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MY CONNECTION WITH THE BIRTH OF THE BLUES By Menard Norton |
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My name is Menard Norton. I was born on November 1, 1929 in Jacksonville, Florida. In June of 1946, I was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. We met each Sunday at Municipal Airport No. 2. Sunday, June 16, 1946, was the second day of the Southeastern Air Show and Exposition being held at this airfield. On that day, the airfield was named Craig Field in honor of Navy Cmdr. James Edwin Craig, who was Jacksonville's first her of World War II. He was killed at Pearl Harbor. Also on that day, the Navy Flight Demonstration Team gave their second performance. It would be several months later before they would be officially named the Blue Angels. I was there with the Civil Air Patrol and watched the F6F Hellcats perform their intricate maneuvers. They came in very low over the field led by a Navy PB4Y, the Navy single rudder version of the B-24. I took four pictures of the Hellcats on the ground and one blurry picture of them as they came in behind the PB4Y. I was using a "Brownie" Box camera. The next year, when the Blue Angels performed at the second Southeastern Air Show and Exposition, I was there and took ten pictures of the F8F Bearcats when they were on the ground. I don't remember the date of the show. In 1993, I had occasion to need an attorney. I chose Edward M Booth, Jr. in Jacksonville. We discovered a mutual interest in aviation. I loaned Mr. Booth my negatives. Eventually, they ended up at the Photo Laboratory at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Enlarged copies of the pictures were sent to Capt. R.M. "Butch" Voris in California. He was the leader who formed the original Team in 1946 at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Two of my pictures of the F6F's on the ground were used in the book entitled "Blue Angels - 50 Years of Precision Flight". Several of the F8F Bearcat pictures have been used in various books and on the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Alumni Association Website. I retrieved most of my negatives from my attorney. Two of the original four F6F Hellcat negatives of the aircraft on the ground are still not in my possession. One of the F8F Bearcat negatives is also still missing. I presume (and hope) that these three negatives are still at the Photo Laboratory at Jacsonville Naval Air Station. I have decided to donate all the negatives I have in my possession to the webmasters of the "U.S. Navy Blue Angels Alumni Association" website. I am very happy that I saved these negatives from my childhood. I never dreamed that they would be the only surviving images taken on the ground of the original team that went on to become the Blue Angels. Apparently no other pictures exist. I am amazed that a chance meeting between my attorney and myself brought these pictures to life and allowed them to be shared with the world. |
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Menard Norton |
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Following is re-printed correspondence between Mr. Norton and Capt. R.M. "Butch Voris" |
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25 September 1996 |
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R.M. "Butch Voris", Capt. U.S.N. (Ret.) |
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Dear Sir: |
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Let me introduce myself. I'm Menard Norton. In June 1946, I was a 16 1/2 year old CAP cadet. I took the pictures of your "Navy Flight Demonstration Team" which were sent to you by the photo laboratory at NAS, Jacksonville, FL. I was pleased to see that two of them were reproduced in the excellent book "Blue Angels - 50 Years of Precision Flight". |
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I am enclosing copies of two album pages from my collection, as well as the two pages from the book using my snapshots. |
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The was these photos came to light is quite an interesting story. In May 1993, I had need to consult an attorney. I contacted Ed Booth, Jr. here in Jacksonville. We discovered we had a mutual interest in aircraft. I loaned him the negatives of the 1946 airshow, as well as the 1947 airshow where the F8F was used. He loaned them to a former Florida National Guard officer named Mason who, in turn, had friends at NAS, Jax photo laboratory process them. Ron Williamson told me he sent copies of some of them to you. |
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Without this chain of events, the (apparently) rare photos would not have made their way into print. If the book in which these photos appear is ever reprinted, I would appreciate credit for having taken these snapshots (with an old box camera). I understand that you plan a trip to Jacksonville Naval Air Station in October of this year to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the "Blues". Nothing would give me more pleasure than getting a chance to meet you and have you autograph my copy of the book. |
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Sincerely, Menard Norton
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October 6, 1996 |
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Mr. Menard Norton |
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Dear Menard: |
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I was delighted to hear from you, and to now know the origin of the snaps of the Navy Flight Demonstration Team at the team's first air show, the Southeastern Air Exhibition at Craig Field, Jacksonville, Florida. I know of no earlier pictures taken by the public. Only a half dozen or so Navy photos preceded yours. |
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It is unfortunate that proper credit was not given to you. Should I have occasion to refer to them in the future, be assured that proper credit will be given to you. Also, I shall, when at speaking engagements, make note of just how your snaps came to light. Such bits of history are very important when we look at the 50 year history of the Blues. |
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My wife, Thea, and I are anxiously awaiting our trip to Jacksonville, Menard, and so many great memories go back to those early years. I can recall most as though it was just yesterday. I shall tell Ron Williamson that I would especially be pleased to see you during our visit and call attention to your "Brownie" expertise at the age of 16 1/2 years of age. I remember Mason as the individual who was our point of contact for show arrangements. I remember the beautiful trophy that we received for our first public performance. It resides in a place of honor in the Blue Angel spaces in Pensacola. |
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Menard, I shall be pleased to autograph your copy of "50 Years of Excellence". Nick did a good and credible piece of work. |
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Thank you for copies of your album pages. You were there at an event that I considered the most critical air show for the team. Had it not gone well, it would have all ended at Craig Field rather than being the beginning of a great 50 years. |
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Sincerely, |
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Butch Voris |
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Photographs below are thumbnail views of the photographs taken by Menard Norton in 1946 and 1947. To the best of our knowledge, these are the only known photographs of the 1946-47 Team on the ground. |
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F6F Hellcats |
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F8F Bearcats |
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CAPT Butch Voris & |
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Full size photos of these aircraft can be seen on the aircraft pages on this Website. |
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ã Copyrighted 1997-2007 by the Len Mozey |
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