The F4 Phantom era of the Blue Angels represents one of the most revered periods in the squadron's illustrious history, yet it concluded abruptly and tragically on July 26, 1973, at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Fresh from a European tour that showcased the highperformance prowess of their formidable Phantoms across seven countries, the Team was midway through their season when they embarked on their journey to Lakehurst that Thursday. A refueling stop at NAS Oceana was necessary before their arrival, during which the #2 jet, flown by Lt. Marlin Wiita, experienced mechanical issues. Faced with a shortage of replacement aircraft and a tight schedule, the squadron decided to proceed without their key right wingman. Nonetheless, the crew chiefs, who customarily traveled to show sites in the rear seats of the F4s, accompanied the Team.

Upon reaching NAS Lakehurst, the Blue Angels executed several flybys over the airfield to perform standard reconnaissance, pinpointing key landmarks for use as visual cues during their forthcoming performance. With the landmarks identified, they shifted their focus to executing "arrival maneuvers," showcasing a series of aerial stunts before landing.

With Wiita's #2 jet missing, the formation adapted into a compact "V" with Flight Leader LCDR Skip Umstead at the helm. Marine Captain Mike Murphy filled in on Umstead's right, and Marine Captain John Fogg maintained his usual position on the left.

During the "Diamond Roll" maneuver, Umstead noticed the formation was lower than expected and radioed his wingmen to tighten up. They quickly found themselves skimming the treetops.
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Ronald Thomas, seated behind CAPT Murphy, initiated an ejection, causing his jet to collide with Umstead's. This led to both aircraft spiraling out of control. Umstead ejected next, successfully launching his crew chief, Petty Officer 1st Class Gerald Harvey, who astonishingly survived without grave injuries.

Regrettably, Umstead could not complete his ejection and died on impact. CAPT Murphy and Thomas also lost their lives in the crash.

Following this tragedy, the U.S. Senate launched an inquiry into the operational sustainability of the Blue Angels and their Air Force counterparts, the Thunderbirds. Despite calls for their disbandment, it was concluded that their value in recruitment far surpassed other methods. Consequently, the Blue Angels were restructured as a Naval squadron for the 1974 season and switched to the more fuelefficient A4 Skyhawk.