By: Rich Rodriguez
Lemoore Naval Air Station is losing one of its most talented fighter pilots. Next week Lt. Mark Tedrow will join the Blue Angels.
Lt. Tedrow is a 2004 graduate of the Naval Academy. The Blue Angels, the Navy flight demonstration squad performed during his graduation. "I knew right then and there that that's what I want to do. That's been my goal since I joined the Navy, so it's been a dream come true for me."
Lt. Tedrow has been flying since 2004. He's been deployed twice to Afghanistan where he flew countless combat missions. "To go to Afghanistan and protect the troops on the ground. It was really hard for me because that's what I really enjoy about this job. I loved going over there and the sense of accomplishment you would get returning from a mission in Afghanistan was amazing."
For the next two years Lt. Tedrow will be part of the Navy's finest demonstration squadron. The Blue Angels perform more than 70 shows a year. They're coming to Lemoore in mid-October. "I think any fighter pilot that's part of their personality to do things like that in the air. I thank that's why we kind of join in something that has attracted us to the military. I think it will be fun and definitely an adrenaline rush."
Lt. Tedrow isn't the first pilot from NAS Lemoore to rise to the Blue Angels. Lt. Ben Walborn made the grade a few years ago. "I think until I actually put on the blue suit it's just kind of surreal right now. It hasn't really set in yet."
Lt. Tedrow has enjoyed his past four years stationed at Lemoore. The veteran pilot from a small town in Pennsylvania discovered he can survive in a different climate. "One thing I'll be able to take away from here is I can withstand any temperature and be able to live in any sort of heat."
Lt. Tedrow heads to Florida next week to begin training with the Blue Angels. He won't be flying with the team until next season, which starts in March.
