Cajun’s Aviation Dream: The Legacy of Stephen Del Bagno

On the morning of April 4th, 2018 the life of Stephen Del Bagno was suddenly cut short during a routine training mission, when his F-16 Thunderbird Jet crashed over the Nevada Test and Training Range. As an experienced pilot, Stephen ‘Cajun’ Del Bagno had been with the United States Air Force since 2007 and had logged an impressive 1350 military flight hours. Already a decorated Major and senior pilot, his unexpected death sent shockwaves through the community.
When Stephen graduated from high school in 2001, he was already well on his way to achieving his dreams of flight. He loved the movie Top Gun and his mother swears his first word was ‘airplane’. As a child, his grandfather would often entertain him with his stories from the Army Air Corps, his experience in war fascinating Stephen at a young age. As a teen, he could often be found volunteering or working, cleaning and fueling small aircraft in exchange for flight time and lessons. By the time Stephen graduated from Saugus High School, he had already managed to earn his pilot’s license.
The freedom Stephen found in the clouds was powerful and life-changing. He dedicated his entire life to the pursuit of the skies, passionate for everything aviation. One of the memories his mother, Cindy, fondly recalls was when he called her unexpectedly and told her to go outside, having just drawn a heart in the sky above with the maneuvering of his plane, skywriting just for her.
After joining the Air Force in 2007, Stephen spent years climbing to the very top, becoming part of an elite class of aviators with experience on high-tech military aircraft. As a distinguished pilot, Stephen was honored to be working with multi-billion dollar Lockheed Martin stealth jets (with the ability to go Mach 1.6 which is actually supersonic and over 1,227 miles per hour). Now living the real-world Top Gun, piloting real F-35 fighter jets, Stephen found a supportive community with his fellow Thunderbirds and Air Force family.
Even with his military success, he would return occasionally to Saugus and participate in a Career Day seminar, encouraging students to pursue aviation. Since realizing his goals as a child and achieving them through dedication, Stephen took personal responsibility for students who expressed an interest in flight. He would often take kids for Discovery Flights (later named by his family and turned into a scholarship opportunity) where they could see the world, literally, from a different point of view. In life, he did everything in his power to demonstrate the beauty and wonder found in flight.
After his passing in 2018, his family and community established a non-profit in his name to honor his lasting legacy. Cajun’s Aviation Dream provides scholarships, and hosts various fundraising events like the ‘Cajun’s Climb’ hike and the ‘Fly With Your Angel’ program benefitting Gold Star youth. On April 6th, 2024, the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula will be hosting a fundraising memorial ceremony for the community, honoring the great life and legacy of Stephen Del Bagno in the very place he learned to fly as a teen. In his memory, Cajun’s Aviation Dream has been able to make a difference in the lives of the next generation of pilots, sponsoring over two dozen young people with scholarships and opportunities to further their education in aviation. For the friends and family of Stephen furthering his vision and keeping his legacy alive, they have pride in knowing Stephen’s lifelong work is still being done. 

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