Lieutenant Bill "Cougar" Cortell was a naval aviator trained on the Grumman F-14 Tomcat and a graduate of TOPGUN. His radar intercept officer (RIO) was LTJG Sam "Merlin" Wells.
Biography[]
Top Gun[]
During the opening scene, he is LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell's wingman. While in the air and during their last engagement together, a MiG-28 acquires a missile lock on his aircraft. While the enemy plane did not fire, the encounter put Cougar into shock, causing him to have trouble focusing and flying. During this scene it is revealed that Cougar had a wife and child (later revealed he has multiple children) when he glanced at a small photograph he has tucked in his dashboard. Maverick flew along side Cougar on his way back to the air craft carrier they were stationed on, coaching him gently along the way to try and insure a safe landing. Cougar managed to bring his plane onto the deck of the aircraft carrier but crashed it (no injuries occurred).
Cougar later entered his Commanding Officer (CDR Tom "Stinger" Jardian)'s office and resigned from his position as an aviator ("turns in his wings"), claiming he had "lost the edge", and "held on too tight". Cougar and his RIO LTJG Sam "Merlin" Wells were the best pair in their squadron and were on course to be sent to TOPGUN before Cougar resigned.
Notes[]
- Trivia: When Cougar knocks on Stinger's door, a US Naval Academy class ring is seen being worn, indicating that Cougar was a graduate of the institution (hence conforming to the nickname graduates get: "ring knockers"). This means that Cougar is a regular officer, not a reserve officer (who has to fight for an active duty spot) like Maverick who didn't go to the academy.
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