Happy Sunday to you all, FighterSweep Fans! On this beautiful afternoon, we bring you another tasty treat from the vault of U.S. Navy awesome, courtesy of the “Blue Blasters” of VFA-34.
Stationed at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the Blue Blasters are assigned to Carrier Air Wing 2. They are equipped with the McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F/A-18C Hornet and deploy aboard U.S.S. Ronald Reagan (CVN-76).
The Blue Blasters began as the “Jokers” of VF-20 when they were commissioned during the Second World War in 1943, originally stationed at NAS San Diego. Their first combat action came in the fall of 1944, when they engaged in combat operations in the South Pacific–notably Palau, Peleliu Island, Yap, and Leyte, all while flying the F6F Hellcat.
During that period of time, for those of you Naval Aviation buffs, Lieutenant (JG) shot down his sixteenth enemy aircraft. Only eight other Navy fighter pilots have matched or exceeded that number.
An F/A-18C Hornet from the “Blue Blasters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 is the first aircraft to launch from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) since April 2013. John C. Stennis is undergoing an operational training period in preparation for future deployments. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ignacio D. Perez/ Released)
We never get tired of watching these cruise videos, and hopefully you don’t either! Nothing like spending a lazy Sunday afternoon with some fantastic video of fighter pilots and their jets out doing their thing.
Have Gun…Will Travel!