Capt Jerry D.S. Bolt, USAF (1942-1972)
Capt Jerry Bolt, USAF; Thunderbird 4 "Slot" in the 1971-1972 Demonstration Season; CAP Alabama Wing Cadet & Certificate of Proficiency Recipient.
Captain Jerry D. S. Bolt, [USAF Academy] Class of 1964, was killed in an aircraft accident 73 miles north of Nellis AFB, NV on 21 December 1972. Captain Bolt flew the slot position with the Thunderbird Aerial Demonstration Team. At the time of the accident he was putting an F-4 aircraft through trial runs on the test range.
Funeral services were held at the Air Force Academy on 27 December 1972.
Captain Bolt was survived by his wife, Bibby, and by his children, Lisa and Brett, of Las Vegas, NV; and by his parents, Colonel (Ret.) and Mrs. William T. Bolt, of Garland, TX 75040.
While a cadet, Captain Bolt was named to the Commandant’s List every semester. He served as chairman of the Skating Division and the Dance Committee. He was also a member of the Bluebard Society, the Ring Committee, the Dodo Staff, the Ski Club and the Rally Committee.
Following graduation, Captain Bolt attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Craig AFB, AL. Subsequent assignments included duty with the 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron. at Bentwaters RAF Station, UK in 1966 and the 391st Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam in 1967. Captain Bolt flew 189 combat missions in Southeast Asia including 71 over North Vietnam. From 1967 to 1971, he served as squadron test project officer with the 414th Fighter Weapons Squadron at Nellis AFB, NV. In 1971 Captain Bolt was assigned to the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron as narrator. In December 1971 he took over the slot position with the team.
His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 14 Oak Leaf Clusters.
(Gone But Not Forgotten, Checkpoints, April 1973)
2 Responses to “Capt Jerry D.S. Bolt, USAF (1942-1972)”
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Comment received via email from the TSA Website, 21 Jan 2011:
I had the privilege of again meeting Jerry Bolt in 1972 at Everett, Washington at the Paine Field Airshow. I was assisting with crowd control as a senior CAP officer.
Jerry was a soft spoken southern gentleman of 26 years old or so, and he flew his black-tailed beast(F-4)in "slot" for the USAF Flight Demonstration Team commonly known as The Thunderbirds.
Prior the the Air Force Academy, Jerry had earned his COP [sic.] and Spaatz award in the mid-sixties while in the Alabama Wing. He had been a C/Col. in either the Montgomery or Birmingham Cadet Squadron.
Cpt. Jerry Bolt was killed in a flight training and mechanical flight test on 21 December, 1972. In the back seat was Jerry’s Crew Chief, T/Sgt. Chuck Lynn. I am told Jerry’s plane hit the ground at 90 degrees and perhaps mach 2.
Please assure that Jerry Bolt is added to our TSA roster. He gave all!
My first duty was with the 414th FWS Nellis AFB and I served there from April 1969 to June of 1970. I was the assistant crew chief of F4E-00318, the pilot of that aircraft was Maj. Tom Swalm and co-pilot was Capt. Jerry Bolt. Through the past 42 years whenever I recall those days of wonder (17 years of age and working on jet planes wow!) I have on more than one account remembered Maj. Swalm and Capt. Bolt. What I remember the most was that both of them treated an airman first class like me with respect and dignity. My crew chief felt the same way; we called the Tough Tommy and Hot Shot, with respect, but not to their faces. I looked forward to days when they flew 00318 and always upon their return. I’ve known about Maj. Swalm distinguished career; saw him on TV a few decades ago talking about the F-15 (maybe F14) program, said to my wife, I know that guy and got the picture out to prove it.
But I always wondered what became of Capt. Bolt.
Today, I was telling someone about the T-Birds and pulled an article on the net and in the article I read about Capt. Bolt’s accident. As you can see, Capt. Bolt made quite the impression on me, so today is sad day for me because he was one of the good guys.
J Pasko19@yahoo.com