Pensacola salutes Blue Angels pilot Julius ‘Whiskers’ Bratton on last flight
The blue sky over Naval Air Station Pensacola was graced once again with a spectacle of aerobatic precision and bravado Nov. 4 as Navy Lt. Cmdr. Julius “Whiskers” Bratton took his last flight as a Blue Angel pilot. The Blue Angels’ homecoming show set the stage as Bratton, in the famous No. 5 jet, roared across the sky for the last time, leaving a trail of fond memories and inspiration that will remain etched in the hearts of fans worldwide.
Bratton’s journey to earning a coveted spot in the Blues squadron in 2019 began just like every other Blues pilot — flying on and off aircraft carriers. During his time with Navy squadron VFA-86, better known as the Sidewinders, he earned his call sign “Whiskers,” reflecting the curiosity of a cat, the story goes. “I asked a lot of questions,” he said with a grin. While deployed with the Sidewinders in 2015, he flew combat missions into Iraq and Syria off the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
A native of Woodlawn, Tennessee, Bratton attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated in 2011 earning his commission as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. After completing intermediate and advanced flight training at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi, he earned his Wings of Gold in 2013.
Bratton started flying with the team in 2020 as the No. 7 media pilot and show narrator, staying in that role one additional year because of the pandemic. For the 2022 season, he ascended into the opposing solo position in the No. 6 jet where he and his teammates where immortalized during the season-long film production of a new IMAX film about the Blue Angels squadron.
“When Whiskers was (in No.) 6, he got to buzz the lighthouse for the sneak pass maneuver,” said Pensacola Lighthouse docent James “JC” Tellefson. “I remember one day I got distracted and wasn’t ready for it. All of a sudden, he comes screaming past us almost knocking me off my feet! It was like that scene from Top Gun where the guy in the control tower dumps his coffee.”
For the 2023 season, Bratton then moved into the lead solo and operations officer flying the No. 5 jet. The position is a fan favorite showcasing the maximum performance capabilities of the Navy’s workhorse, the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet. Working off his wingman, opposing solo Lt. Cmdr. Griffin Stangel, the duo showcased their remarkable skills through impressive maneuvers like the Knife-Edge Pass, Opposing Minimum Radius Turn, the Tuck Over Roll and the infamous Sneak Pass.
“As solos, we are like a sponge for the demo,” Bratton said. “We’re gonna try and keep the consistency and the metronome between the Diamond and the solos. All solo maneuvers are full stick deflections laterally.” In fighter pilot talk, that means they fly aggressively.
“As 5 you’ve been on the team the longest and you can be a mentor and the shepherd,” Bratton continued. “Our opposing solo’s routine is all about precision and timing,” he added, describing the dramatic high-speed passes, high-G vertical pitch climb-outs and the lowaltitude maneuvers.
“These pilots have learned to become very masterful at their ability to compartmentalize,” said the 2023 team’s executive officer, Cmdr. Jon Fay. “And a big part of that is blocking out all the things that are distractions. Just turn it off for an hour while they fly. They are learning to do dangerous things very carefully.”
Discussing what inspired him to become an aviator, Bratton said, “My dad took me to a fly-in in Tuskegee, Alabama when I was 5. That was my first memory of flying in the backseat of a plane. And from that moment on I was like, ‘This is what I want to do.”
For many underprivileged minority kids, the world of aviation remains an elusive dream.
“As an African-American pilot, you become aware that representation matters − like people being able to see someone that looks like them,” he stated. “It gives them that extra level of relatability. The military is a melting pot, and we are fortunate that all of our country’s demographics are represented.”
One of Bratton’s most famous Sneak Passes occurred during the Red, White, and Blues air show on
Pensacola Beach last July. He executed an incredibly low pass over the pier, a masterful feat that left beachgoers in awe. This spectacle was immortalized by local Pensacola photographer Craig Wood who managed to capture an spectacular image of Bratton’s No. 5 jet skimming the ocean surface.
“The adrenaline rush of capturing a Blue Angels solo at over 700 miles per hour, 50 feet over my head was exhilarating!,” Craig said with enthusiasm. “As a Pensacola native, The U.S. Navy Blue Angels have always had a place in my heart.”
As Bratton smoothly landed his blue and gold jet for the last time on Nov. 4., the crowd cheered on as the torch was then passed to his wingman Lt. Cmdr. Stangel, who’s now in the prestigious role of lead solo pilot for the 2024 season.
Bratton leaves behind a legacy of a true aviation rockstar and ambassador of goodwill. The awe-inspiring images from his tenure with the Blues immortalize his daring maneuvers, synchronized precision, and unwavering dedication to excellence.
“I think I’m at the point now where I’ve done about all that I really want to do,” Bratton said gratefully. “I’ve gotten the experiences, been there, got the T-shirt so to speak.”