|
Posted on 12/06/2003 12:14:11 AM PST by snippy_about_it
|
|
 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
|
| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
|
 A Brief History At the end of World War II, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, the Chief of Naval Operations, ordered the formation of a flight demonstration team to keep the public interested in Naval Aviation. The Blue Angels performed their first flight demonstration less than a year later in June 1946 at their home base, Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida. Flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat, they were led by Lt. Cmdr. Roy "Butch" Voris. The first aircraft the Blue Angels used was the F6F Hellcat, and they only had three of these aircraft and one SNJ. This aircraft didn't last long with the Blue Angels.  The paint color on the Hellcats was FS15042-Gloss Sea Blue and the yellow was actual gold leaf. Only two months later on August 25, 1946, the Blue Angels transitioned to the Grumman F8F Bearcat and introduced the famous "diamond" formation.  Bearcat By the end of the 1940s, the Blue Angels were flying their first jet aircraft, the Grumman F9F-2 Panther. In response to the demands placed on Naval Aviation in the Korean Conflict, the team reported to the aircraft carrier USS Princeton as the nucleus of Fighter Squadron 191 (VF-191), "Satan's Kitten", in 1950. They were reorganized the next year and reported to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, where they began flying the newer and faster version of the Panther, the F9F-5.  The Blue Angels remained in Corpus Christi until the winter of 1954 when they relocated to their present home at NAS Pensacola, Florida. It was here that they progressed to the swept-wing Grumman F9F-8 Cougar.  The ensuing 20 years saw the Blue Angels transition to two more aircraft, the Grumman F11F-1 Tiger (1957) and the McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II (1969).  Tiger 3  Phantom II In December 1974, the Navy Flight Demonstration Team began flying the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II and was reorganized into the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. This reorganization permitted the establishment of a commanding officer vice a flight leader, added support officers, and further redefined the squadron's mission emphasizing the support of recruiting efforts. Cmdr. Tony Less was the squadron's first official commanding officer.  On November 8, 1986, the Blue Angels completed their 40th anniversary year during ceremonies unveiling their present aircraft, the sleek McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, the first dual-role fighter/attack aircraft now serving on the nation's front lines of defense. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have flown for more than 260 million spectators.  The opposing Solo performs the High Performance Climb on takeoff. The pilot will experience nearly six times the pull of gravity during this maneuver.  Surrounded by a cloud of water vapor, one of the jets hurries to catch up with the rest of the team.  The Opposing Solo performs the Low Transition on Takeoff before going into the High Performance climb during a demonstration.      |
That poem and those pictures make me wish I weren't such a sissy, scaredy pants and could fly.
That picture makes me realize why I am such a sissy, scaredy pants hobbit.
May 23, 1997 — Graduation salute. The Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels roar over the speakers' platform at the 1997 commencement at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., May 23, as Vice President Albert Gore, Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton and Superintendent of the Naval Academy Adm. Charles R. Larson express their approval. Vice President Gore gave the graduation address and presented each of the 936 new Navy and Marine Corps officers their diplomas. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Photographer's Mate Terry A. Cosgrove. [970523-N-1523C-001] May 23, 1997
The aircraft were not equipped with weapons.
We saw the Blue Angels when we were at the Academy for the May 1994 Commencement (Clinton spoke for 32 minutes, explained he would not put our people in Bosnia).
The Blue Angels did an exciting show, but were not allowed to wear their uniforms due to Clinton White House regulations.
021101-N-2329H-261 Jacksonville, Fla. (Nov. 1, 2002) -- Blue Angels Six and Seven take flight at the "Sea and Sky Spectacular 2002," annual air show and open house held aboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville. The Navy’s Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team puts on a show that is a mix of formation flying and solo routines while flying the F/A-18 “Hornet” strike fighter aircraft. The pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers during the aerial demonstration, which runs approximately an hour and 15 minutes. U. S. Navy Photo by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Darryl Herring. (RELEASED)
020524-N-5390M-004 Annapolis, MD (May 24, 2002) -- The U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team performs a fly-by formation over the graduating ceremony for the class of 2002 at the U.S. Naval Academy. U.S. Navy photo by Ken Mierzejewski. (RELEASED)
Tomorrow's thread: Comic aeronauts save the world--for ten cents!
ROTFLMAO!!
What a shame.
(Clinton spoke for 32 minutes, explained he would not put our people in Bosnia).
I think I would have rather eaten ground glass than listen to that POS.
Oh! Now I get it. LOL.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
