gordon [Annotator's Note: later US Navy Captain Donald "Flash" Gordon] was another admired pilot. The seasoned pilots taught the newcomers how to survive and protect each other as well as their fellow torpedo and bombing squadrons. The new members learned the Thach Weave [Annotator's Note: aerial combat tactic developed by later US Navy Admiral James S. Thatch]. The seasoned pilots were the stabilizing influence on the squadron. Taddeo admired their knowledge and experience. The Enterprise was a much larger and more complex carrier than Taddeo's previous ship. The crew was an experienced, skilled, and cohesive group. Taddeo was impressed with the way the ship's company and the air group worked together. There was no competition between them as found on other carriers. Although Enterprise and Saratoga [Annotator's Note: USS Saratoga (CV-3)] had a rivalry, they always worked to protect each other. The Enterprise would become the most decorated ship in the Navy during World War 2. Some members of the first VF-10 squadron would be used to bolster other squadrons but there was enough of the original group to benefit Taddeo and other newcomers in the second VF-10 established after the Enterprise was repaired. Taddeo participated in several actions in the Pacific. He was shot down while engaging the enemy at Truk [Annotator's Note: Operation Hailstone, 17 to 18 February 1944; Truk Lagoon, Federated States of Micronesia] but made his way back to Enterprise. He thought Flash Gordon was one of the most respected pilots. He also admired Bob Kanze [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant (j.g.) Robert F. Kanze] who was an enlisted pilot who was promoted to ensign. Kanze was totally respected for his enlisted time and subsequent promotion. He had combat experience also. Taddeo looked up to him.

Alfred Taddeo remembers his first combat action involved strafing and bombing runs against enemy positions on numerous islands. Takeoff would be before sunup with limited flight navigation capabilities. That made for difficulty in rendezvousing prior to missions. Many people were lost. He particularly remembers Kwajalein [Annotator's Note: Battle of Kwajalein, 31 January to 3 February 1944, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands] where Kanze [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant (j.g.) Robert F. Kanze] was division leader. After an attack by Japanese aircraft, the formation was broken up. Taddeo formed up on Jim Farley [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant John J. Farley] who was another division leader. While flying through clouds, the two American planes nearly collided with an enemy plane. They ultimately flew on to support the ground troops below. After so many strikes, the island turned from lush green to desolate brown as the airmen and ground troops made their way across the enemy defensive positions. Taddeo was stunned when he was shot at by an enemy airplane that attacked him head-on. Initially, he thought the bullets that whizzed by him were pretty until he realized what they were. The squadron [Annotator's Note: Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10), USS Enterprise (CV-6)] flew against many enemy strongholds. Ultimately, Truk [Annotator's Note: Truk Lagoon, Federated States of Micronesia] was the objective. Japanese planes flew up to meet them but the action was not significant. That was the case until "Killer" [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Commander William R. "Killer" Kane] led a flight that discovered enemy ships in the lagoon. As the Americans descended on the targets, flak [Annotator's Note: antiaircraft artillery fire] went up. Taddeo was hit. His wingman indicated that Taddeo's plane was leaking oil. He was 125 miles from the Enterprise [Annotator's Note: USS Enterprise (CV-6)]. He managed to make his way back to the carrier. He was told to standby while a deck load of aircraft launched. He was trailing smoke. The LSO [Annotator's Note: landing signal officer] brought Taddeo in despite him being high. He made the cut on his engine just as it locked up. The event was a hair raiser for Taddeo. VF-10 [Annotator's Note: Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10)] did a lot of strafing and bombing runs. They were expected to not return with any remaining ammunition or ordnance. On one occasion, his .50 caliber [Annotator's Note: Browning ANM2 .50 caliber machine gun] ammunition tore into three enemy positions causing them to simultaneously explode. VF-10 had two runs at Truk. On the second one, they caught many aircraft on the ground. VT-10 [Annotator's Note: Torpedo Squadron 10 (VT-10), USS Enterprise (CV-6)] had a skipper [Annotator's Note: slang for commander], Bill Martin [Annotator's Note: US Navy Vice Admiral William Inman Martin], who taught his pilots night operations. He was playing basketball on the hanger deck and broke his arm. His squadron attacked the lagoon without him at night and sunk or damaged 13 ships. It was the first significant night action for the Enterprise. Later, during the assault on Saipan [Annotator's Note: Battle of Saipan, 15 June to 9 July 1944, Mariana Islands] and Tinian [Annotator's Note: Battle of Tinian, 24 July to 1 August 1944, Mariana Islands], word came that Martin had been shot down. Taddeo was instrumental in locating him offshore for rescue. Despite ongoing naval shore bombardment, Taddeo and another pilot, Gibby Gilbert [Annotator's Note: unable to verify identity], volunteered to search for Martin. They flew in low to be under the ships' line of fire. Taddeo's F6F [Annotator's Note: Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft] rattled as the large caliber weapons fired on the island. Gilbert dropped a raft to Martin. The downed pilot was rescued and provided valuable information about what he had observed. The big guns destroyed the small island near Martin. Taddeo and Martin met several times after the war.

Alfred Taddeo was involved in combat over Tinian [Annotator's Note: Tinian, Mariana Islands] and Saipan [Annotator's Note: Saipan, Mariana Islands] as well as the big Turkey Shoot [Annotator's Note: Great Marianas Turkey Shoot; nickname for the aerial battle part of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19 to 20 June 1944]. The latter was hairy coming back because it was night. Before that, the SB2C [Annotator's Note: Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bomber] came into being to replace the SBDs [Annotator's Note: Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber]. The Enterprise [Annotator's Note: USS Enterprise (CV-6)] still carried SBDs with Jig Ramage [Annotator's Note: later US Navy Rear Admiral James D. "Jig Dog" Ramage]. Despite knowing they did not carry enough fuel to return to the ship, the SBD pilots nevertheless attacked the enemy ships. The F6F [Annotator's Note: Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft] had belly tanks carrying extra fuel. They knew they could get back. On the return to the Enterprise, her fighter pilots heard bomber pilots as they announced their fuel supply was depleted and they were ditching. After reaching the Enterprise, Taddeo found it difficult to observe the landing operations. The LSO [Annotator's Note: landing signal officer] managed to have two F6Fs land simultaneously with one catching the five and the other snagging the three wire [Annotator's Note: there are multiple arresting gear wires utilized to decelerate aircraft on carrier landings]. Killer [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Commander William R. "Killer" Kane] went into the water. He was picked up right away. The ships' lights went on [Annotator's Note: ships were normally blacked out at night to avoid submarine attack. For returning pilots low on fuel, the illumination of the ships' lights served as a beacon home.]. Pilots landed on different carriers. Japanese pilots even tried to land on American carriers. The next day, many of the downed pilots were recovered. It was scary. VF-10 [Annotator's Note: Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10), USS Enterprise (CV-6)] escorted the torpedo and bombing squadrons from their carrier. VF-10 never lost anybody unless they got into a fight. Combat is hard to explain because there was a lot going on. During the Shoot, the enemy had no place to go. Rod Devine [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Richard O. Devine] followed enemy planes in their traffic pattern as they prepared to land. In doing so, he shot down five enemy planes in a row. The Americans had air superiority. It was the end of the war as far as Taddeo was concerned.

Alfred Taddeo witnessed constant attacks by kamikaze aircraft. He and Kanze [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant (j.g.) Robert F. Kanze] were on the flight deck when a Betty [Annotator's Note: Mistubishi G4M medium bomber, known as the Betty] got through the destroyers and cruisers. They were watching as the torpedo neared the aircraft carrier. The captain of the Enterprise [Annotator's Note: US Navy Captain Matthias B. Gardner] maneuvered the ship to steam parallel with the torpedo. Had the captain not made that turn successfully, Taddeo and Kanze would not have survived. It was unforgettable. Taddeo had two and a half kills. Pilots had to be at the right place at the right time. Starting with the training from seasoned pilots, the new pilots became somewhat proficient on their own and became successful at shooting down enemy planes. One of the main tactics was not to avoid following a Zero [Annotator's Note: Japanese Mitsubishi A6M fighter aircraft, referred to as the Zeke or Zero] in a climb with the F6F [Annotator's Note: Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft] because the enemy would eventually catch the Hellcat in its ultimate backward fall. One of the instructors did not follow his own precept regarding this strategy and was shot down as a result. Taddeo shot down a Zero while flying wing with Killer Kane [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Commander William R. "Killer" Kane]. He then found a flying boat, an Emily [Annotator's Note: Kawanishi H8K Type 2 flying boat, referred to as Emily] and shot it down assisted by four other Hellcats from the Lexington [Annotator's Note: USS Lexington (CV-16)]. Afterward, Taddeo followed the Lexington flyers back to their ship. One of the Lexington pilots was a man he had gone to the University of Portland [Annotator's Note: University of Portland in Eugene, Oregon] with. This occurred just prior to the Turkey Shoot [Annotator's Note: Great Marianas Turkey Shoot; nickname for the aerial battle part of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19 to 20 June 1944]. Commander Martin [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Commander William I. "Bill" Martin was shot down] was right afterward. The Turkey Shoot followed those incidents by a few days. Taddeo amassed a total of somewhere between 700 and 900 flight hours. Taddeo reviewed his logbook but it was maintained by someone else and relatively incomplete. Taddeo had added some notes to it.When Taddeo's wingman had a problem lowering his tail hook, they diverted to Isely Field [Annotator's Note: now Saipan International Airport] on Saipan [Annotator's Note: Saipan, Mariana Islands]. The field had been fought for and won and lost several times. While the two American pilots were there, bombs started falling. They jumped into a culvert for safety and were soaked but otherwise unharmed. The wingman's tail hook was repaired and the two flyers returned to the Enterprise [Annotator's Note: USS Enterprise (CV-6)]. Taddeo left the Pacific and his airplane at Eniwetok [Annotator's Note: Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands] in July [Annotator's Note: July 1944] and returned Stateside by August.

Alfred Taddeo became an instructor at Melbourne, Florida where he met several former VF-10 [Annotator's Note: Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10)] pilots. He saw Chip Reding [Annotator's Note: US Navy Ensign Willis B. "Chip" Reding], Rock Tabu [Annotator's Note: likely US Navy Lieutenant Richard G. Taber], and Steve Kona [Annotator's Note: US Navy Ensign Steve G. Kona]. Kona was in the first 10. Taddeo joined VF-10 or the second 10 after the repair of the carrier [Annotator's Note: USS Enterprise (CV-6)] for her redeployment. Taddeo was content with being an instructor in preoperational training in the United States. The Japanese were on the run. Taddeo was there until 1946. At that point, Commander Winters [Annotator's Note: US Navy Commander T. Hugh Winters] had Butch Voris [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Commander Roy "Butch" Voris] lead a group of flyers to Jacksonville, Florida to establish a new unit which would help with Naval Air recruiting. Taddeo responded to a call for volunteers. Mel Cassidy [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Mel Cassidy] and Taddeo became good friends while instructors near Miami [Annotator's Note: Miami, Florida]. Cassidy and Wick Wickendoll [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Maurice "Wick" Wickendoll], a former VF-10 pilot, plus an instructor named Bernard [Annotator's Note: no further name information provided] were selected for the yet unnamed unit comprised of volunteers. In June [Annotator's Note: June 1946], Taddeo received emergency orders to join that unit. Two days after that was to be the first airshow. Bernard had received emergency orders to Texas. Taddeo did not fly the first performance in his Hellcat [Annotator's Note: Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft] but spent about a year with them afterward. They flew simulated combat flights including demonstrations of the Thach Weave [Annotator's Note: aerial combat tactic developed by later US Navy Admiral John S. "Jimmy" Thatch]. The shows were very successful. That was the beginning of Taddeo's tenure with the Blue Angels [Annotator's Note: United States Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron]. Taddeo had decided while still in combat to sign on as regular Navy and was accepted. After his year with the Blue Angels, he was transferred into a regular propeller aircraft fighter squadron.

Alfred Taddeo was with the squadron that became the Blue Angels [Annotator's Note: United States Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron] when names were being considered. A contest was organized for the best name of the flight group. Initially, the Blue Lancers led the pack, but it was not quite hitting the mark. Butch [Annotator's Note: US Navy Captain Roy "Butch" Voris], Taddeo and Mel Cassidy [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Mel Cassidy] were having drinks when they were joined by Wick Wickendoll [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Maurice "Wick" Wickendoll]. Wickendoll said he had arrived at the name of the group. He had found a newspaper advertisement for a night club called The Blue Angel. When he pointed the club's name out to his fellow flyers, they all agreed that was the best name for their demonstration squadron. The media picked up the name and it stuck. That became the official name despite pressure from superior officers. The Angels were named for a night club. [Annotator's Note: Taddeo laughs.] The Blue Angels have a large reunion every five years. A recent one was in Pensacola [Annotator's Note: Pensacola, Florida]. The legacy goes on with new members as the years progress. Rear Admiral Denny Wisely heads the Blue Angels Association. The enlisted group is The Blue Angels Alumni Association. Taddeo was the current eldest of the association members after Dusty Rhodes [Annotator's Note: US Navy Commander Raleigh "Dusty" Rhodes] passed at 89 years of age.

Alfred Taddeo joined VF-5 [Annotator's Note: Fighting Squadron 5 (VF-5)] Baker which had formerly been VF-17 [Annotator's Note: Fighting Squadron 17 (VF-17)] with its skull and crossbones insignia. He flew F4Us [Annotator's Note: Vought F4U Corsair fighter aircraft]. Transitions happened over the years. Taddeo wanted to get into jets. He was assigned to Monterrey, California and then Key West, Florida. He was to be the special services officer. While he was yearning to be in operations, he was put in charge of organizing a carnival for charity. Next, he was sent to Rhode Island and Commander Carrier Division 14 for antisubmarine warfare. It was 1953. He followed Admiral Fitzhugh Lee from one carrier to the next. He was frustrated because he wanted to be a fighter pilot instead performing antisubmarine duty. He requested a transfer to a fighter squadron and the Admiral granted his wish in 1954 when he joined VF-43 [Annotator's Note: Fighting Squadron 43 (VF-43)] in Jacksonville, Florida. He became the executive officer. The squadron had Panthers [Annotator's Note: Grumman F9F Panther jet fighter aircraft] but transitioned into swept wing aircraft [Annotator's Note: aircraft with wings that angled toward the rear of the aircraft instead of straight wings]. After a short tenure, he was sent to the Pentagon where he spent three years in air intelligence as an analyst. He maintained his flight proficiency. He wanted command of a squadron.In San Diego [Annotator's Note: San Diego, California], he finally received command of a jet squadron. It was 1959 and 1960 when he moved his family to San Diego only to find that things were heating up in Asia. It was decided that a propeller squadron was needed and Taddeo would assume command of the AD attack aircraft [Annotator's Note: AD was the former designation for the Douglas A-1 Skyraider attack aircraft]. He had no experience with that type plane assignment. He debated the new command but ultimately accepted it though not skilled at flying the airplane designated for the squadron. He was given command of VA-52 [Annotator's Note: Attack Squadron 52 (VA-52)] and its AD aircraft. He had to have technique and flight instruction provided to him by a couple of ensigns and jg's [Annotator's Note: lieutenant junior grade] skilled in the attack plane's performance. Jet trained personnel were moved out in preference for experienced piston driven air crews and pilots. Taddeo was sent through nuclear training school and was happy he had a squadron to command. He wanted to take them to sea. He went aboard the Ticonderoga [Annotator's Note: USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)] in the South Pacific. His squadron was awarded multiple recognitions while he was in command of the Skyraider squadron. He was satisfied with the performance of his men. Upon return, he was assigned to Butch Voris [Annotator's Note: US Navy Captain Roy "Butch" Voris] who was head of the Carrier Department of Pacific Naval Fleet. Taddeo served under Voris as the Flight Attack Training and Readiness Officer before he retired in February 1963. He went on to become an automobile salesman. He moved around quite a bit and did well. He has stayed in touched with Kanze [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant (j.g.) Robert F. Kanze] and also Rock Tabor [Annotator's Note: likely [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Richard G. Taber]. Not many veterans are left of VF-10 [Annotator's Note: Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10)]. He does see Flash [Annotator's Note: US Navy Captain Donald "Flash" Gordon] quite a bit. Taddeo received a plaque upon his departure from the Grim Reapers [Annotator's Note: nickname for Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10)].

Initially, Alfred Taddeo lost contact with his fellow flyers after their short stint together on the team [Annotator's Note: Taddeo was with the United States Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron during 1946 and 1947]. Butch [Annotator's Note: US Navy Commander Roy "Butch" Voris], Bob Clarke [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Commander Bob Clarke], Dusty Rhodes [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Commander Raleigh "Dusty" Rhodes], and Johnny Magda [Annotator's Note: US Navy Lieutenant Commander Johnny Magda] and others went separate ways and did not see each other for a while. The Angels were even stood down during the Vietnam War [Annotator's Note: Vietnam War, or Second Indochina War, 1 November 1955 to 30 April 1975]. The Department of Defense has taken over coordination of scheduled presentations of the Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds [Annotator's Note: Thunderbirds United Sates Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron]. Huge crowds come to see the shows. Taddeo goes to see the shows on occasion. The Blue Angels started with the F6F Hellcat [Annotator's Note: Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter aircraft] in June [Annotator's Note: June 1946] and by August had transitioned to the Bearcat [Annotator's Note: Grumman F8F Bearcat fighter aircraft]. Acrobatic demonstrations highlighted the aerial show. Some engineers thought the flyers were crazy with some of their stunts. The Navy pilots even doubled up on some of the maneuvers when they changed from the F6F and F8F. They flew so close to the water's surface that the prop wash from the three planes could be seen by the pilots. When Bob Clarke took over, the number of planes increased from three to four. The fourth plane in the team has been maintained through to current shows. The Angels are a good group that work hard and put in a lot of hours. They stage out of Pensacola [Annotator's Note: Naval Air Station Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida]. They are away from home quite a bit. Great leadership has been selected for the organization. The unit has toured Russia and Europe using refueling stations along the way. Taddeo put on a show in New Orleans [Annotator's Note: New Orleans, Louisiana] when he was with the team. En route to Jacksonville [Annotator's Note: Jacksonville, Florida], the team had to refuel at Des Moines [Annotator's Note: Des Moines, Iowa]. An airshow was going on and the four Angel flyers agreed to do their show. They wowed the crowd and stole the show. The military commander in charge was put out by the high flying demonstration the Blue Angels put on. The next day, the paper recognized their performance but had every pilot's name wrong. [Annotator's Note: Taddeo chuckles.] At the Cleveland Air Races [Annotator's Note: in Cleveland, Ohio], Taddeo and the team were flying F8Fs but the weather was restricting them from on-time arrival. When they did arrive, it was after the Air Force had put on their show. The Air Force pilots performed the Blue Angels' planned show. The next day, the Angels flew below defined altitude limitation. When the Air Force officer in command approached Butch Voris about breaking the rules, the Blue Angel commander swore that his altimeter never read less than the required lower altitude threshold. The Air Force officer summarily dismissed Voris. Taddeo has many similar stories.