75 Years of Blue Angels
We’ve all seen them. Four fighter jets flying in a tight diamond formation, maintaining an 18-inch wing tip to canopy separation. And they’re doing it at speeds up to 700 mph!
Established in 1946
The Blue Angels were established as a Navy flight exhibition team in April 1946 by Admiral Chester Nimitz. It’s the second oldest formal aerobatic team in the world, after the French Patrouille de France formed in 1931.
Admiral Nimitz had several motives. He wanted to boost Navy morale, demonstrate naval air power, maintain public interest in naval aviation, and help the Navy generate public and political support for a larger allocation of a shrinking defense budget.
Today’s Squadron
Five Navy pilots and one Marine Corps pilot fly the six Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets in the squadron. It takes an additional 134 active-duty Sailors and Marines support the six aircraft and pilots.
Now in their 75th year, the Blue Angels have thrilled over 450 million spectators worldwide. But they also work quietly between airshows. The squadron spends time visiting hospitals, schools, and community functions in each air show city.
Source: Dayton Children’s Hospital
According to commanding officer Commander Brian C. Kesselring, “At schools across the country, the team takes time to interact with students and discuss the benefits of military service and the excitement of naval aviation across the country, hoping to inspire others to pursue their own dreams.”
Why Blue Angels?
The squadron was originally formed as the Navy Flight Exhibition Team. After a visit to The Blue Angel nightclub in New York City, they were renamed and introduced for the first time in July 1946 as the Blue Angels. I wish I knew more of the details behind the name change!
The Photo
I became aware of an opportunity at 875 North Michigan Avenue (formerly the Hancock Tower) to photograph the Blue Angels rehearsal for the truncated Chicago Air and Water Show last Friday. The observation deck on the 94th floor was reserved for photographers from 10 AM to 1 PM.
I drove downtown with fellow photographer and Naperville resident Rich Kolar. After a quick elevator ride of nearly 1,000 feet, we stepped out onto the observation deck. It was a magnificent vantage point to view the city and the Blue Angels rehearsing for Saturday’s show.
We were thrilled watching and photographing the planes. It was a lot harder than I thought. Distant dots quickly became “blue streaks” whizzing past the windows. Out of all the shots I took that day, I enjoyed this frame with a jet superimposed against the city.
Another thrill was to see CBS2 Meteorologist Mary Kay Kleist feature the image in her weather cast the same day!
