Lieutenant Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw is the son of LTJG Nick "Goose" Bradshaw and Carole Bradshaw. He was about 4 years old when his father died. Prior to the special mission, he was an F/A-18E Super Hornet naval aviator attached to VFA-87 Golden Warriors.
Biography[]
Top Gun[]
He is seen siting on top on an upright piano inside a diner as his father played and sang "Great Balls of Fire" by Jerry Lee Lewis.
Top Gun: Maverick[]
- My dad died believing in you. I won't make the same mistake twice."
- - Rooster to Maverick
Rooster is an elite TOPGUN graduate selected to return and train as a candidate for a secret mission to destroy a uranium enrichment facility.
When Rooster finds out that CAPT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is teaching the training course for the mission - he's upset. Not only does Rooster hold a grudge against Maverick for his father's death, but also for Maverick pulling his admission papers from the US Naval Academy years earlier; which set Rooster back in his career four years. Rooster doesn't know that Maverick did this for his best interest and at the request of his mother.
Rooster and Maverick butt heads, however Maverick doesn't hold this against him in training and tries to show him a thing or two. He tells him not to think - to do what his instincts tell him - some advice that sticks with Rooster.
During basic fighter maneuver (BFM) training, Rooster was challenged against Maverick to see who could shoot the other down first. Rooster was shot down by Maverick, and as a result, was forced to do two hundred pushups (the agreed upon amount set by LT Reuben "Payback" Ritch); the fulfillment of this lost bet was overseen by WO-1 Bernie "Hondo" Coleman, who stood-in as an impromptu drill instructor.
At the end of the training period, Rooster was selected by Maverick to be his wingman while paired with Payback and LT Mickey "Fanboy" Garcia. Rooster seems honored and tries to thank Maverick, who instead tells him that they'll talk after the mission (a small morale boost that gives hope of returning alive from what seems like an improbable task with a high chance of death).
During mission egress, after successfully bombing the uranium enrichment facility, Rooster runs out of anti-missile countermeasures. Because of this, Maverick sacrifices himself to block an incoming SAM from hitting Rooster, causing Maverick to get shot down. VADM Beau "Cyclone" Simpson makes the call for the remaining three F/A-18's to leave Maverick behind (whom Cyclone believes is dead) and return to the carrier. Rooster instead "doesn't think" and flies back to find Maverick, who he believes survived the crash. Rooster shoots down an enemy attack helicopter that is hunting Maverick, saving Maverick's life. Unfortunately, this return favor results in Rooster getting shot down by a SAM. Rooster is found by Maverick in the snowy forested enemy territory. Maverick then has the crazy idea for them to steal an enemy F-14A Tomcat to escape. They manage to do it successfully (albeit losing the front/nose landing gear during takeoff) and after an intense dogfight against three Su-57s, get back to the carrier with LT Jake "Hangman" Seresin's aid. Rooster hugs Maverick and they make up. They both celebrate with other mission group members and deck crew.
His participation in the bombing mission sees him credited with three kills (while flying as the impromptu Radar Intercept Officer, he shares credit for the two Su-57s shot down by his F-14).
Later at Maverick's hanger, Rooster is seen working with Maverick on Maverick's P-51 Mustang engine.
Notes[]
- Just like his father, Rooster has a mustache, plays the piano and sings, and wears Hawaiian t-shirts.
Gallery[]
