Tomcat Tales Tribute: Snort in His Own Words

Captain Dale "Snort" Snodgrass, USN (Ret.) was a legendary F-14 pilot and airshow performer who died on July 24, 2021 when his single engine airplane crashed on takeoff in Lewiston, Idaho.

In these excepts from the documentary "Tomcat Tales," Snort talks about the real story behind the viral photo of his knife-edge pass in an F-14 next to an aircraft carrier, where he first saw the F-14, his famous 1-v-1 against a Marine Corps Hornet pilot, and how he helped get the LANTIRN pod onto the Tomcat during his time as the Fighter Wing Commander.

This is Snort in his own words - a one-of-a-kind fighter pilot talking about the job he loved more than anything else.

Thanks to former Tomcat RIO Mark "Viz" Vizcarra of Speed and Angels Productions for providing these excerpts.

[KevElder]

Hey Ward - this is Boink - former USMC fighter pilot. TopGun and WTI in 1987. MAWTS instructor. CAG-1 on USS America from 1995-1997. I was my pleasure to fight against Snort during our squadron Det to Oceana in 1986. I was in VMFA-115 out of Beaufort; first Hornet squadron on the east coast. Our first morning of fight ops we mass briefed 8 1v1's. I was a nugget in the squadron - guessing ~ 100 hours or so out of the RAG. This was my first 1v1 against the Tomcat. The fight happened exactly as Snort describes. He made a very, very aggressive 1 circle move against me, which caught me completely by surprise as his wing's were sweep back approaching the merge. He baited me into an unnecessary break - at which point i was out of knots, Snort repositioned in the vertical and came down gunning me. When I asked for a second setup - he bingo'ed home. Yes - I did the 'straight-in of shame' into Oceana. It was over so quickly I had no idea what had happened and the fight was not on TACTs that morning.

The real bragging started that night at the the club. It was assumed that Snort could gun any of us - to which our Skipper (Woody) took up the challenge and scheduled Nasty, our TopGun/WTI, to fight Snort the next morning. Nasty was a lot of things, but a braggart was not one of them. But there was plenty of booze and words shared between us and the TomKitty guys.  

The fight between Snort and Nasty was on TACTs and the TACTs trailer was full as we all watched the action. Sorry to say, but Nasty was much more qualified to meet Snort's aggressive tactics. While the fight was competitive for a while, the Nasty prevailed. In fact, the second fight wasn't so pretty for Snort.  

Not my intent to downplay the legend that is Snort. A well deserved legend. I've heard Snort tell this story several times, although it's based on fact - he adds a bit of embellishment. Which is OK, that's what us old fighter pilots do! It was his whiteboard so he gets to tell the story. Snort taught me a lesson that morning I held on to for the rest of my career - first and foremost you're fighting another pilot and not just an airplane. He made me better. Anyway, I enjoy you channel - Boink

[oldgoat]

I may be wrong, but imho, men like Captain Snodgrass are those once in a lifetime people who are in exactly the right place, at exactly the right time, who make things happen and get the job done. Just like once in a lifetime fighters and athletes. Witness the whole Lantirn pod integration. It was a perfect blend of man, machine, and moment in time.

[bravo]

Tomcat was the most beautiful and most amazing plane to watch. I had the privilege to attend airshows every year at a local Naval base. The tomcat was by far my favorite plane to watch. Unfortunately, the last airshow I attended, the F-14 crashed and both the pilot and the RIO were killed after an engine failed while they were at just one or two hundred feet when it failed. No one else was hurt. It happened at NAS JRB Willow Grove, PA. It occurred somewhere around 2000 or 2001.

[stanleybryant]

Snort was my Navigator in TR when I took over from Steve Abbott and I gained immense respect for him there. I saw the Lantirn Pod first hand from the back seat of the Tom as CARGRUFOUR and it was a real crowd-pleaser for the Hornet bubbas to be able to get a target update for their targets from the Tom in company so they could expect their Nighthawk crosshairs to be on the target when they got in range of attack instead of having to search for it head down with the not-so-good Nighthawk display in their aircraft. An amazing transition from long range interceptor to attack platform of choice. That was Snort. One-of-a-kind.

[fightingtwozeroone]

When you see that man get chocked up talking about his LANTIRN accomplishment, that is a true patriot and hero. RIP, CAPT.

[buddmann]

I was in VF-143 Pukin' Dogs from 82-86. Captain Snodgrass was our XO. Hell of a nice guy, a very regular person. He flew into heaven breaking the sound barrier.

[HiTechOilCo]

Capt.Dale Snodgrass was the best. I am heartbroken. I know he would approve of this quote and understand it to his very chore. "You love a lot of things if you live around them, but there isn’t any woman, and there isn’t any horse, nor any before nor any after, that is as lovely as a great airplane, and men who love them are faithful to them even though they leave them for others. A man has only one virginity to lose in fighters, and if it is a lovely plane he loses it to, there his heart will ever be". — Ernest Hemingway August 1944

[KLRGTKR]

Like 'Snort' said, there was never anything like the Tomcat and there will never be another one like it. You could say the same thing about 'Snort'. He was truly one of a kind. His skills were beyond impressive driven by his passion to be the best pilot and pushing the limits. R.I.P 'Snort'. "Anytime Baby!".

[johntheune]

I camped with Snort at Oshkosh one year and got to spend some quality beer time with him. Truly a great pilot and person and I miss him.

[Rodeo]

It’s terrible that we lost a legend, but it was great to hear snort talking about his career

[brucegrunewald]

I read about Snort's crash from another video. It shows how unforgiving aviation is to mistakes. He was either distracted or in a hurry and missed the control lock, which is very difficult to see when seated in the aircraft. One mistake after an illustrious career and he's gone. This video is a fitting tribute to a great pilot and Naval officer.

[clonaztevedreamkiller]

The one dislike is from that Marine Hornet pilot who got scorched

[kurtkensson]

This world would be a much different place if we had more leaders like this man was.

[harveymushman]

First time we all saw a new Tomcat was when it flew out to greet our ship the Constellation 2 days steam out of Calif 1975 coming back from Vietnam seen ...besides the tiny black smoke trail dot 80 feet off the Ocean miles away...we were told where to look by the flight deck crew...it was already vertical Port side going ballistic with Penny Benjamin in a corkscrew move into the clouds then gone...I mean gone out of view...no idea where it went...cruised by a bit later much slower awesome machine.. ...the most amazing move any of us have ever seen....ship was headed to dry dock in Washington State after San Diego to be refitted for the Tomcats.... Thanks for the video

[MikeMike-spqq]

Being a guy that grew up in San Diego not far from fighter town, I got to see Tom Cats everyday. Be it on north island or Miramar, seeing those swept back wings was always a rush, thanks Ward

[ColdWarAviator]

Ward, you are fulfilling a vital role in today's world: documenting and stressing the importance of landmark events in U.S. military history. Specifically in this case, reaching out to get the footage of Snort and integrating it into your video. So many things of vital importance in the path our military has taken are all but forgotten in this age of computers. Don't get me wrong computers are great, but sometimes we need to be able to hear actual words from the men themselves to help develop an influence policy and later development of military weapons systems. Hopefully someone today in a position of authority or maybe tomorrow will see this video and say to themselves "you know newer isn't always better". And if that does happen then you have enabled snort to carry on his life's work from beyond the grave. I can think of No greater tribute to the man than that.

[milcotto]

I watched this one yesterday. Can highly recommend it. Seach for:
Capt Dale “Snort” Snodgrass Lectures At The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

[TorToroPorco]

Great of Mark to cobble together the video and to give it to Ward.

It’s pretty remarkable that the F-14 was able to take over for the A6E. The A6E with its FLIR and laser designator was pretty advanced when it was introduced. The tunnel for the air to air missiles sure came in handy for hauling bombs. I always wondered why the Tomcat never got the AMRAAM but integrating the LANTIRN pod was definitely the way to go and it’s a testament to Snort’s leadership that this was accomplished in such a short period of time.

[innaclouds]

i could listen to him talk about his time in the Tomcat all day

[deanallen]

I did not know "Snort" but as a combat veteran, I respect all my brothers who have walked in harm's way, following Old Glory. To his friends & family, you have my sincere sympathy for his loss.