Hey Phil... I FRAMP'D with VFP-63 in '72; COMM/NAV/SHOEHORN then W/C 210. Did they still have the giant "safety posters" on the walls of the 200 Div when you were there?
Amazing! I was in the last 3 RF-8G squadrons. VFP-63, VFP-206, and VFP-306. This was MY bird. I was a Plane Captain on this A/C!! My name was painted on the port nose wheel door. I am a retired ATC(AW). I worked COM/NAV/ECM, cameras (I level), flight deck final checker. Almost all of my advancements were due to my work with this A/C.
Hi Christopher, that is amazing. Come visit, we should record your story or do a Facebook Live with you. There is still work to be done on this one. Cheers, Jim
My brother was a senior LT with VF-191 aboard Ticonderoga '66-'67 Vietnam cruise. He left 191 for the Blue Angels and was killed in a crash @ El Centro Jan. '68. Ironically VF-191 was established for the Korean War using the Blue Angels as the nucleus of the squadron.
The RF-8 was absolutely instrumental during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The last RF-8 flew in 1985, and is currently preserved at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. "When you're out of F-8s, you're out of fighters."
Believe the correct year is 1987 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFP-206 The last operational RF-8G #146860, was donated to the Smithsonian Institution on 30 March 1987, the day after VFP-206 was disestablished, it is now on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
My brother was an F-8 pilot with VF-62 aboard Shangri-la for the '64-'65 Med cruise. He was either a senior jg or junior Lt. I think VF-13 was part of that Air Wing. Thanks for your service from a former AT-1.
The amazing part is we had no idea of its significant history until after we acquired it from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Our goal was to save it because it was a North Texas product. We seem to be lucky like this.
My father was a chief petty officer who very probably worked on that aircraft at NAS Cecil Field NW of Jacksonville Florida I was just 7 years old when he was maintaining them I remember him receiving the Presidential Unit Citation for the missions his squadron flew….Fighting Photo was their nickname 🫡
Here is what we have on the Crusader. The Fort Worth Aviation Museum’s Vought F8U-1P - later redesignated an RF8-G - Crusader, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics No. 146898, was built in 1960 in Grand Prairie, Texas. The aircraft was both delivered to and accepted by the Navy on February 26, 1960.
I worked on this bird in 1975 thru 1978 when I was in vfp 63 det 2. Great plane. electricans mate 3rd class.
Hey Phil, I was in VFP63 1978 thru 1980, Det 4. Photographer's Mate 3rd class. Most likely worked on this bird too!
Hey Phil... I FRAMP'D with VFP-63 in '72; COMM/NAV/SHOEHORN then W/C 210. Did they still have the giant "safety posters" on the walls of the 200 Div when you were there?
Amazing! I was in the last 3 RF-8G squadrons. VFP-63, VFP-206, and VFP-306. This was MY bird. I was a Plane Captain on this A/C!! My name was painted on the port nose wheel door. I am a retired ATC(AW). I worked COM/NAV/ECM, cameras (I level), flight deck final checker. Almost all of my advancements were due to my work with this A/C.
Hi Christopher, that is amazing. Come visit, we should record your story or do a Facebook Live with you. There is still work to be done on this one. Cheers, Jim
I even have a hold-back spindle (intact) and a NATOPS emergency knee board book(blue cover) for the RF-8G.
last ever navy sqd to have f-8's was VF-194 Red lighting & VF-191 from the Oriskany 75-76!!
My brother was a senior LT with VF-191 aboard Ticonderoga '66-'67 Vietnam cruise. He left 191 for the Blue Angels and was killed in a crash @ El Centro Jan. '68. Ironically VF-191 was established for the Korean War using the Blue Angels as the nucleus of the squadron.
The RF-8 was absolutely instrumental during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The last RF-8 flew in 1985, and is currently preserved at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. "When you're out of F-8s, you're out of fighters."
Believe the correct year is 1987
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VFP-206
The last operational RF-8G #146860, was donated to the Smithsonian Institution on 30 March 1987, the day after VFP-206 was disestablished, it is now on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Worked on F-8's in the Navy, VF-13, deployed on the Shangri-la.
My brother was an F-8 pilot with VF-62 aboard Shangri-la for the '64-'65 Med cruise. He was either a senior jg or junior Lt. I think VF-13 was part of that Air Wing. Thanks for your service from a former AT-1.
Thanks for rescuing this beauty! Can't believe they wanted to use her as a target!
The amazing part is we had no idea of its significant history until after we acquired it from the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Our goal was to save it because it was a North Texas product. We seem to be lucky like this.
Great stuff, amazing how much equipment was needed for a sim back then.
cool
is really to bad for sure that after 50yrs there still is not one F-8 flying @ airshows????? being the true gun fighter of the day! 😉😉😉
Agree. They were beautiful in the air.
My father was a chief petty officer who very probably worked on that aircraft at NAS Cecil Field NW of Jacksonville Florida I was just 7 years old when he was maintaining them I remember him receiving the Presidential Unit Citation for the missions his squadron flew….Fighting Photo was their nickname 🫡
A "G" ?
Here is what we have on the Crusader. The Fort Worth Aviation Museum’s Vought F8U-1P - later redesignated an RF8-G - Crusader, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics No. 146898, was built in 1960 in Grand Prairie, Texas. The aircraft was both delivered to and accepted by the Navy on February 26, 1960.
This is so fucking awesome
F-8'S had the most ever mig kills in nam nxt to F-4'S!!!