Top of page

Notice
Special holiday hours in effect, December 2025 through January 2026. More information.

Photo, Print, Drawing The U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, "The Blue Angels," performs for an estimated 15 million spectators each year

[ original digital file ]

Full online access to this resource is only available at the Library of Congress.

About this Item

Title

  • The U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, "The Blue Angels," performs for an estimated 15 million spectators each year

Names

  • McNally, Joe, 1952-, photographer

Created / Published

  • 2003-03-07.

Headings

  • -  United States--California--El Centro
  • -  Aviation
  • -  Military aircraft
  • -  Aerobatics

Format Headings

  • Digital photographs--Color--2000-2010.

Genre

  • Digital photographs--Color--2000-2010

Notes

  • -  Title, date, and keywords based on information provided by the photographer.
  • -  Originally formed as a group of poster boys to boost Navy recruitment in 1946, the Angels are comprised of 16 officers and 110 crew members. Although computers are becoming more dominant in the cockpit, the Angels' F/A-18s are still flown manually.
  • -  The aerobatic team consists of the "Diamond" (Blue Angels 1 through 4) and the "Opposing Solos" (Blue Angels 5 and 6). The majority of shows boast high-speed aerobatic demonstrations alternating between the Diamond and the Opposing Solos. Pictured here, the Angels fly over their winter training grounds in El Centro, California. The viewpoint is that of photographer Joe McNally, who is flying in the Diamond's rear slot, #4.
  • -  Purchase; Joe McNally; 2007; (DLC/PP-2007:048).

Medium

  • 1 photograph : digital, tiff file, color.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • LC-DIG-ppbd- 07992 (ONLINE) [P&P]

Source Collection

  • Future of flying photograph collection

Repository

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2024702168

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-ppbd-07992 (original digital file)

Rights Advisory

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

  • Rights Advisory: Publication may be restricted. For information, see "Joe McNally ...," https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/res.798.mcna
  • Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppbd-07992 (original digital file)
  • Call Number: LC-DIG-ppbd- 07992 (ONLINE) [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

If an image is displaying, you can download it yourself. (Some images display only as thumbnails outside the Library of Congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site.)

Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

  1. If a digital image is displaying: The qualities of the digital image partially depend on whether it was made from the original or an intermediate such as a copy negative or transparency. If the Reproduction Number field above includes a reproduction number that starts with LC-DIG..., then there is a digital image that was made directly from the original and is of sufficient resolution for most publication purposes.
  2. If there is information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can use the reproduction number to purchase a copy from Duplication Services. It will be made from the source listed in the parentheses after the number.

    If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of the original in color by citing the Call Number listed above and including the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

  3. If there is no information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can generally purchase a quality copy through Duplication Services. Cite the Call Number listed above and include the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

Price lists, contact information, and order forms are available on the Duplication Services Web site.

Access to Originals

Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm.

  1. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)

    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
      As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)
    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.

  2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

    • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.
    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
  3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and 5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Mcnally, Joe, photographer. The U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, "The Blue Angels," performs for an estimated 15 million spectators each year. El Centro United States California, 2003. -03-07. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2024702168/.

APA citation style:

McNally, J., photographer. (2003) The U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, "The Blue Angels," performs for an estimated 15 million spectators each year. El Centro United States California, 2003. -03-07. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2024702168/.

MLA citation style:

Mcnally, Joe, photographer. The U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, "The Blue Angels," performs for an estimated 15 million spectators each year. -03-07. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2024702168/>.