On September 7, 2024, the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, executed a stunning flyover past the main mast of the future USS Richard M. McCool Jr. as part of the ship’s commissioning week at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The event marked a significant moment in the ship’s journey to active service, with the Blue Angels adding a dramatic tribute to the occasion.
The commissioning week celebrates the ship’s formal entry into service, and the Blue Angels’ flyover is a highlight, symbolizing the strength and precision of the U.S. Navy’s capabilities.–Credit: EJ Hersom, DOD