Blue Angels

The US Navy Blue Angels Acrobatic Group is tasked with representing the United States Navy, especially abroad.


The order to form this unit came from Admiral Nimitz on 24 April 1946. The first performance of this acrobatic group took place on June 15, 1946 at Craig Field in Jacksonville, Florida. The first members were Commander Roy "Butch" Voris and a team consisting of Lt. Chuck Knight, Lt. Maurice Wickendoll, Lt. Al Taddeo, Lt. Jim Barnitz, Lt. j.g. Gal Stouse, Lt. j.g. Ross Robinson and Lt. j.g. Mel Cassidy. Lieutenant Wickendoll is said to have been inspired for the name "Blue Angels" by the name of a famous New York nightclub.


The group first used the Grumman F-6F Hellcat. In the late 1940s, its pilots switched to the first jet-powered machines, the Grumman F9F-2 Panther.


When more naval squadrons were suddenly needed during the Korean War, the Blue Angels were reorganized into WF-191 (Satan's Kittens) and assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CV-37). They were re-formed in 1951, based at Whiting Field in Milton, Florida.


Somewhat later, they were moved to Corpus Christi, where they remained until the winter of 1954 and began flying a version of the Patnher F9F-5. Early the next year they relocated again - to Forrest Sherman Field, in Pensacola, Florida, where they are stationed to this day. Again, they were given new Grumman F9F-8 Cougar machines.


Further fleet changes came in 1957 - Grumman F11F-1 Tiger, 1969 - McDonnell-Douglas F-4J Phantom II, 1974 - McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II, 1986 - McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornet.


Their aerobatic performances were seen by over 393 million spectators by 1946.
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ps. podle vyse zmineneho namorniho webu uz Blue Angels shledlo vice jak 427 milionu divaku !
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