Entered Into Eternal Rest, Monday, May 22, 1967.

A1C Edward Kimble was fatally injured during a tandem type jump.

In the early 1960s, amid the Cold War’s intensity and the birth of modern military free-fall, a group of elite Air Force Combat Controllers changed the face of aerial demonstration forever. Among them was Airman First Class Edward J. Kimble, a pioneering member of the Blue Masters Parachute Team — the first all-Air Force parachute demonstration team, formed under United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) in 1962.

Flying under the support of General “Red” Foreman, the Blue Masters showcased American skill and precision across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. With little more than modified aircrew chutes, makeshift gear, and pure courage, these men jumped into airshows and military demonstrations from C-130s, helicopters, and anything that would fly. Despite rudimentary equipment and the lack of modern navigation tools, their performances dazzled crowds — often including heads of state — and brought attention to the exceptional skill of USAF Combat Controllers.

Edward Kimble stood shoulder-to-shoulder with legends during this golden era of military parachuting, as the Team pushed boundaries not just in performance, but in experimentation. The Blue Masters were constantly innovating, often testing new gear and techniques in pursuit of excellence and crowd-thrilling spectacle. But innovation came with risk.

In one such attempt — an early tandem-style jump — A1C Kimble was fatally injured due to internal trauma caused by a self-manufactured harness and the force of opening shock. His death marked the first and only fatality for the Blue Masters, and a sobering moment for the entire Combat Control community.

Though the tragic loss of Kimble led to the end of Blue Masters operations, his legacy and sacrifice endure. He was more than a jumper — he was a trailblazer, a brother-in-arms, and a proud Combat Controller who gave his life at the leading edge of Air Force history.

We remember Edward J. Kimble not just for how he died, but for how he lived — with bravery, innovation, and an unbreakable spirit that lives on in every Combat Controller who follows.

The sky was never the limit for men like Kimble — it was just the beginning.