The Blue Angels did a fly over for Fleet Week in San Francisco. This video is a tribute to them set to the music of Van Halen. As Karl at Leaning Up Straight (where I found the video) explained:
It features the old A-4s not the current F-18s, But I saw them fly those planes 3 times in the early 80s and they were no less thrilling.
I’m glad he explained because I couldn’t identify what plane is what if my life depended on it. I just know they are awesome!
Our Airmen Rock!
Did I see the Imperial Valley?
I first saw the Blues at NAS Norfolk in 1975. I was an Airman in V-1 Division aboard USS Independence CV-62.
The first time I saw them flying the hornette was at NAS Lemoore in 1988. OK, start and finish the old guy jokes.
The last time I saw the Blues was at NAS Whidbey Island in 1992 about a year or so from my retirement. A-4’s were better.
In early 1980 when I was in VA-145, we did a CQ out of NAS El Centro. One night in the old Sand Bar, a fracas ocurred. If we could break it, we used a blue to break it with. A-6 guys against the showboats.