The mission of the Blue Angels is to enhance Navy and Marine
Corps recruiting, and credibly represent Navy and Marine Corps
aviation to the United States and its Armed Forces to America
and other countries as international ambassadors of good will.
The United States Navy’s Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron,
popularly known as the Blue Angels, was formed in 1946 and is
currently the oldest formal flying aerobatic team. The
squadron’s six demonstration pilots currently fly the F/A-18
Hornet in more than 70 shows at 34 locations throughout the
United States each year, where they still employ many of the
same practices and techniques used in their aerial displays in
1946. Since their inception, the “Blues” have flown a variety of
different aircraft types for more than 427 million spectators
worldwide. On 24 April 1946 Chief of Naval Operations Admiral
Chester Nimitz issued a directive ordering the formation of a
flight exhibition team to boost Navy morale, demonstrate naval
air power, and maintain public interes