Page 5 - AirShow_RemembranceBook
P. 5
A look back through the years . . .
A look back through the years . . .
April 24, 1946 June 15, 1946
At the end of WWII Admiral Chester The Blue Angels performed their first flight
W. Nimitz, Chief of Naval Operations, demonstration at Craig Field in Jacksonville, FL.
ordered the formation of the Blue Angels The group flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat led
to keep public interest in Naval aviation. by Lt. Cmdr. Roy “Butch” Voris.
1947 August 25, 1946
The Blue Angels Team introduces The Blue Angels switched
the Diamond Formation. planes to the F8F Bearcat.
1949
1950 Began flying its first jet aircraft, the
The team reported to its aircraft Grumman F9F-2 Panther.
carrier the, USS Princeton, to support
the Korean Conflict. The
group was part of the 1951
Fighter Squadron 191,
known as “Satan’s Kittens”. The team reorganized following its war
efforts and the death of its 1950 team Boss,
Lt. Cmdr. Johnny Magda, during combat.
1951 - 1954 Assisted by Lt. Cmdr. Roy Voris, the
team started flying the Grumman
The Blue Angels were stationed F9F-5 Panther for the 1952 season.
out of Corpus Christi, TX.
1954
1957 Relocated to its present location at
Began flying its first Forrest Sherman Field in Pensacola, FL .
supersonic jet, the The team started flying the F9F-8 Cougar.
F11 F-1 Tiger.
1970 1969
Added the Fat Albert, C-130, Began flying the McDonnell
Douglas F-4J Phantom II.
to the Blue Angels Team.
1974
November 8, 1986
The Blue Angels celebrated its 40th Began flying the McDonnell
Anniversary with the unveiling of its Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II.
current aircraft, the F/A-18 Hornet.
1986
The Blue Angels hosted September 7, 2012
its first European The Blue Angels arrive
tour in 19 years. at LRAFB for the
2012 Air Show.
A Special Thank You to the Blue Angels Public Affairs Office.
2012 lrafb air show | remembrance book 5
