Question: The Blue Angels flew their first show in Jacksonville in 1946 without a name. Where did the famous name come from?
Answer: A New York nightclub. After the team’s first show at Craig Field on June 15, 1946, the pilots rejected Navy brass’s suggestion of “Navy Blue Lancers.” While preparing for a New York show, Lt. Maurice “Wick” Wickendoll spotted an ad in the New Yorker for the city’s Blue Angel nightclub. The name debuted in Omaha that July.
