User:TruthToBeSpoken/Drafts/Stephen Del Bango

Stephen “Cajun” Del Bagno (April 30, 1983 – April 4, 2018) was an Major with the United States Air Force and a member the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. He appeared in the movie Captain Marvel (2019) as him self. He died after losing consciousness in a high-g speed maneuver in an F-16CM near the Nevada Test and Training Range near Nellis Air Force Base months prior to the release of the movie.

Early life
Del Bango was born in Los Angeles, California

Career
Del Bango graduated from Utah Valley State University in 2005, he then graduated from Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama in 2017. He was a civilian flight instructor, corporate pilot, skywriter and a banner tow pilot before joining the Air Force. Del Bango was also an F-35A evaluator pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation with the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida before joining the Thunderbirds. He was the first F-35 pilot with the Thunderbirds. Prior to his death Del Bango served with the 57th Wing, based at Nellis Air Force Base.

Death
Del Bango was practicing along a High Bomb Burst Rejoin with five other Thunderbird pilots, an aerial maneuver in which he flew for about 22 seconds at about 5,500 to 5,700 feet above groot level, where he experienced up to negative two G-Force. Del Bango then proceeded to start descending in an maneuver called the Split-S, reaching a maximum of 8.65 Gs after five sections. The extreme G-forces caused him to lose consciousness, he regained consciousness about a second before hitting the ground and reportedly attempted to recover his aircraft. He didn't attempt to eject.

After his dead the secretary of the United States Air Force and Gen. Dave Goldfeins released statements expressing their condolences prior to the announcement.

''“I am deeply saddened to hear of the loss of one of our Thunderbird pilots today,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson tweeted Wednesday evening. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected as they grieve and remember their family member, Wingman, and friend.”''

“Dawn & I are mourning the loss of one of our Thunderbird pilots today,” Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein said in a tweet early Thursday.