The Blue Angels put on a dazzling display of airmanship today over Charleston Harbor and the USS Yorktown. The weather was beautiful, sunny, warm with a slight sea breeze out of the south. The harbor was teeming with small craft as sailboats and powerboats rode at anchor to enjoy the show in between two of America's most beautiful and historic cities, Charleston and Mount Pleasant. Not only was the harbor brimming, but every shoreline through binoculars showed wall to wall crowds and on the roofs of buildings.
Charleston was the site of our first naval victory in the Revolutionary War when the British fleet under Admiral Sir Peter Parker was defeated at the battle of Fort Sullivan on 28 June 1776...certainly an encouragement to those in Philadelphia who were thinking about putting their names and necks on the piece of paper we know as "The Declaration of Independence."
The United States Navy's worst defeat prior to Pearl Harbor was here in Charleston Harbor, when the Union fleet under Admiral DuPont tried to force Charleston Harbor open in April 1863 and was beaten off by Confederate forces under Beauregard.
From Charleston came the first head of the Bureau of Naval Aviation with RADM William A. Moffett, a Medal of Honor recipient, who is known as the "Father of Naval Aviation." His father fought at Fort Sumter during the Civil War.
If Bill Moffett were alive today he would be proud and amazed at what his Naval Aviation has become! Just look below at a few images from today! The most powerful and amazing Navy in world history!!!
