We have refreshed and redesigned “The First Blue Angel” website for the first time since going live in 2004. We hope you enjoy it.
The redesign was done for us by Site-Spin. We intend to update the “First Blue Angel” going forward as appropriate relevant information becomes available.
Roy M. “Butch” Voris Naval Aviation Icon – First Blue Angel – Legendary aviator led squadron from beginning
“Once a Blue, always a Blue,” members of the Blue Angels proudly proclaim. Never was that saying truer than for the first Blue Angel, Navy Capt. Roy M. “Butch” Voris, who was selected in 1946 to lead the newly created Navy flight exhibition team. Voris was involved with the team until his death Aug. 10, 2005, and the 2006 show season is dedicated to his memory. Voris served in the Navy for 22 years and retired in 1963 as a captain. Known for his coolness in the cockpit, Voris cheated death many times, including a 1952 midair collision...
read moreNaval Academy Honors Fallen Blue Angels
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) — The U.S. Naval Academy paid tribute to the 25 Blue Angels pilots and enlisted crew members who have died in team flight operations in the Blue Angels’ 60-year history in a ceremony May 22. Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt unveiled a memorial plaque alongside a display F/A-18 Hornet, painted in the Blue Angels’ unmistakable blue and gold color scheme, at Navy/Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The aircraft’s canopy rails display the names of Cmdr. Stephen Foley, the...
read moreOriginal Blue Angel Honored With Aerial Farewell
MONTEREY, Calif. (NNS) — Retired Navy Capt. Roy M. “Butch” Voris, the original flight leader of the famed U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, was honored Oct. 10 with a memorial service at the Fort Ord chapel, followed by a six-plane missing man formation flyover by the Blue Angels in their blue and gold F/A-18 Hornets. Voris died at his home in Monterey, Calif., Aug. 10. He was 86. Full military honors were conducted outside the chapel following the memorial ceremony, which included a 21-gun salute and the traditional folding...
read moreButch Voris Memorial Service Backgrounder
Butch Voris, though very well known for his aviation accomplishments, never sought to bring attention or personal gain as a result of any of his many personal achievements. In that regards he was very humble and modest. However, he was willing to use his fame to promote his beloved Blue Angels for the betterment and advantage specifically of Naval Aviation and the Navy. As a result, in later life, he was a popular speaker, who spoke often about his many aviation adventures, in a humorous and self effacing manner. Particularly impressive was...
read moreOriginal Blue Angel Dies
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Retired Navy Capt. Roy M. “Butch” Voris, the original flight leader of the famed U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, died at his home in Monterey, Calif., on Aug. 9. He was 86. Voris, a World War II flying ace in the Pacific theater, was hand-picked by Adm. Chester Nimitz in 1946 to organize a flight demonstration team to showcase naval aviation. On June 15, Voris led the newly named Blue Angels and their Grumman F-6F Hellcats in the team’s first public performance at Craig Field in Jacksonville,...
read moreButch Voris to Attend Aviators and Aces Symposium
Join the NCF (National California Friends of Aces) as they host their Spring 2005 symposium featuring the Aviators and Aces of VF-10 – The Grim Reapers on June 12, 2005 at Alameda Point. The Grim Reapers were formed by Jimmy Flatley and accounted for 217 Japanese aircraft and created 13 Aces. Aces that will be presente include Capt Roy “Butch” Voris, Capt Don “Flash” Gordon, Cmdr Rob Kanze, Capt Russell Reiserer, Cmdr Raleigh “Dusty” Rhodes, and Capt Stanley W. “Swede” Vejtasa. Admission...
read moreButch Voris Special Guest on USS Hornet at Tailhook Luncheon
Butch Voris returned to the USS Hornet (CV 12) for the second time since WW II on January 28, 2005. The occasion was a joint luncheon between the Western Regional Tailhook Association and the Bay Area Naval Academy Alumni Association. Attendance exceeded 200 hands and everyone agreed it was a record crowd for an event of this type. Butch’s told tales for 30 minutes to the delight of the assemblage. Two of Butch’s WW II shipmates attended the luncheon. Russ Reiserer, who enlisted in the Navy in Alameda, CA, on the same day as Butch’s...
read moreMuseum of Flight – Seattle Washington
After introductions by Harold Rubin, Public Programs Coordinator, Museum of Flight, Butch Voris, founding leader of the Blue Angels and Robert K Wilcox, author of First Blue, Butch’s biography, delighted a standing room only crowd with many children sitting on the floor in front of the stage with a 90 minute multimedia presentation peppered with questions from the audience. Butch and Bob were joined on stage by Mike Wolf. Mike Wolf, also a WWII naval ace, and Butch enjoyed a reunion just prior to going on stage after not seeing each other...
read moreButch Voris to appear at Museum of Flight, Seattle on Saturday, January 22, 2005
“The First Blue Angel: Butch Voris”: A Multimedia Presentation and Book Signing with Butch Voris and Robert K. Wilcox. Saturday, January 22nd from 2:00pm-3:30pm at the Museum of Flight, 9404 E Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA 98108, 206-764-5700. Read More.
read moreButch Voris Guest Speaker for Bay Area Tailhook 28 Jan 05
The Bay Area Tailhook Ready Room presents guest speaker Capt. Roy “Butch” Voris at the USS Hornet, Alameda Point, Pier 3 on Friday, January 28, 2005. 1130 brief for a 1200 lunch. Dress code is BAT polos/flight gear and uniforms encouraged/casual. Advance reservations and payment required at $20 per person. Please send check to: BAT Ready Room, PO Box 1356, Alamo, CA 94507. Email questions to: bayareatailhook@aol.com. Butch will be signing copies of “First Blue”, which will be for sale.
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