Fundraising for Heroic Blue Angel Pilot


“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” and Pilot Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss laid his life down for the civilians who lived in the apartment building that was in the path of the crashing F/A-18 Hornet.

A Navy Blue Angel pilot died yesterday reportedly maneuvering his aircraft away from an apartment building before it crashed.

Pilot Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss died Thursday afternoon near Smyrna Airport in Tennessee during practice training for the upcoming Great Tennessee Airshow, The Associated Press reported.

Reportedly, in order to prevent his aircraft from hitting into an apartment building, Kuss purposefully did not eject so that he could maneuver the aircraft away from the building.

American Military News also spoke with several military aviators who also reinforced that if there was any danger of the plane hitting civilians the aviator is to stay with the plane to avoid any innocent loss of life.

A Go-Fund-Me has been set up for the Kuss family and has raised $272,733 in 4 days.  Jeff’s widow Christina wrote:

‘I am absolutely beside myself and humbled at the amount of love and support I have received over the last 4 days. This morning I feel a shred of peace and though I know it wont stay, I attribute it to the amazing things all of you are doing for myself, my children and to honor Jeffery. I feel you all deeply and want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sister and aunt, Nicole Ferrarese Perino set up the Go-Fund-Me on behalf of their family.   If you are interested in sharing the financial burden click here.

Please help support the family of  Captain Jeff Kuss. Captain Kuss made the ultimate sacrifice and has left behind his precious wife Christina and two small children Calvin 4 and Sloane 1. This family needs all of our support and Jeff is a true American hero who saved the lives of thousands in this terrible tragedy.  Jeff was born and raised  in Durango, Colorado and learned to fly before he could drive. Please show your support and honor this true American hero.
Due to the overwhelming support and love shown for the Kuss family, we have received requests to raise the goal for Jeff’s family support fund.  Supporters all around the nation are able to express their condolences and help through their comments and support by contributing to Jeff’s family support site.

Kuss lived a heroic life prior to making the choice to no eject from his failing jet.  He was a commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the Marines and served in Afghanistan before joining the elite acrobatic team of the Blue Angels in 2014, accumulating over 1,400 flight hours.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the crew and the pilot and their families,” AIRFOR spokeswoman Cmdr. Jeannie Groeneveld.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the Blue Angels after this tragic loss. I know that the Navy and Marine Corps Team is with me. We will investigate this accident fully and do all we can to prevent similar incidents in the future,” Adm. John Richardson, the Navy’s top officer, said in a Facebook post.

Source:  American Military News

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