MELBOURNE, Fla. — A fallen U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilot was honored Thursday at Orlando Melbourne International Airport.
- Fallen Air Force Thunderbirds pilot honored at Melbourne airport
- Maj. Stephen Del Bagno performed at Melbourne air show
- He died a week later during aerial training in Nevada
Maj. Stephen Del Bagno was killed in a crash just a week after appearing in the Melbourne Air and Space Show, where the Thunderbirds performed.
He died April 4 during aerial training in Nevada.
On Thursday, a red Thunderbirds emblem, with his plane number 4, was painted in the spot where the nose wheel of his plane had been parked in front of the Apex Executive Jet Center at Orlando Melbourne International Airport.
Known by his call sign, "Cajun," Del Bagno and the team performed during the Melbourne air show the weekend of March 24.
Now, he's memorialized at his first and last air show.
"We've been privileged to be connected to the Thunderbirds for a couple of years now. All of our coworkers feel very close to that family, so it's very special for us," the jet center's James Toler said.
Toler said Del Bagno was well liked and spent time meeting with fans and children attending the event.
The tribute was designed by Anthony Soland of the Standard Collective Studio in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne.