Photos: Tennessee Monument Honors Fallen No. 6 Blue Angels Pilot

June 2, 2025

It’s been nine years since Blue Angel No. 6 crashed, killing pilot Jeff Kuss in Smyrna, Tennessee.

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jeff Kuss, a native of Durango, Colorado, was a decorated pilot who joined the Blue Angels in 2014. Prior to the Blue Angels, he served in Afghanistan and had accumulated more than 1,400 flight hours and 175 landings on aircraft carriers.

On June 2, 2016, at the age of 32, Kuss tragically lost his life when his jet crashed during a practice one day before The Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna. A Blue Angel F/A-18C Hornet similar to the jet flown by Captain Kuss and on loan from the National Aviation Museum in Pensacola is on permanent display as part of the Captain Jeff Kuss Memorial. He is survived by his wife Christina, children Calvin and Sloane, parents Janet and Michael, and brother Eric.

Kuss is memorialized with a public monument at a park across the road from Smyrna airport, near the crash site. Local residents gathered in the park following the tragic crash, holding an impromptu vigil.

NorthEscambia.com took our cameras to the memorial recently.

For a photo gallery, click here.

The monument features a retired Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet that is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. The “Freedom Playground” in the surrounding park has a Blue Angels color scheme and several features that were designed with the Blue Angels in mind.

The Blue Angels will perform this weekend, June 7-8 , during the The Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.


Comments

3 Responses to “Photos: Tennessee Monument Honors Fallen No. 6 Blue Angels Pilot”

  1. Retired Navy on June 3rd, 2025 5:34 am

    Thank you Smyrna, Tenn. what a wonderful memorial and tribute to The Blue Angels and especially Capt. Kuss! We love our Blues here in Pensacola and appreciate you for this!

  2. Adsup on June 2nd, 2025 11:52 am

    What a beautiful monument in memory of Capt. Kuss. This is a wonderful display of the Blue Angel plane along with a park. Thank you to all who contributed to this memorial in his honor. Bless all who serve & a privilege to have the Blue Angels based in Pensacola. Thank you Smyrna, TN!!

  3. TB on June 2nd, 2025 9:24 am

    Thank you Smyrna, Tennessee God Bless you all.





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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News