By: Nicholas A. Veronico
Paperback Edition
March 2008


The Blue Angels: A Fly-By History tells the story of this high-flying phenomenon from its beginnings in 1946 to our day. Respected aviation writer Nicholas Veronico conducts readers through the Blue Angels history from the earliest Flight Leader, Roy "Butch" Voris, in his Grumman F6F Hellcat, to the sleek McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet flown by todays Angels. This profusely illustrated volume reviews the Blue Angels changing aircraft and personnel, and gives readers a close-up look at this remarkable team of flyers as it made history on the wing.


From the Back Cover:
Air & Space Smithsonian
“Naval enthusiasts will find plenty to cheer about.”

In Flight USA
“An impressive tribute to the fascinating history of this venerable flight exhibition team. The images and photos are as impressive as the compilation of history and interviews that Veronico weaves in and out of his work.”

Air shows have a way of bringing out the childlike wonderment in all of us. The beauty, grace, and daring of low-altitude aerobatics invariably grabs the attention of all, young or old. Whether you are an aviation expert, avid enthusiast, curious novice, or someone who simply enjoys finding out how some of America’s bravest young pilots accomplish their extraordinary aerial feats, this celebration of the navy’s Blue Angels is for you. Filled with rare photographs, this book is a perfect balance of men and machines.

The Blue Angels: A Fly-By History puts you in the cockpit as you follow the team from their establishment in 1946 to today’s hugely popular air shows. Starting as a team of four pilots flying Grumman F6F Hellcats and growing over the decades into six-man teams in the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, “V” and “echelon” formations gave way to the awe-inspiring “diamond” maneuvers and solo tricks like the “dirty loop” and the “tuck-under break.” The Blue Angels’ story is told with more one hundred photographs and numerous interviews with members past and present, for an unprecedented look at some of America’s most elite pilots and all their high-performance planes.