U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, will conduct a brief press conference in Durango, Colorado, Friday, June 10 at 5 pm MDT.

Cmdr. Ryan Bernacchi, flight leader and commanding officer, will provide a statement on behalf of the Blue Angels and their fallen teammate, Capt. Jeff Kuss, United States Marine Corps, at the County Administration Building in Durango.

Kuss, 32, of Durango, was killed when his aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff at the start of the team's afternoon practice June 2. He served as the opposing solo pilot. This was Kuss' second year on the team and his first year as a demonstration pilot.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, June 11, a private motorcade of family and friends will start a procession from 32nd Street south down Main Avenue to Greenmount Cemetery in Durango. The Cemetery will be closed to the public during the service. Members of the community interested in paying their respects have been asked to line the motorcade route along Main Avenue from 32nd Street to College Drive to show support to the family and honor his military service.

Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, assigned to USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Carrier Strike Group and Marine Aircraft Group (MAG)31 out of Beaufort, South Carolina, will conduct a joint "missing man" formation. The missing man formation will consist of four aircraft. Traditionally, this formation is flown in the shape of a "V". During the flight, the aircraft in the "ring finger" position pulls away leaving the other three, symbolizing a fallen comrade in arms.

Capt. Kuss' official biography can be downloaded from the squadron's website at www.blueangels.navy.mil/team/officers.aspx.

For additional information or updates, contact the public affairs office at Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific by calling 619-767-1623, or -1625.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, Naval Air Forces, visit www.navy.mil/.