- Born
- Died
- Birth nameStephen Anthony Del Bagno
- Nickname
- Thunderbird Four
- Stephen 'Cajun' Del Bagno was born on April 30, 1983 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Captain Marvel (2019). He died on April 4, 2018 in Nellis Air Force Base, near Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
- During production of Captain Marvel (2019), two U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilots were provided to advise cast and crew on fighter pilot traditions and culture. One of the advisors was Maj. Stephen "Cajun" Del Bagno, who passed away in a mishap during a routine Thunderbird training flight in Nevada only a week after consulting on-set.
- Major Del Bagno, as Thunderbird Four, flew his F-16 Fighting Falcon jet just aft of the lead (#1) plane and in-between the two wing planes, while performing the Diamond formation. In this pattern, all four jets are traveling at 500 mph, and are just 18 inches away from each other.
- He was a member of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. His callsign was "Cajun". He was also known as "Thunderbird Four". He was killed when his aircraft crashed during a training mission at the Nevada Test and Training Range at Nellis Air Force Base, on April 4th, 2018. At the time of his death, he held the rank of Major. Prior to being selected for the Thunderbirds, he was assigned to the 58th Fighter Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
- Del Bagno was in his first season as a pilot for the Air Force Air Demonstration Thunderbird team. An Embry-Riddle Worldwide/Online Campus alumnus, he completed his M.S. in Aeronautics degree on March 23, 2018, just weeks before his death. He served as an F-35A evaluator pilot before being selected for the Thunderbirds unit in June 2017.
Del Bagno had been a corporate pilot and civilian flight instructor, and was the first F-35 pilot to serve in the Thunderbirds. - The Captain Marvel hair and makeup team created a small mural with photos of Cajun in their trailer to honor him.
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