Beginning at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, the Blue Angels made their way from McKinney to Allen, Frisco, The Colony and Plano before flying over Richardson Methodist Hospital and parts of North Garland. They then made a loop over downtown Dallas. Their path took them over hospitals in these cities, as well as Duncanville and Irving, then over hospitals in Tarrant County.
Today’s mission was to salute healthcare workers, first responders and other essential personnel serving on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Their flyovers in the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 Hornets accomplished the mission in the most spectacular fashion.
From a vantage point in the parking lot of Richardson Methodist Hospital, a large group of onlookers waited for the jets. At first sight, the crowd began to applaud, and afterward, some commented that the sight gave them goo
sebumps. Others said they had tears in their eyes. The show was impressive as the pilots flew in perfect formation and it was impossible to not feel a great deal of American pride.
A separate source of pride is that three of the 16 officers on the Blue Angels team are from Texas. Commander James Haley is from Canadian, Texas. Major Frank Zastoupil is from Kingwood, Texas and Lt. Brian Abe is from Richardson. The team is stationed at Forrest Sherman Field Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida during the air show season. They spend the rest of the year at the Naval Air Facility in El Centro, California.
It’s difficult to imagine the level of skill required to be a Blue Angels pilot and knowing that the jets are only 18 inches apart when in the Diamond 360 maneuver creates a frightening mental picture. Added to the close proximity is the speed at which the jets are traveling – 700 miles per hour.
Since Admiral Chester Nimitz, Chief of Naval Operations, created the team in 1946, more than 450 million spectators around the world have enjoyed watching the impressive maneuvers of the Blue Angels.
The team was first introduced as the Blue Angels at an Omaha, Nebraska show in July 1946 when Lt. Maurice
Wickendoll, Right Wing Pilot, saw the name in a column in the New Yorker Magazine.
Sixteen officers voluntarily serve on the team, typically for two years each. There have been 26 pilot fatalities in the team’s 74-year history.
The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach.
Thank you to Tony and Kay Guerry for the amazing photos!