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History of Blue Angels
Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 - 09:28 PM Updated: 05:58 PM
Pictures taken before the crash. Photo courtesy: Amber Bass.
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Save This PageMillions of people travel to Blue Angel airshows to see the attraction each year.
The blue angels have been an American attraction since 1946. After WWII, the Chief of Naval Operations ordered the formation of a flight demonstration team to keep the public interested in naval aviation.
The Blue Angels took their first flight in June 1946 from their home base: Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
It was only a year later, the team introduced their now famous "diamond formation." The Angels celebrated their 40th anniversary in 1986 by unveiling their current aircraft, the new sleek FA-18 Hornet, the first dual-role fighter-attack aircraft now serving on the nation's front lines of defense.
Last year, more than 15 million spectators came out to see the Blue Angels.
The last fatal crash involving the Blue Angels happened in 1999. That's when a stunt team crashed during a training flight, while they were preparing to land. It happened on Moody Air Force Base, near Valdosta.
Saturday's crash brings the total number of Blue Angel fatalities to 24.
For more information on the last crash and past Blue Angels crashes, check out this link from CNN.
