Pete's not quite right on the duration of the F11F with the Blue Angels. It was actually a long time, and the major way Tigers are remembered. At the time of its retirement from the Blues, it was the longest-running Blues airplane. I'm pretty sure that in the years since, only the F/A-18 has exceeded it in service length with the Blues. Here's a summary of all Grumman types the Blues used:

http://www.grummanpark.org/blueangels.htm

After a Med cruse in F7U-3s, I was assigned to VF-21 and sent to the Fleet Introduction Program (FIP)for the F11F at Patauxant River. We flew the short nose version and later when we organized the squadron, got the long nose on which we painted a beautiful set of sharks teeth. I loved that airplane and even though it needed more power than the J-65, it had fun performance and was very comfortable to strap on. I would put the Tiger at the top of my all time favorite airplanes.

An exceptionally clean design with attractive lines, many painted in colorful markings = the hasegawa 1/72 scale kit makes a very good model,

Our training squadron had this aircraft for a short time. Fantastic fast plane but the wings experienced some corrosion and parts were had to get.The Blue Angels also used this plane for a short period of time.

I have a picture that was given to Commander "Fritz" Luebke USN, CAG 201. Best wishes to him from his friends at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation. December "54"
Just wondering if anyone knows who this is.

I read that this was the only aircraft to ever shoot itself down with its own guns. I guess it happened during a high speed gun test. The shells were faulty and the tumbled in flight where they were ingested into the engine.

I was an Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd class (AT2) and went to Grumman's Avionics class on the F11F when VF-33 transitioned from FJ-3M Furies at Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA.