US Navy Blue Angels Diamond Pass Formation

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In this Department of Defense photo, four US Navy F/A-18s of the famed Blue Angels perform the "Diamond Pass" maneuver. You will never see planes fly any closer than this.

The Blue Angels were formed by Admiral Chester Nimitz (then Chief of Naval Operations) after World War II to promote interest in military aviation, following the example of earlier Army and Navy flight demonstration teams. They travel to air shows around the world putting on amazing demonstrations of the flying ability of the Navy and Marine Corps pilots. Nearly 100 officers and enlisted personnel are involved in the elite squadron. They always fly the Navy's hottest planes, using the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18 since 1986.

Today in WW II: 8 Feb 1940 Germans establish the first large Jewish ghetto in Poland in the city of Lodz. More ↓

8 Feb 1941 US House of Representatives passes the Lend-Lease Act [265 to 165].
8 Feb 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach begins, the first stage of the Japanese assault on Singapore.
8 Feb 1942 Japanese Offensive in Burma begins [8 Feb-2 May].
8 Feb 1945 Battle of the Reichswald: British and Canadian forces under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery begin Operation Veritable [8 Feb-11 Mar].
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.