b'United States NavyBlue AngelsBlue Angels Historywww.blueangels.navy.mil/history/Over 73 years ago in 1946, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Chester Nimitz, had a visionU.S. Marine Corps photo byto create a flight exhibition team in order to raiseWarrant Officer Bobby J. Yarbrough/Releasedthe publics interest in naval aviation and boost Navy morale.As with the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom In the 1940s, the Blue Angels thrilled audiencesII used previously, the team was again able to with precision combat maneuvers in the F6perform the Dirty Loop maneuver in formation Hellcat, the F8 Bearcat and the F9 Panther. Thewith the landing gear down - a maneuver still exhibition team refined the demonstration withnot performed by any other flight demonstration aerobatic maneuvers during the 1950s in the F9team in the world. Cougar and F-11 Tiger and introduced the firstThe Hornet also allows the team to perform six-plane delta formation, still flown to this day.maneuvers such as the Section High Alpha Pass, By the end of the 1960s, the Blue Angels were flying the F-4 Phantom, the only two seat aircrafta slow, high angle of attack maneuver performed flown by the delta formation. In 1974 the Blueby both Solo pilots.Angels transitioned to the A-4 Skyhawk, a smallerIn 1949, it became necessary for the Blue and lighter aircraft with a tighter turning radiusAngels to operate a support aircraft to moveallowing for a more dynamic flight demonstration.personnel and equipment between show sites. For thirteen years, the Blue Angels had continuedThese support aircraft including the Douglas to fly the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II,R4D Sky Train, the Curtiss R5C Commando, the and on Nov. 8, 1986, the team completed its 40thDouglas R5D Skymaster, and the Lockheedanniversary year and unveiled its new aircraft,C-121 Super Constellation. the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18In 1970 the team received the Lockheed Martin Hornet. The Boeing F/A-18 Hornet is still in use C-130, affectionately known as Fat Albert.to this day. The Blue Angels flew their 3,000th air show in The Hornet is the first dual-role fighter/attackGrand Forks, North Dakota, Sept.7, 1990.aircraft and is still serving on Americas front linesIn August and September 1992, the teamof defense. The aircraft is a unique combinationperformed 16 shows in eight countries throughout of high power and light weight, which gives thisAsia and Europe. multi-mission strike fighter impressive maneuver- During this tour, the Blue Angels became the ability, climb rate, and acceleration - importantfirst U.S. military flight demonstration team to both in combat and shipboard operations. perform in Russia, Romania, and Bulgaria.14 Military Appreciation Resource Magazine Thank You For Your Service'