USN Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels F-4 Phantom II

The Blue Angels were originally formed on 24 Apr 1946 as the Navy Flight Exhibition Team by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Chester Nimitz, who had a vision to create a flight exhibition team in order to raise the public's interest in naval aviation and boost Navy morale. The name changed to Blue Angels and first introduced at an air show in Jul 1946.
To boost Navy morale, demonstrate naval air power, and maintain public interest in naval aviation, an underlying mission was to help the Navy generate public and political support for a larger allocation of the shrinking defense budget.
The original Blue Angels insignia or crest was designed in 1949, by Lt. Commander Raleigh "Dusty" Rhodes, their third Flight Leader and first jet fighter leader. The aircraft silhouettes change as the team changes aircraft.
The Navy Flight Exhibition Team was reorganized and commissioned the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron on 10 Dec 1973.

Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, Jun-Aug 1946.
Grumman F8F-1 Bearcat, Aug 1946-1949.
Grumman F9F-2 Panther, 1949-Jun 1950 (first jet); F9F-5 Panther, 1951-1955.
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, 1954-1957.
Grumman F11F-1 (F-11) Tiger, 1957-1968.
McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II, 1969-1974.
Douglas A-4F Skyhawk, 1974-1986.
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (F/A-18B as #7), 1986 -2010.
Boeing F/A-18A/C (B/D as #7) Hornet, 2010-2020.
Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet (F/A-18F as #7), 2020.