On 3 Jan 1995, brian varine <var…@ece.orst.edu> wrote:
> When did the Blue Angels use F-4′s? Me and a buddy of mine had a nice
>arguement over them flying F-4′s when I was in P-cola. I swore they never
>did, we even called the Blues HQ and they said they never flew F-4′s. I
>know they flew A-4′s. Have I been wrong all this time??? Please tell me
>no.
I thought the history of the Blue Angels was covered in one of _The Hook_
editions I have from over the past 2 years but I was mistaken. I did
find Blue Angels history in souvenir programs from NAS Miramar Airshows
in 1988, 1989 and 1991 (lived near L.A. for five years and never missed
a Miramar airshow! IMNHO, the only redeeming feature of Southern California
was the numerous airshows at various military bases!).
Anyway, here is a list of Blue Angels aircraft and years flown:
Aircraft Year
——– —-
F6F-5 Hellcat 1946
F8F-1 Bearcat 1946-1949
F9F-2 Panther 1949-1950
F9F-5 Panther 1951-1954
F9F-8 Cougar 1955-1957
F11F-1 Tiger 1957-1968
F-4J Phantom II 1969-1974
A-4F Skyhawk II 1974-1986
F/A-18 Hornet 1986-present
Blue Angels History, mostly from the 1988 NAS Miramar Air Show souvenir program
with inputs from the 1989 and 1991 programs:
The Blue Angels – From "Hellcats" to "Hornets"
The Blue Angels, known officially as the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration
Squadron, have thrilled millions of spectators with their precision
flying. Although the individual manuevers performed by the team are
those taught to every prospective Navy and Marine Corps aviator during
flight training, the airshow has evolved since the first team was organized
[in 1946] to become the epitome of aerial artistry.
In 1946 the organization of a light exhibition squadron was ordered by the
Chief of Naval Operations (Adm. Chester W. Nimitz) and four (1989 program
says ‘three’) Grumman "Hellcats" were flown in the original airshow at NAS
Jacksonville, Florida in June, 1946. The exhibition consisted of aerial
military maneuvers flown in close formation by veteran combat pilots of WW II,
led by LCDR Roy M. "Butch" Voris, and the show climaxed with the shooting down
of a North American SNJ "Texan" training aircraft painted as a Japanese Zero.
This maneuver was subsequently dropped from the routine.
In mid-August, 1946, the team moved into the faster and more agile Grumman F8F
"Bearcat" and introduced the traditional Blue Angel "diamond" formation.
The prop-driven Bearcats served the team until the transition to jets in 1949
when the Grumman F9F-2 "Panther" was introduced, along with the traditional
blue and gold paint scheme. This jet was flown by the team until 1950
at the outbreak of the Korean War where the Blue Angels were ordered to serve
in combat aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS PRINCETON as the nucleus of Fighter
Squadron 191. It was with "Satan’s Kittens" that LCDR Johnny Magda, the
commanding officer, was shot down, becoming the first Blue Angel to lose his
life in combat.
In later 1951, the Chief of Naval Operations reformed the team using Grumman
F9F-5 "Panthers" and headquartered the team at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas.
For a short period in 1952 two soloists flew the F7U-1 "Cutlass" aircraft
built by the Chance Vought Aircraft Company to supplement the four Panther
aircraft.
During the winter of 1954-1955 the team began to fly the swept-wing
Grumman F9F-8 "Cougar" and moved their base of operation to their
present home base, NAS Pensacola, Florida. The faster Cougar allowed
the introduction of new maneuvers, such as the thrilling Fleur-de-lis.
In mid-season 1957 the team moved to the new supersonic Grumman F11F-1
"Tiger" which served the team for 11 years and allowed a number of new
maneuvers to be displayed. The four-plane diamond landing, the six-plane
delta landing, the Double Farvel, the Half-Cuban Eight and the Dirty-Roll
maneuvers drew many more spectators.
The 1969 season introduced a new aircraft to the team – the McDonnell Douglas
F-4J "Phantom II". The Phantom provided the power to perform the four-plane
Line-Abreast Loop, inverted Fleur-de-lis, Tuck-under Break and echelon
landings, while the two solos were able to fly the opposing Dirty Rolls on
takeoff.
In December, 1974 the team switched to the McDonnell Douglas A-4F
"Skyhawk II" aircraft. Although smaller than the Phantom, the shorter
turning radius and faster roll capabilities of the delta-wing Skyhawk
soon proved their effectiveness. Also at this time, the team is reorganized
into the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. The reorganization establishes
the first commanding officer (CDR Tony Less) vice a flight leader and adds more
squadron members and staff officers. The changes gave the demonstration pilots
more time to concentrate on flying while the restructuring and added personnel
also gave them the opportunity to redefine their mission and target more
of their efforts toward a young, talented recruitable audience.
On November 8, 1986 the Blue Angels completed their 40th Anniversary year
and celebrated by unveiling their present aircraft, the twin-engine
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 "Hornet". The Hornet is the Navy’s first
dual-role, fighter/attack aircraft now serving in the nation’s front line
of defense.
***> Greg Fischer MIT Room 39-559 <***
***> Email: fisc…@mtl.mit.edu <***
***> WWW: http://www-mtl.mit.edu/bin/user?fischer <***
). It put the match out. 
