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In 1995, with the assistance of Admiral Skip Furlong, former Vice President of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and Capt. Bob Rasmussen, Director of the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola, Vanderhorst created a 3' x 6' oil painting celebrating the 50th. anniversary of the Blue Angels. The painting depicts all eight of the aircraft used by the Blues since their inception in 1946.
Cdr. Butch Voris originated the Blue Angels and flew the first F6F Hellcat for the team in 1946. He also named the new Navy flight demonstration team after a bar in New York City called "The Blue Angel".
Below are listed the first flight leaders for each aircraft used by the Blues.
| F6F "Hellcat" | Cdr. Butch Voris | Team Leader | 1946 |
| F8F "Bearcat" | Lcdr. Dusty Rhodes | Team Leader | 1947-50 |
| F9F-5 "Panther" | Lcdr. Ray Hawkins | Team Leader | 1952-53 |
| F9F-8 "Cougar" | Cdr. Zeke Cormier | Team Leader | 1954-56 |
| F11 "Tiger" | Cdr. Ed Holley | Team Leader | 1957-58 |
| F4 "Phantom" | Cdr. Bill Wheat | Team Leader | 1967-69 |
| A4 "Skyhawk" | Cdr. Ken Wallace | Team Leader | 1974 |
| F18 "Hornet" | Capt. Gil Rud | Team Leader | 1986-8 |
The original painting was on loan to the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola and hung in the Atrium for 2½ years.
Prints
are available from Vanderhorst Graphics.
Please contact
r.vanderhorst@sympatico.ca
to order.