At the end of World War 11, the Chief of Naval Operations ordered the formation of a Flight Demonstration Team to showcase Naval Aviation. In 1946 the Blue Angels were formed flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat at Craig Field, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida.

A few months later they transitioned to the Grumman F8F Bearcat. The famous Diamond formation was introduced in 1947. Lieutenant Commander Dusty Rhodes was the Flight leader when they transitioned to jets in the Grumman F9F-2 Panther in 1950. Lieutenant Commander Johnny Magda became the leader early that year and the team was mobilized and deployed to combat operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS PRINCETON off the coast of Korea. The Blue Angels became the nucleus of Navy Fighter Squadron 191.

It was there that Lieutenant Commander Johnny Magda was killed in combat. Upon returning to the United States, the team was reformed under the leadership of the original "Boss", Commander Butch Voris. The team reported to NAS Corpus Christi, Texas flying the Grumman F9F-5 Panther.

At the beginning of 1955 the Team was reassigned to it's present Home Base, Forrest Sherman Field, NAS Pensacola, Florida where it transitioned to flying the swept wing Grumman F9F-8 Cougar. In 1957 the Team began flying the F11F-1 Grumman Tiger.

By 1969 the Team performed in it's first dual-engine jet, the McDonnell Douglas F4-J Phantom II. The Blue Angels Squadron then changed aircraft in 1974 to the McDonnell Douglas A4-F Skyhawk. In 1986 The Blue Angels completed their 40th Anniversary and unveiled it's present aircraft the sleek Mc Douglas (now Boeing) F/A 18 Hornet. In 1992 the Blue Angels Squadron deployed for it's second European Tour performing for over one million people.

Since 1946, the Blues have performed for over 374 million people.