Story and photography by Alan de Herrera
Pensacola News Journal and USA Today
November 21, 2023

On November 4, the blue sky over Naval Air Station Pensacola was graced once again with a spectacle of aerobatic precision and bravado as navy Lieutenant Commander Julius "Whiskers" Bratton took his last flight as a Blue Angel pilot. The Blue Angels' homecoming show set the stage as Bratton, in the infamous 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.

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 VIP 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.

Pensacola lighthouse docent James “JC” Tellefson told me one story about Bratton’s thrilling exploits flying the No. 6 jet. “When Whiskers was six he got to buzz the lighthouse for the sneak pass maneuver,” he said. “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,” he finished telling me with a chuckle.

For the 2023 season, Bratton then moved into the lead solo and operations officer position flying the No. 5 jet. The solo profile 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 Lieutenant Commander 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 told me. “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 and we pull up to eight times the force of gravity during some maneuvers.” In fighter pilot talk, that means they fly aggressively.

 “As five you've been on the team the longest and you can be a mentor and the shepherd for six,” Bratton continued. "Our opposing solo's routine is also all about precision and timing," he added, describing the dramatic high-speed passes, high-G vertical pitch climb-outs and the low-altitude maneuvers.

“These pilots have learned to become very masterful at their ability to compartmentalize,” said the 2023 team’s Executive Officer, Commander 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,” he added.

Asking Bratton what inspired him to become an aviator, he told me "My dad took me to a fly-in in Tuskegee, Alabama when I was five," he proudly stated. “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. I asked him how he viewed his rare role as an accomplished minority aviator on this team. "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 told me 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 November 4th, the crowd cheered on as the torch was then passed to his wingman Lcdr Stangel, who’s now in the prestigious role of No. 5 lead solo pilot for the 2024 season.

Bratton leaves behind a legacy of a true aviation rockstar and ambassador of goodwill. The awe-inspiring performances and 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 told me with grateful eyes. "I've gotten the experiences, been there, got the t-shirt so to speak. But as a pilot you never stop learning. You just have more tools in your bag.”