CDR Norman L. Youngblood

From the Webmaster: This page will contain the recollections of those who knew and served with him, starting with me.

My first detachment in VFP-62 was on the USS Shangri La, with then LCDR Norman Youngblood serving as the Officer in Charge. It seemed to me then, as it still does now after four decades, that his picture should be included in the dictionary under "Fighter Pilot". Even for a rookie, you knew instantly that he was in a class of his own; a "hot dog" pilot with lots of charisma. He had intense eyes and tough good looks.

We had a PH1 in charge of the photo crew and he once mentioned to Mr. Youngblood, that there was a rumor that he had flown a F9F photo Cougar, upside down under a bridge, photographing the bottom as he passed through. Youngblood never denied or admitted to it but gave a sly grin that left open the possibility. True or not, you had to believe that he could do it.

Detachment lore held it that he made it up through the ranks (from enlisted to officer). He was the kind of officer that didn't become too familiar with the crew, yet he let you know that he cared for and respected you. You never wanted to let him down.

When the cruise was over, the planes would do a fly-over on their way back to base. On the Shang, the Crusaders were the hotest planes aboard and Mr. Youngblood would put on a show all of his own. Coming from high altitude, he would do a fly-by, breaking the sound barrier at sea level; shock waves covering the wings as he climbed and did a perfect eight-point roll.

For me, a teenager struggling to become a man, Mr. Youngblood was my hero and still is.

Ken Jack, former PH2
VFP-62 1960-63

I read with interest your page about Norm. He was married to my mother's cousin and used to come and visit us in North Dakota. He was a hero to us - he and his wife had exciting stories to tell us but he was never a "bragger". I believe he was the first (or one of the first) people to fly into the eye of a hurricane and he took pictures that appeared in Look or Life magazine.

We visited him one time and he took us on a tour of an aircraft carrier which is still a very special memory for me. Sadly, I am told he died a few years ago.

Donnell Brychel

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Created on ... September 12, 2007