Were we really this young??? 

Photo courtesy John C. O'Connor 

Me by aircraft 206 that I was plane captain on.  Lt. Jim Kirkwood was the pilot assigned to it.  The aircraft is a F-8H which was an updated F-8D.  This picture was most likely taken about June on 1969 aboard the USS Shangri-la CVA-38.  Notice the leading edge droop lying on the ground.  It was from a RF-8U aircraft that was assigned to VFP-63.  The droop has a large dent in it about 2/3's of the way down where a fork truck ran into it.


 [Entries 201-300;  click here for entries 301-400;  click here for entries 101-200 ; click here for entries 1-100 ]

From Randy Kelso:

You Might Be a Maintainer If....
1. You've ever slept on the concrete under a wing
2. You've ever said, "Oh yes sir, it's supposed to look like that."
3. You've ever sucked LOX to cure a hangover
4. You know what JP4/JP5 tastes like
5. You've ever used a grease pencil to fix an overworn tire
6. You have a better benchstock in the pockets of your coveralls than thesupply system
7. You've ever used a piece of safety wire as a toothpick
8. You've ever had to say, "My boots are still black!" (or everspray-paintedthem black)
9. You refer to a pilot as a "stick actuator."
10. You've ever been told to go get "some prop wash and a yard of flightline."
11. You've ever worked a 14 hour shift on an aircraft that isn't flying the next day
12. You've ever said "as long as she starts every other try you'll be fine, sir."
13. You believe the aircraft has a soul 
14. You talk to the aircraft
15. You've ever said, "That nav light burned out after launch."
16. You've ever used a wheel chock as a hammer
17. The only thing you know about any city is where the good bars are
18. You know more about your coworkers than you do about your own family
19. You've ever looked for pictures of "your" aircaft in aviation books
20. You can't figure out why maintenance officers exist
21. You ever wished the pilot would just say, "Great aircraft!"
22. You take it as a badge of honor to be just called " a Det Hound."
23. You relieve yourself more often outdoors than indoors
24. You can't comprehend why everyone doesn't want to be a Maintainer
25. You think everyone who isn't a Maintainer is a wimp
26. You can sleep anywhere, anytime, but as soon as the engines shut down you are wide awake
27. You've ever stood on wheel chocks to keep your feet dry
28. You've ever used dykes to trim a fingernail
29. You've ever wiped leaks immediately prior to crew show
30. You've ever worn someone else's hat to chow
31. All you care about is the flying schedule and your days off
32. You've ever wondered where they keep finding the idiots that keep making up stupid rules
33. You've ever had to defuel an aircraft an hour after refueling it 
34. You've ever lost a tool in the cockpit or in some inaccessible void in the airframe 
35. You've ever been drenched in red hydraulic fluid after opening a belly panel 
36. You've ever entered under "corrective action" the phrase "short between the headset"
37. You've ever entered under "corrective action" the phrase "loose nut behind the wheel" 
38. You've ever helped remove a radar set filled with hydraulic fluid
39. You've ever filled a cigarette lighter from the underwing fuel sampling draincock 
40. You've ever sent a boot aft and below to the seventh deck to get a new "fallopian tube" for the radar 
41. You've ever ridden brakes in a fighter aircraft on a rolling deck 
42. You've ever had electrical power yanked by blueshirts just before the radar warms up
43. You've ever held your hand over the radome to feel whether the radar is transmitting 
44. You've ever slept on a wing during cyclic ops after your hundredth straight sixteen hour day
45. You've ever stood flight deck or hangar deck watches under dim deck edge lights
46. You've ever made chess pieces out of radar parts
47. You've ever intentionally cocked a hydraulic fitting in a wheel well to spray an overly snoopy maintenance officer 
48. You've ever been asked to fetch a "left-handed hammer" or a "metric crescent wrench" from supply 
49. You've ever helped a pilot climb the aircraft ladder and turn on the oxygen on the morning after the night before 
50. You've ever accompanied the squadron skipper to the Yuma jailhouse to bail out the squadron's entire complement of JO's 
51. You've ever experienced fifteen second showers monitored by a shower watch 
52. You've ever humored an inebriated Ensign during a midnight Ready Room watch 
53. You've ever hidden smuggled beer in the air conditioning ducts between the avionics shop and the Captain's cabin 
54. You've ever stood Shore Patrol in Olongapo armed only with a nightstick 
55. You've been hauled back to the ship in a Shore Patrol paddy wagon after less than two hours in Yokosuka, sans white hat, covered with barf and blood
56. You've ever stood on the side of a fighter with the engine turning and the pilot strapped in, and used your illegal tweaker to remove the radar scope cover and make an adjustment just prior to launch 
57. You've ever made a list like this.



CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE LISTED MOST RECENT FIRST

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300.  Was in nas oceana with vc-4 1965-1967 would like to find any pics from that squad  and their f-8’s, also would like to find a squadron patch

Robert Benningfield
rbenning@ur.com
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299.  Spent four year's and two month's in the best service in the world, the US NAVY !  Enlisted in 1962 and was discharged in August of 1966. ( the 2 x-tra month,s was when Nam broke out ). I was an east coast sailor with two Med cruises under  my belt and a whole bunch of geedunk cruises !!! The Shang was the last carrier with a wooden flight deck. No air-conditioning, no privacy, water hours ( two minute shower,s ) If your lucky (or smart ) you would grab the lower rack and punch a hole in the fresh air unit to be comfortable. The Crusader was the best bird I ever worked. Very little down time and easy to work on. By the way I was a Aviation Structural Mechanic ( AMS2 ). I was really pissed -off when the Squadron ( VF-13 ) was shit-canned and the Shang was stricken from Navel record's and sold to Tawan to be made into razor blade's !!!!!!!!             Well, I guess I'm done ranting and raving. CRUSADERS RULE FOREVER. GO GUNSLINGERS !
Louisparma@aol.com
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298.  Hi,    I was one of the plane captains for VF 13 during two Med Cruses in 1965-1967.   Was there when we had a collision

at sea.  Lost AC in PR-   Hot Pad in KW   Oil dump in France.   Incident with Police in Spain (on shore patrol at time)
Swimmer in fountain.  me  Lt Henning DO.   Ret as LDO.   Shang was water hours as a norm.    Do you have any info
on the crew of VF 13.  
 
Thank you
R G Lacey LCDR  USN Ret  rglacey@comcast.net

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297.   Hey! Great website!  I served in VMF-122 from April of '63 through Feb '65 when we returned from a Pac tour.  Located one of my old squadron buddies on the website.

What a great bird the F-8 was!  I was an ordnance guy and fondly remember humping 20mm guns, ammo, rockets, and Sidewinders.  I guess everyone says that their squadron was the best and I say that too.  Would sure like to hear from some other guys to see how they're doing.  Best of luck!
Jim Gosnell
Chandler, AZ
jimgosnell@cox.net

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296.  That first Med cruise for VF-32 with the F8U’s was something.  We were credited with keeping the F8U at sea whereas the West Coast Squadron was thrown off their ship.  I can’t remember how many main landing gears struts were broken, but I do remember the identification of the problem.  My PO1st class happened to be in the catwalk one day and noticed the strut heavily extending on launch when the plane lost contact with the deck.  Previously the main theory was breakage during compression at landing.  After this finding, we never broke another strut.  Then there was the corrosion in the nose cone, we repaired this at sea as well. 

 

What great memories.  I will have to check to see if I have any good pictures that I can contribute.

 

I am so happy that I found this web site!

 

Jerry Testerman AQF2  jandjtesterman@hotmail.com

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295.  

My name is Bill Turner, I got your address from Don, I was a Death Rattler from 1962 to 1964
And I can confirm Dons story about us flying the 1,600 Hrs and holding the record.
Anyway my email is      TurnerBroncoBill@aol.com  If you could put me on the list I would appreciate it...
Semper Fi
Bill Turner

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294.  PAX River 1966-1968, TPS, F-8s and the TF-8. I was the guy that got his right arm crushed in the dive brake of an F-8 (145521).

I see a lot of items on the TF-8A. There was only one produced and thetail number was 143710. I was at the Test Pilot School (TPS) as statedin the mid to late 60s. I prepped painted an old SKYRAY (F-6) during mystay. It was used as a static display by the Centrifuge Building. Theold SKYRAY looked like the aircraft that was on the emblem for TPS. Ithink I may still have one of the emblems. I will see if I have any oldphotos. I did get a ride in the back seat of the TF-8A once, can'tremember too much I was passed out from the Gs most of the ride. Used up three bags. I do remember the pilot putting 710 nose up in burner at the end of the runway until we did a hammer head. I think the pilot was LTCommander Wilkenson. Back then the object was to make the enlisted buy the ride for some kind of beverage. If the enlisted made it through the ride the driver had to buy.  There is another person on this site by name   of Gordon Stansberry who was the plane captain of 710 when she got back
from O&R in 1966. He was asking about the two seat F-8. The only thing that LTV made two of for this bird was the canopy, which was air operated. There was only one lock made for the canopy cylinder and it was put on up side down and it took all day to get it off. No one wanted to break the only one of its kind. I remember a lot of things about PAX River and TPS like it was yesterday. Keep in touch.
Laurence Nespodzany - AKA Larry (the Pollack)

 laurence.nespodzany@us.army.mil

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293.  I  had the privilege to serve under both Cdr. A.V. "Dancing Bear" Barber, and Cdr. G.J. "Gordo"  Gray.

I am trying to find a photo or at least a drawing of Sammy Bo Jacks, and the flying shit house. The were used in the squadron during my time. If any one can help, I would appreciate it .
By the way I remember when LT. "slats" slattery bought us all a case of beer so he could go a'flyen on the weekend.
All the best to my old brothers in the Swordsmen.
Wayne R,. Davis
WDavis207@aol.com
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292.  I happened across the page today.  My name is Charles (Rick) Barfield.  451 was my first squadron assignment after "A" school.  I made the Med cruise in '65 and still have the cruise book and slides I took. I believe the CO was Col. R. N. Smith.  I especially remember Mr. (Capt.) Cathcart as he was the first officer I met the night I reported to MCAS Beaufort.

If  a reunion is planned, I would be very grateful to be notified.
Thank You,
Charles Barfield
USMC 63-68  bqtlh@embarqmail.com

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291.   I found the page a short time ago, and read it with a great fondness.  As bad as it seemed at times wrenching on the F8's is remembered with the rough edges worn away by time. My God were young!!  I was assigned to VF 124 out AME-A school Dec 62 and stayed in the Seat shop until trans to VFP 63 in 66 and left VFP63 to A6,s in 69. The Navy moved me around after that, VA 128 at Whidbery Is. VA 115 USS Midway, NWC China Lake, NAVSTA Rota AIMD and back to China Lake retiring as a CWO4 in 1988. Some of the faces and names I remember But they are all young faces.  The best memories were the detachments and everyone pulled together and did what was necessary, as an AME I helped change tires while at Yuma on a weapons detachment. There is a retired AME2 Rich Toborg here in Ridgecrest, Ca he was in VFP63 about 65-66 time frame. It was a great trip and is part of who I am today and I am all the better for it. AMEAA -AME1 in VF 124 CWO4 RET Cliff Cook.

cecook1 @verizon.net

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290.  Burr Brackeen ADJ3 Worked in the VF-124 Powerplants shop (Night Shift) April 1962 until August 1964.It was great!              bandjob@cptnet.com
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289.   I started working on the F8 at NAS Atsugi,Japan way back in 1960.

I was an AN to start with,i made AME3 about a year into my tour.We did maint. checks for the fleet and aircraft coming out of Nippi overhaul.
I worked for Chief Bloom at AMD.I left Atsugi in Jan.1963.
 
My next work on the F8 was at VU-7 at NAS North Island in late 1963.I believe it was 1965 we changed to VC-7 and moved up to NAS Miramar.
The AME shop was right next to Top Gun and VFP-63.By this time i was a AME-2 and on the night shift. i was the night shift.It was here where i learned to pull the canopy and seat by myself.Back in those days you did what you had to do to get the job done.
 
Because we only had a couple of ADJ's on the night shift i had to get turn qualfied up to afterburner,which was fun for me.We had to turn up all F8's every sunday night to check for hyd and fuel leaks,so they would be ready to go on Monday morning.
I left VC-7 in 1967 for VF-62 at NAS Cecil Field,Fla.
I loved VF-62 it was my first time to be in a real fighter outfit and still with my first love the F8U.I was with VF-62 for two med. tours and left in Jan.1969.
During the last tour two of our F8's had a midair and i had rwo of my seats used at the same time.Thank god both worked and the pilots were picked up unhurt.
I would love to here from anyone that cares to send me a e-mail.
 
Terrence D. Nickell AME-1 USNR
terrencen2@comcast.net

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288. cecook1@verizon.net

AME in VF 124 from 62 -66 & VFP 63 from 66-69 .  The F8 will always have a spot in my memories as the 1st A/C I worked on. Intrepid  det 68-69 . From there to A6's  then was selected for WO in 1978 then "I" level positions until retirement in 88. I worked w/AFCM Massey when he an AMS1. Sorry to hear that he has gone to the maintenance crew in the sky. The 1st Chief I worked with was AMEC Gales in VF 124, others I recall,AME2 s King , Paulus & Seitz, ADC Zip Landmier.

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287.  I was in VF-194 from 72-75.  I worked on F8-J’s as an ADJ.  I live in Lansing.  You can call me at 517-214-8909.  I don’t have any books or manuals but I have some contacts that may.

Dale Munk  

 munk@wwdb.org
Below is a link to my squadron and picture.  I’m the second one from the left in the back row of the enlisted
http://hometown.aol.com/vf194f8crusader/73-74oriskany1index.html
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286.  I was a plane captain with VF-194 Legendary Red Lightning’s in 1972. I just discovered this page and was wondering if the plane emblem at the left side before the pilots name allows you to view the pics if there are any? That would be awesome if there were pics of the engagement. I will be looking through here much more often. Keep up the good work!

Peace

 Marco A. (Tony) Vasquez  marco.vasquez@dot.gov
Safety Auditor
Arizona Division
Nogales, AZ.

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285. I was attached in Dec of 66 and detached Mar of 69  
Watched the History Channel tonight and the F8 was a hell of a plane.  It made me remember the days back then.  The price I think for one F8 in those days was 3.5 to 5 Million $  Today it would cost 65 Million.
 Great Job on the Web Site
 Michael J. Doyle   mdoyle@pgpreo.com
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284.  I retired as  Gunner Henning, CWO4 in 1992, but, when I checked into VF-13 Chief Myron T. Sucop "Pappy Su" was the Chief in the ordnance shop and I was a new AO 3.  When I went to Hanger 13 at Cecil Field the first time,  the first thing Chief said to me was, "What the hell do you know about the  F-8",  I told him that I didn't but would find out and report back to him.
 
That was my mistake,  because I was on the Arm/Dearm crew from then on even after I made AO2 and subsequently left the squadron. 
 
Chief McQuaid followed Chief Sucop, he was one big man, a VP sailor who needed some deep water time.
 
Our QA Petty Officer was AO2, Allen I Kellman, hell of a leader and knew the system like the back of his hand.  Heard he became a Congressional Chief due to being in the wrong place at the right time. 
 
Remember the time that "HOTDOG" and the skipper, "Jump'n Jim Foster", made a bet as to who could come closest to tent city down at Rosey Roads on takeoff. That was the deployment when I pulled the top gun out of the starboard side of  100,  R& R with another bird, and replaced it by myself so the skipper could have his target time.  We were doing drag takeoffs with the banner then.
 
When I went to maintance control to log the serial numbers on the log books for the switched guns I was told what had been done was impossible.  The maintance officer, cannot remember his name, took up for me and to prove it, he had me do it again while a group of pilots watched.
 
Made two Med cruises on the Shang,  was there when the USS Perry hit us on the starboard forward quarter.  I was standing on Fly 1, relieving my watch I was petty officer on that watch, flight quarters had been secured .  Then we backed into Naples harbor, put the starboard side to the sea wall to build a coffer dam and the storm came up.  It was like watching an old movie, but I was there when we lit off the birds on the roof and held the ship when the aft quay lines parted and the Shang threatened swing by the bow and block the harbor. 
 
We all have tales to tell of our times in VF13, some by the pilots and some by the white hats, the only ones a sailor had to watch out for were the one that started out, " Now this ain't no sea story (might not be the exact words but it started with an s---.
 
Never got to the Goat Locker on the Shang, but there were days later on. 
 
I was a proud member of the Ordnance shop from 1964 to 1967, when I left during a Med Cruise.
yogi122@sbcglobal.net
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283.  I was stationed at NAS Cecil Field from 61 thru 63. Not a day goes by I don’t go back in time for the good memories. I made a whole bunch of good friends back then and how I wish I knew a way to be able to contact them one more time. I worked as an AKAN in the AMD hanger. It’s a shame the base is no longer commissioned. There is friend in particular that I have tried locating to no avail. His name…AK3 Melvin A. Johns.
 Francisco (PACO) Garcia  FRANCISCO5735@SBCGLOBAL.NET
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282.  I was in the Detachment of active duty regulars at NAS Atlanta from 1970-1973. I then spent through April 1975 as a Reserve with VMF-351. What a deal! I grew up in Grand Prairie while the F-8 was being built. I thought it was a great plane and then got to work with it.
I was trained in Avionics and that was my MOS. There were more of us than were needed at that time, and not enough flight line manpower. I was sent out there as the low man on the totem pole and got to liking it so requested to stay.
I went with the unit on the first TAD to Tyndall mentioned by MGySgt Street. We worked really hard and kept our birds ready and only missed one bird from one launch the whole week. The pilots kept us updated on their work in the air and I guess we did pretty good.
If you have a current e-mail from Street, I would sure like to contact him. I am not sure I remember him, although we would have been on base at the same time from June till Sept and of course while I was there on the drill weekends through April '75.
Thank you.
I did notice that NAS Dallas was not mentioned in the units that flew the F-8. I know they had the F-8 too, because we did our 2 weeks with them in 71 and 72 at Yuma and Puerto Rico respectively.
 
John D. Woolery
Associate Pastor New Life Baptist Church
Converse, TX
BroJohn@nlbconverse.org

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281.  I was an enlisted member of VF-53 during her last two cruises.  The last deployment was from March, 1970 to November, 1970.  The Iron Angels of those two cruises were a proud and dedicated group.  When you have great commissioned  leadership and enthused enlisted personnel, things go well.  The bad things about that last cruise were the losses of CDR Kaiser and LT(jg) Hewey (sp).
I was a personnelman with the squadron, and it was my pleasure to work with both the officers and all of the enlisted men.
I don't know the exact dates of that last deployment, but it was a long one.  We had a couple of 40 day plus deployments.  We did create a lot of new Shellbacks on that cruise though.  I am one of them.
Respectfully,

George Harris
Former PN2, VF-53/U.S. Navy
gmwharris@localaccess.com
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280.  I was a member of VF-53 in 1964, 1965, 1966 as a Parachute Rigger aboard USS Ticonderoga
 Is there any chance of finding a 1964 copy of the cruise book Do we have any pictures of the squadron in those days 
Sincerely
Charles Hill
charlie61@comcast.net
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279.   I was a plane captain then AQF-3 from 1964 to 1967 with VF-211. 
I found your web the other night, well done. The time I spent in VF-211 was well spent. From the good times Migs going down to the sweet and sad, knowing that pilots were alive but becomming POW's, to the bad times the loss of LTJG. R. Lorang, LTJG T. Brown
May you all always have CDR,s night to land (full moon)
V. Richard Wheeler  rick.wheeler@sbcglobal.net
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278.  Ron Kessinger AMS2 here, I was stationed at Moffett field (The beautiful hangar one) 1956-1959 attached to VFAW 3, , worked on: F3H, F4D, A4D, FJ6, F11F and F8u's, was on the Hornet and Bon Homme Richard in the So. China sea,  ronkdesign@msn.com
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277.  I stumbled accross your website while browsing the Internet for old Navy jacket patches.
 I joined the Navy in 1971, turned 21 in boot camp, got an A school in Memphis, and was flown out to the Phillipines to catch up with my first squadron, VF-191. They were deployed on board the USS Oriskany, and I caught up with them in Olongapo City/Cubi Point/Subic Bay. I was initially enlisted as "ADJ", to differentiate from the Recip Mechanics, but the ratings were merged during my first year of service, so I grew up to be an "AD". After a 3 year hitch with VF-191, I was transferred to NAS Alameda where I continued to work on the Pratt and Whitney J-57 engines at AIMD. Returning to sea duty, I moved back to San Diego and served with VFP-63, Det. One. I would have to go through all my old records and documents to get all the dates and times right. After another tour with VF-191, still using F-8s, I had about 10 years Crusader experience before I ended up with VF-51 as a FRAMP instructor for the then brand new F-14. I worked Tomcats for about 7 years, and then got cross trained to the F-18 for my last few years of service. I retired with a 30% disability (heart condition) in 1991 at NAS Fallon in Nevada. I am now a high school shop teacher in Battle Mountain, NV.
 
I still have the wooden model of an F-8 that I bought in Olongapo. It sits proudly in my classroom, just to see what kind of question I might get from my students about it. Unfortunately, there aren't many. I haven't read every entry on your sight yet, but the scanning throught the first 100 entries, I have read the names of many people that I either worked directly with, or came in contact with as a part of the F-8 community. There are a bazzilion old memories stirred up in your site. I would appreciate being a part of it.
 
Russ Wright, USN/AD1, retired
russell-wright@sbcglobal.net
 
P.S. Anyone got an old VFP-63 jacket patch they would be willing to part with?
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276.   was plane captain vf 142 1961-62---made Round the Horn cruise aboard USS Kitty Hawk CVA 63      61-61 P/C F8U-I squadron #212 with AN Carl Wallace; was plane captain vf 154 1962--------made West/Pack cruise aboard the USS Coral Sea CVA 43 1962 P/C F8U-2N   discovered tail hook about to fall off bird prior to launch May 02 off Philippine Islands  Sq. # 203   Pilot was Lt. White
Louis Zezoff Jr.
lzezoffjr@charter.net
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275.  .I was proud to fix F8's. They may have been old and leaked alot, but man what an Afterburner they had. I was an AE at NAS Miramar, which now belongs to the Marines. Glad to have come across your site.
 Andy S.  a55engl@yahoo.com
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274.  Was in VFP-63 Det 1 from Mar 1973 to Feb 1975 as AE shop superviser. Was an AE-2 at the time. Later was on the Coral Sea when the last RF-8G was launched at the end of cruisein the spring of 1982.  Eddie Smith  ecsmith2199@sbcglobal.net
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273.  Really enjoyed the photos... I'm a retired AMSC and did my F-8 time with VF 154 Black Knights, VF 174 RAG, and VF 191 Satans Kittens. I was the head painter for 191 and kept them pretty for you guys to show-off in. Capt. Moon Mullins (then a LCDR) was a regular visitor with me and my crew on many of those sleepless nights in Tonkin Gulf. The Crusader he donated to the Viet Nam landscape looked really good going down !! He watched us repaint it just a few nights before he went down. 
Would love to see a photo of a mid-60's VF 191 F-8... Any ideas where to look ? 
AMSC C. R. (Chuck) Ross,  Primarily with VF 191 as Corrosion Control Team Leader, AMS2, and AMS1, at that time, in the mid-60's. Now retired and living in Pensacola, Florida.
TICO TIGER FOREVER !!!
                                           Thanks again, C. R. Bob Ross, AMSC ret.  Crbobr@wmconnect.com
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272.  I am looking for brothers I served with in 122 between 1963 and Feb. 1965. mikegoetz@alltel.net Please email me.
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271.   Great web site   Just for fun I tiped in VFP63 and your site came up.  I was an AMH3 with VFP63 from 1967 to 1969.  The F8 is still a great aircraft in my book.  When I built a model of it as a teenager I never would have thought I would work on one.  Still keep a model of one along with some F8 FAM books.
 Also is anyone knows the where abouts of an AT named Ernie Seymor please let me know.  I believe he was with VF124 at the same time I was at Miramat.
 
AMH3 Robinson  RevLDRob@aol.com
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270.  Hi my name is Jim Pokrandt, I was in VFP-63 when it decommissioned in 1982.  Just found this site and enjoyed reading a lot of what people had to say.  My e-mail is trooper89406@hotmail.com 
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269.   I was a member of VF-62 at Cecil field from 1963-1966 and would love to know how to get in touch with my fellow sailors for a reunion.
 Bill Napoli  mentalmystery@verizon.net
Clearwater, Florida
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268.  I WAS A GUNNERS MATE ON THE USS CONSTELLATION, AND WORKED THE FLIGHT DECK, 1968 TRU 1972. SEEKING INFORMATION REGARDING A FLIGHT DECK CAPTAIN WHO GOT SUCKED INTO THE INTAKE OF A  A-7.  WOULD LIKE ANY OTHER ACCIDENT INFORMATION DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THE GULF OF TONKIN WAS HELL, BUT PROUDLY SERVIED. RECEIVED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR OUR WAR EFFORTS.
APPRECIATED THE OUTSTADING CREWMEMBERS I SERVED WITH, AND FIND IT A HONOR TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
 Thanks a Ton,
 Art (SLIM GATOR )  arthursallard@dallasva.gov

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267.  I was in the marines from 1961 to 1965. I was in MACS 5 at beauford SC late 61. I believe mas 235 or 333 was flying then.   I spent a year at atsugi(MACS-5) when Kenny was
killed in or around 62-3.   I flew model airplanes with Sgt. first class "top" and POGO. They were with the F-8 sqd. at Atsugi.If anyone knows or can tell me about these two I would
appreache it.    We did the Combat Air traffact control at atsugi. there where other marines that I would love to hear from if anyone knows of them. Billy Maddocks, and my
Conass buddy from Morgan City La.    William gresy(actually creasy) who was down in YUMa Arz. when we got back from Japan.   And B.J. Actually I don't remember the name from El
campo who I shared many a ride back and forth to El Torro .(I was going to Port Arthur)   At all the places there were the F-8's and I loved them all. There is still a very strong feeling when I
even see a model of one.   I even wrote a book with one of the leading car. a F-8. (No, it didn't get pass the first review)  I didn't get to work on the F-8's but I did guard
them at atsugi.   any one can contact me at pm861@sbcglobal.net    Pat McCarthy   formly from Port Arthur. now in Texas City.

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266.  I served with VF91 on the Ranger and after a quick turnaround went back on a West Pac cruise on the Bonnie Dick after we changed to VF 194. Our Skipper CMDR Phillips said as we were the best on the West coast,we were awarded the Battle "E" award and got a hashmark under for earning it 2 years in a row.My rate was AE2 and have fond memories of many of my "squadron Mates".It would mean a lot to hear from any of them.After my stint with the Red Lightnings I transfered to VU 7 at North Island,the squadron then was transfered to NAS Miramar where I was Ground Support instructor on NC5's and NC 10's. Thanks for this websight. I live in Leroy,NY,between Buffalo and Rochester,NY. Any info on former shipmates would be welcome.

Dave Normandin davjo@frontiernet.net
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265.  My name is Jim Allison, and I was in VF 62 in the early 60's. my service dates were 65 to 67 and was an AME and then plane captain. Cdr. Craven was the co and then Cdr. Terry while I was assigned to VF 62, I later re-enlisted and was ordered to Atsugi Japan for shore duty. I am glad to find someone who is doing this web page tribute to a fine fighter sqdn. now passed to history.  I have downloaded a picture of the old " SHANG " for a wallpaper for my desktop, would like to find a good pic of one of the F-8'S hope you can find some pics for the sight!

AME 1 JJ ALLISON USN RET.  deeds_lc45@hotmail.com
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264.  I was aboard the USS Ticonderoga in 1966 and 1967. I was attached to CAG19 under Commander Billy Phillips and Lieutenant Commander F.G. Fellowes.  Jim Couch, YN3 [jcouch@pullman.com]
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263.  I Was stationed with the Red Devils in Hawaii in 1964 & 65 they were a F-8 Squadron .
Charles Rigby [charlesrigby@comcast.net]
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262.  I spent 1962 in Atsugi with VMF (AW) 451 with a squadron of Crusaders. Was glad to find web site of F8Us. CO was LTCOL Crew. Would like contact with any squadron members. 
Terry Hopkins Plane Capt. Contact at mohop@aol.com
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261.  My first stop after Great Lakes was WST at Pax River in Jan. 61. We had a few F8's. I worked on the Jet Line for about 4 months and spent 3 months with our recip group before going to school in Memphis. I left the Navy in Sept. 64 as an ADR2 in HU-4 at Lakehurst. The F8 was pretty easy to tow around and park in the hanger. I remember a BIG snow storm I was plowing snow with a 27000 lb tractor we used to pull a C130 (GV1) with. I slid on the snow and tore up about 20 feet of blast fence. I buried it in the snow and no one knew it until spring. The day I was leaving the civilians were fixing it. 
Dick and Carol Hamlet Carlisle, PA  dickhamlet@comcast.net
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260.  My name is John McCormack. I was in VF-124 (1967 - 1969). I worked initially in the AE shop and was transfer to the Check Crew.  I made AE-3 while in VF-124. Worked with some fine people (Decker, Smith, Chandler, Jackson, Washington, Taklo, Landry, Schmidt, Moore, Connelly and more). They all taught me how to grow up and be something.

I was transferred to VF-211 (1969 - 1971) and again went into the Check Crew (after a stint in the AE shop). We did two cruises on the Hancock. It was at Cubi Point that I was transferred to the Check Crew from the AE shop. The ship & Squadron left Cubi and the Check Crew stayed for the remainder of the cruise. Great duty! I made AE-2 while in VF-211. Made some great friends (Hanks, Henton, Jeffres, Lowe, Mayberry, McFalls, Olmstead, Pride, Rohren & Taklo), but took too few photos. I now wish I had bought a better camera back then.

My enlistment expired in March 1971. I went home & married, worked for the local phone company, retired in 1995. Concurrently with that I enlisted in the Army National Guard & retired as an E-8 First Sergeant in 1994.

I am currently living at 623 Route 148, Killingworth, CT 06419 and will move to Hertford, NC within the year (one hour from NAS Oceana, VA).  Anyone who had photos to exchange, drop me a line at jemccormackjr@yahoo.com.
Hope to hear from you.  John "Mac" McCormack
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259.  I've just came across this site and was glad to see that the old Crusader is receiving some well deserved recognition. I made the last cruise aboard the Hancock with the "Fighting Red Checkertails" in '75. The missile shooter's in the air today can't compete with old gun fighters like the F-8. Maybe it's just that I was rather fond of the old bird but after '75 when the retired them and the Hancock, that ended an era that will be hard to forget. 
Dallas Miley AT1 Flight Deck Trouble Shooter  Mileyflorida@aol.com
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258.  Hi: Just found your web site. I had the honor of serving with VFP-62 at NAS Cecil Field from Feb 61-Mar 63 when I transferred to DIO-3ND. Was with "Fleet Eyes" during The Cuban Missle Crisis, and remember many of my former shipmates including then CDR W.B. Ecker and others who flew the missions over Cuba. Just visited Cecil on a recent trip to Jax., sad to see so much of the old memories have been destroyed in the wake of BRAC. Loved the mighty Crusaders, Cecil and all that was a part of Naval Aviation in the 60's.

I saw the movie "13 Days", found parts to be somewhat accurate and much to be very wrong.  was still very enjoyable tho.  iIwas attached to the skipper and remember how, even on Cecil, only our squadron knew what we were doing until Kennedy's speech.  I also remember that we repainted all of the mission F8's with all identifying markings obliterated.  i also remember seeing the small arms fire hits on the aircraft upon return to Cecil. :"Motorbooks" carries the book, paperback but still very good and with great photos of the aircraft and details on the fate of most of the aircraft and some of the pilots later in life.  last i looked Capt Ecker (ret) was living in Fla..  do not know if he is still alive.  another pilot of the era went on to chronicle his life as a POW after being shot down over Hanoi early in 64.  He was a great guy also, like the skipper.  you may recall, that prior to Ecker, we had Winslow (a mustanger) and Foltz prior to him.  Foltz had also been at Cecil during WWII in the pre-jet craft including , I think, F4U's.  I have a few old phots including a couple of B Circle 
K.G.Kelly,YN2   VTCOPDOC@msn.com
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257.  I am a sailor that sailed The USS Ticonderoga in 1964,65,66 and I was looking for some info about VF-53, F-8 Squadron with Carrier Air Wing 5 Having trouble finding anything out about VF-53 Maybe I could find a cruise book.
Charles Hill charlie61@comcast.net
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256.  Thanks so much for this site.. Brought back many memories from my tour on the USS Midway late 50's an early 60's.. Was on the hangar deck there... Some pics and sounds sent shivers thru me..Like re-living it all again.. Thanks again.. 
Nathan Good AN V3 div  kc5vlf@leaco.net
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255.  Stumbled onto the web site. Looks like you are beginng a worthy project. I spent July 1965 thru July 1967 at K-bay with 212. I do have somewhere in my things a few photos if you are interested. I am also looking to find my old boss, Gysgt J.J. Hoffman. He ran the hydraulics shop. Semper-Fi 
Phil Partridge, birdnvus@yahoo.com
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254.  My name is ed leonard I was a ADJ3 plane captain working on the F8U-1 & F8U-2n from 1957 to 1961 @ armament test sq at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River Maryland. The aircraft was great to work on. I had the privilege to be the plane captain for former F8 pilots & former astronauts Lcdr John Young USN, Capt Pete Conrad USMC & Cdr Alan Shepard USN. They were great men. I also remember Lt Chambers who would come out to fly the 2-N in a full pressure suit for hi altitude flying 60,000+; the jet would come back with ice still on the fuselage, I still get the chance to see a F8U-2 at the air museum close to my home in Florida, it sure brings back fond memories. If any one from pax river (1957-1961) is is still around I would like to here from you. Ed Leonard Northrop Grumman Corp (Grumman Aerospace Corp) 43 years
Edward A Leonard Northrop Grumman Corp Inspection Operations MGT 
2000 W Nasa Blvd Melbourne Fl 32904 (321) 951-6818 Phone (321) 508-0653 Cell  edward.leonard@ngc.com
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253.  I am the Proud Red Ripper that Armed that Martinbaker Seat. LTJG Cryway personally came to the AME shop & thanked me.  It had to be the summer of 1962 or later, as I was stationed at N.A.S.Pensacola 1961 & 1962.
Phil Hertzog AME-2. Red Ripper from 1962 to 1965.  Canery123@aol.com
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252.  I remember in the early sixties when I was in VF_51 with Tom Tucker and Tooter Teague as the CO and XO, I still have some great photos of the F-8's on the cats. 
Bob Scott ATCS USN Retired  greatscott2bl@msn.com
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251.  I was an AME-2 with VF-162 for 4 years, first year a plane Capt. brown shirt on deck, then 3 years working on the Martin Baker Seat and air-conditioning systems. I would love to help in any way. I do have a new NATOPS FLIGHT MANUAL for F-8H Aircraft that I got in 1970 and it followed me home. Would you have need of this? I also worked the Beach Det Cubi Pt. on all aspects of the aircraft including a license to assist the jet mechanics tune the engines with the tail hanging over the bay. I can still feel the thrill of slamming the throttle into afterburner detent and the plane straining at the chains. Wowza. great memories. What I hated most was cleaning that aircraft with MEK. Still have slight loss of hearing from not wearing Mickey mouse ears on the flight line. I was also on the Flight Line at Miramar when that F8 from VF-124 flew into the hanger Christmas Eve killing all my shipmates. Seats were baking off and people were on fire. That was the scariest day of my life.
Dan Spikowski  Dan@G7USA.NET
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250.  I'm David R. Dodge and I am from Alaska. I was a small part of VF194 in the years 1969 to 1970. I was an AOAN and made one WestPAC cruise on the USS Oriskany CVA 34. I too have some good memories of those days (and some not so good as I am sure a lot of you have).  
David R Dodge  david_dodge@dot.state.ak.us
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249.  I was in VF51 line shack from 1986 to 1988. I would like to get a VF51 sticker for my truck. I would like the one with the eagle just like on the home page here. How can I go about getting one?  [ any ideas, anyone??]
Thanks, John Howard  jkhowards@cox.net
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248.  I served with VMF(aw)-451 in Beaufort SC from Oct 63 to June 65. I was an AT/AE in the Avionics shop. During that time we deployed on the First non-stop trans-Atlantic to Almeria, Spain, operated off of a Seabee's built Portable runway for 8 days and flew 'em back acrossed the pond. We also spent 28 day on combat duty from Rosy Road, Puerto Rico for the Dominican Republic Intervention, stood hot pad duty at NAS Boca Chica, had gunnery practice in Yuma, AZ, did carrier quals on the USS Shangri la and an 8 month Med Cruise on the USS Forestall in 65-66. The Crusaders were awesome aircraft and deserve more press than they ever received then or now. The took a beating and kept on flying.
 Semper Fi (Sgt) Danny Reising  reising14@wwdb.org
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247.  Checking out your page(s) and trying to use it to find any/more information on VMFA-334 . I was a part of the "Falcons" squadron for several years and deployed to Viet Nam with them........... any info available, links, live bodies with their memory intact, or paper trails of any kinds welcomed for my search.

Sid Hausding Avionics/Electrician (AE) Alpena, Michigan 49707 989-356-0048 sidh@charter.net
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246.   I was with VFP-63 from May 1963 to Feb. 1967. Was on the USS Constellation, Det. Foxtrot, 1964-65, USS Oriskany, 1965, and USS Coral Sea, 1966-67. These were all detachments out of Miramar NAS. Played basketball at Miramar, where VFP-63 won two base championships during that time. On the 1964 cruise Tommy Black,Bob Black, Wally MaComber and myself play music on the ship and in every Port. On the 1966-67 cruise Tom Krough and I also played Music. Some where in this time we also found time to do a lot of work, but when you get older it seems like you only remember the good times. Would like to hear from some of the shipmates I had the privilege to serve with. 
Dave Shreve PR3   sailordank@bellsouth.net
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245.  I was wondering if you might have any info on the TF-8A Crusader.I served a tour at N.A.S. Pax Test Pilot School as an AMH during the mid 60's. I was plane captain for about a year on a TF-8A, I believe it was #143710. Rumor was that there were 2 of them built as prototypes, but they had huge cost overruns and were not bought by the Navy. I can only attest to the one I cared for. Quite a bird, 7' canopy (air operated), and a 16' ring-slot drag chute being 2 stand out differences in my memory. Just looking for any info on the old girl, I'm retired now and would like to make a model of her, for old times sake. Thank you. 
Gordon Stansberry   g_stans2003@yahoo.com
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244.  I answered the below posting to Jim Shearer about what happend to the John Glenn plane:  [I seem to recollect that John Glenn Drove one of my squadron's planes cross crounty to set a speed record of some sort]

Here is what I know:

I was a PR2 (Parachute Rigger) assigned to VFP-63 Det 4 at Miramar Naval Air Station. In June 1972 we embarked aboard the USS Oriskany CVA-34 for a 10-month WestPac cruise to Vietnam. The aircraft you refer to was one of our four planes. The plane did have a brass plaque that indicated: "John Glenn set the transcontinental speed record in the plane."

We had a Lt. Tom Scott who was flying the aircraft in Dec.1972 I believe and upon approaching the flight deck, he hit the round-down and severed the landing gear and the plane slid across the flight deck and plunged into the ocean. Lt. Scott ejected safely and was picked up by the flight ops helo uninjured. We were told that the aircraft was supposed to be sent to the Smithsonian after the cruise, but now it lies at the bottom of the Tonkin Gulf.

I reenlisted during the cruise and went on to a 21 year career with the Navy and retired in 1989 as a Senior Chief Navy Counselor. One of our other pilots with Det 4 was a Rick Fessenden who went on to become a Commander and test pilot and died while piloting a new experimental aircraft at an air show in August 1995. I also heard that one of the other pilots "Duke" Cunningham went on to become a senator or representative in California.

We collided with the USS Nitro (ammunition ship) our first night on Yankee Station and was hung up with one another for a while before we separated. Also, on two separate occassions, we lost a screw (prop) and had to go to Yokohoma, Japan for two weeks each time (us Air Wing guys got to go to Atsugi). Otherwise we did 45 day line periods and 3 days R&R in Subic for the entire cruise. We lost three pilots and one enlisted (blown over the side) during that cruise and only had 1500+ cases of VD. Whenever we left Subic Bay, the "clap line" was always longer than the chow line.

Tom Roff DeKalb, IL US Navy (Ret)  TriStarGrpLLC@aol.com
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243.  I was in VF-703 from Dec. 1967 to Sept. 1968. During this time the squadron was called to active duty due to the capture of the USS Pueblo. We stayed at NAS Dallas till May 68 and were then transfered to NAS Miramar. The planes were painted with the Texas flag on the tail and when they landed they had Texas flags on the fuel probe.  The commanding officer was CDR. Liberato (sp?). At the time of their release, the squadron was aboard the USS Ranger for CQ.

Wish I could furnish more info, but age is catching up with me. I don't think I have any pictures from back then, but if I ever come across one I will email to you.
Jon Selah - PR2  grape71@netzero.com
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242.  My wife and I just finished a tour of the Naval Air Museum Pensacola. First time we'd been there but we made a 4,000mile driving trip to go there. On our way we visited Wright Patterson and the Canadian Air Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. After Pensacola we visited the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, AZ. All four had outstanding collections with great teams of personnel. Ginny (my wife) and I had toured all of the air museums in England and Scotland and even had the PT18 we restored displayed in the air museum at Palm Springs, CA. There is really no valid way to compare one museum to another and to try would be foolish and unfair. "BUT" since I was in Navy Air as a plane captain and in Miramar as a member of VF124 I must admit I'm rather prejudiced towards the Naval Museum. The place is spotless and the collection is well displayed. The facilities are fantastic---we used the library to find information about the F7U Cutlass and ate in the restaurant. Wow! Were we impressed by the staff of both !!! We just got back from our trip about two hours ago and it will take weeks for us to get down to earth. The reason I'm writing to you is that my son just sent me your web page to read and it is great see such a site devoted to the time in my life that I really enjoyed---'51to'55 and Naval Air.

I just read all of the e-mail from the guys on the ground. If you think trying to keep the F8 flying was tough I was plain captain on F7U Cutlass. I was in Vf124 at Miramar with Project Cutlass and VF 124 trying to maintain 12 F7U's. My first time at Miramar was in 1952 when it was a Naval Auxiliary Landing Field. We had two a/c, an SNB and an SNJ. My first job out of AD school was to paint the rocks around the tower parking lot. Boot camp, ANP school and AD school and I qualified to paint rocks. When 124 was dis-established my wife and I were invited to bring our restored Stearman PT18 be part of the ceremony. What an honor that was. Thanks for the web page for the ground crew members.
Glenn & VIRGINIA DUNHAM glennginny@verizon.net
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241.  I was with VMF 451 7/58-Jan 60. Do you have any contact with anyone during this period? Please advise if so. Great Site, keep up the good work. TNX  Lloyd Smithson   lloydsmithson@yahoo.com
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240.  I served in VF-62 from 66-68 as an AZ3. What happened to Reilly---VF13 from Plant City fla. He and I used to ride back and forth from Boca Chica to TPA in his VW. when we were TDY deterring the enemy [Castro] -- protecting the super-connie.  I believe he was your plane captain. He was from Plant city Fla.
C. A. "Charley" Hart   chart243@juno.com
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239.  First squadron was VF 154 from Aug. 1962 until Dec.1966 Two tours with VFP 63 From 1977 To 1982 aboard USS ORISKANY And USS KITTY HAWK Lots of good memories of the F 8 
Gordon Reed ADCS Retired   GVRGOLD@AOL.COM 351 
Inglenook Circle, Winter Springs, Fl. 32708
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238.  I  was an F-8 Maintenance person for only 4 years, but the F-8 bug latched on to me hard. I would like to talk to more of the old mechanics since the F-8 is just a fond memory now.
Terrell Thompson
MABQA
Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Ga.
Terrell.Thompson@robins.af.mil
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237.  I jointed VCP-63 in March 1960 from AT(R)‘A’ school. Worked nights most of the time with the squadron. Made 3rd class and 2nd class there, before transferring in March 1962.  Worked on both F8U-1Ps and A3D-2Ps, as well as transient AC such as A3D-1P and an Air Force RB-66 we also had 2 or 3 F9Fs for training and on old SNB.

I worked in the hangers next to VF-121 training squadron(I believe) and saw the first F4 come to Miramar. As the F4s took over the squadron moved to the Nose Docks down by Ops and by that time the squadron had sent our A3Ds to Guam for their F8s and our name changed to VFP-63.

Worked most of the night to support an A3D to photograph the Russians trying to intercept a satellite camera package some where around Hawaii. Also supported another A3D going to photograph the Air Force ‘Texas Tower’ collapse off the East coast.

Spend 5 days on the Oriskany qualifying pilots and was selected for a WestPac cruise, but was transferred to Lemoore before the cruise departed.

I still remember our night maintenance chief was a guy named Turkilson(sp). I was a great guy with a hard job.

Dan Thompson
Irvine, CA
calpoly@cox.net
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236.  I was a member VF-141 in 1957 made the trip on the Bonny Dick to west pack. Enjoyed the squadron history.
Thanks Richard Davey AD2 VF-141  DawnDavey@aol.com
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235.  Was attached to MAG-41, VMF (AW) 112 from 1970 to 1975 as an AE. Was very privledged to have worked with some of the finest maintainers and pilots around. What I would trade just to hear that massive single stage AB light one more time or one of those low level, coming right at you, full power passes. What an awsome machine.
SSGT Stephen L Baker (bkrstv@aol.com)
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234.  I served in VF-24 from 73 to 75. First West Pac as a PC, second West Pac as a trouble shooter final checker. I loved working on the F-8J Crusaders. Great guys to work with in the squadron as well. When VF-24 went to Tomcats I got orders to VA-145 on the Ranger. I spent 25 months on West Pac on a 4 year enlistment. VF-24 was the best part of my time in the Navy.  I also worked with Lloyd Gran (Granny) during his last West Pac. He is entry # 9.
Mike Pulliam AMH-2  micpul@Safeco.com
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233.  I was an ordnanceman in VF-142 when it went around the horn on a brand new Kitty Hawk in 1962. The squadron changed aircraft when it got back to San Diego and changed to VF-96. It was a good squadron when I was in it and a shame you don't have any info on it. I wish I had some to send you but I don't. I always loved the F8U as we called it then. The squadron was known as the World Famous Fighting Falcons. I'm 62 but once Navy always Navy. Keep up the good work. Thanks 
John Sloas  Stormewater   jsloas@sbcglobal.net
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232.  My name is Ray Williams AZC, USN (ret). I was attached to VF-53 1968 thru 1970. I was the aircraft logs & records clerks. I work for AFCM Kasier. I have ran into a few members. They are AFCM Coates USN (ret). Ialso had a reunion with Stanley Friedman AZ3 after 34 years in Phoenix, AZ. VF-53 was the best of the best I will always remember my tour. I have a LOL for my squadron shipmates. I am retired, living in Memphis, TN. I have had a great life. I will let other know of this site. My e-mail address is jazzcpo@aol.com
Sincerely, Ray Williams, AZC, USN (ret)
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231.  Dave I ran across your current web site for VF-53. I did 3 tours from 1965 to 1968 on the Tie, Hancock, & Bonnie Dick. I think I still have a few photos taken on the Hancock, I'll see if I can find them and e-mail them to you.  Thanx, 
Jerry Enfinger AE-4, VF-53  jwe20@juno.com
1829 Arnold Way #2303 Alpine, CA 91901 619.445.5430  
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230.  I was in the Navy 1971-1975 at Test Pilot School Patuxent River, MD and worked as a plane captain on the four F-8's we had. At least one of them was a two seater trainer. I was told there were no others. I had one crash on me, a sad night. I remember these leaked hydraulic fluid like crazy! You site is awesome and brings back memories.
Bill Mark   Bill.Mark@analog.com
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229.  I was at Miramar, crash crew, from 1966 to 1969. Pulled a few guys out of F8s, among others. Loved it. Best job I ever had. Mike Reese  mcreese@maui.net
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228.  This old jet mechanic knew many of these on the roster with several years with VF-43 and VF-11. We crossed many seas and shared hot daysat Cecil, busted arses on the flight deck on the blackest nights, dove intakes for FOD, changed J57engines, trimmed, fixed, sweated, bled, and shared the glory and majesty of that magnificent bird. We even cussed it a wee bit.... And that damned Demon without nose wheel steering getting hung up pulling out of the port spot heading for the cat and blowing this AD2, hanging on the starboard missile rail trying to escape the blistering heat from that monster, off into the catwalk. inches away from the big deep and god knows what.

When telling others about that pivoting wing and the fuselage moving up and down as the wing incidence was changed, they simply find it hard to believe. And the UHT change when the rocket pod lowered blows their minds in disbelief....but it was a real airplane!

From Glenn Rosenberger's keel rip-out to Skip Umstead's collision to Terry Kryways' classic punch out on deck, from Neal Yeoman's wearing his moon suit and plugged into a faulty O2 system and passing out on deck while the engine was turning and burning, and in July '60 when Jack Barnes flew out of Capodichino in Naples with the wings folded---it was a wild and wooly series of adventure in life. The Gunfighters drove the magic carpet to do its best. Sierra hotel!

A great web page and lots of memories of the "good ole days."
Doc Savage, CDR, USN, Ret.  gksavage@satx.rr.com
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227.  I was an AQ. I worked on F-8C, F-8D, F-8E, at Atsugi in 1965-67. Also operation shoehorn stuff during the same period. I'd like to tell some stories later.
Bob Leavitt hippodrag@att.net
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226.  I was a plane Capt. aboard the big "O" 1965 west pac. Check out my web pages. Have more in memory. Was only a Cpl. but everyone calls me gunny. WD114 was my bird.
"GOD BLESS YOU GOOD" "Gunny Bob"  PARKER  SEAGRAPE114@webtv.net
http://community.webtv.net/SEAGRAPE114/Atherfinest
http://community.webtv.net/SEAGRAPE114/FINESTHOUR
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225.  I was an AE in VF-24 for the 3rd and 4th "final" cruises on the USS Hancock, from 72-75.  Lloyd Gran (#9 on this list) was in the shop right next to mine.  On the first cruise I was flight deck troubleshooter, final checker, and burner checker - boy what a rush standing 10 feet away when that thing would light!  I can still remember climbing up and hanging on the (folded) wing tip of an F8 parked on the side of the fan tail to change the light bulb (had to put the screws in my mouth) and looking down at the water going by.

A short time after discharge in 76 I worked as an electrician with LTV to re-engine the RF-8's with the P401(I think) engine - same one from the F-8J's.  Went to Pax river as plane captain/electrician for flight testing.  Returned and worked to re-engine all of the remaining Recons.

Spent a short time after that working at Top Gun on the F5's (very cute, but boring - you could put its engine inside the burner of the 57.  I lit the F5 burner at hi power one day and didn't know it.).  Wound up running the civilian off site maintenance for the last F-8's transferred to VFP-63. 

Steve Royce
sroyce@abac.com

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224.  Please add me to your data base. I served in VF-24 from apr.1962 till 1966 went from compartment cleaner,painter,fueler,line,sheet metal,hyd.,eng.,flight line trouble shooter.worked with and for the best.mailling address.P.O.BOX 718 marana,az. 85653     thank you george m.nellis ams3 5919205
onionsackgeorge@msn.com

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223.  I was an AQ with VF-124 at Miramar and later with VF-191.  I served as a Plane Captain on the 1969 WESTPAC cruise aboard the USS Oriskany and worked flight deck and was in the AIMD shop working avionics/fire control systems on the 1970 and 1971 cruises.  I think about the old crew often - Jim Mcdaniel, Dennis Olsen (VF-194), Dan Pry, Fred (Homer) Wolfe and others.   I now do program/modification management on Air Force C-130 aircraft at Robins AFB, GA.  If there's anyone out there that served the same time/place, please drop a line.
 
Barry King
barry.king@robins.af.mil

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222.  just read many of  interesting stories from many brave men that have served our great country.........iam am very proud to have been a small part of in serving with such great men...............with the years that have gone by ,,,my heart goes out to all and there familys.my you all live long and healthy lives.............and fro my personel view the f 8 crusader   was and still and is the best plane in the air.....may god bless all of you                  roger dexter chicago il....RADCHOO@AOL.COM 

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221.      I was amazed to find this web site on VMF235. I was a plane captain on WU23 later changed to DB23 at Beaufort S.C. new base at the time, (mud streets)and one of the first to receive a F8U, DB-8. You had pictures of both on the website.
    Did you know the model kit for the Crusader is a model of DB-8? We were on the Independence for carrier trials off Jacksonville, Fla. and I was assigned to Prototype 6 of the F4 Phantom for its first Carrier Trials.
    I was in the Squadron from about April 58 thru April 60. Spent a lot of time at Gitmo for Gunnery practice. I can't remember anybody's name anymore. I do remember all the good times though.
    My name is Emory L. Rogers at 1304 Quince Hill Rd., Jacksonvlle,AR 72076.
Chucke9@aol.com
    Enjoyed the site.

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220.  I notice that in your web page you have a question mark at the end of the Westpac cruises for April 64-December 64 and September 65-May 66 as if you were not sure the squadron deployed then.  I can tell you these dates are correct.  Take out the  ? marks.  In the Westpac cruise aboard the TICO in April 64, VF 53 together with Vf 51 were the first air units sent to attack the North Vietnamese PT boats engaged with the USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy.  You may ask how I know this; I was a plane captain with VFP 63 Det Bravo on that cruise.( Cdr. Don Hegrat was O in C and lives near Miramar. He is a retired Capt. now )  We shared the ready room with VF 51 at the time.  I have many slides of VF 53/51 fighters for that period to prove it.  They flew F 8Es.   ALSO we shared the ready room with VF 53 on the cruise beginning September 1965.  I was handling the corrosion control on that trip.  We were known as Palucci's Pink Panthers, after Lt. Cdr. Palucci, our O in C.  When Bob Hope came that Christmas of 1965 he brought along a bevy of beauties.  One of them was Diane Lyne  Batts ( think that's how you spell it ) Miss America who stayed in our ready room, and represented VF 53/VFP 63.  I have photos of that cruise as well.

I believe both squadrons lost more aircraft due to accidents than in combat.  I remember we lost one aircraft and pilot from VF 53 in Hawaii during our ORI but I don't remember which cruise.  It was on a dark rainy night and I remember seeing his burner come on in the distance, then went out.  I hated that we had to lose such a valuable man like that.  These pilots and support crew need to be honored an remembered.  We were in a war that our government had no plans of winning and it is that context that our pilots and men really shinned, because we did our part, and what's more the officers had to already know that, yet they did their duty and flew those crappy missions without flinching.  They don't come better than that.  My pilots didn't even have arms to defend themselves
on their missions.  I believe VF 53 flew top cover for them.( RF 8 A s in both cruises, RF 8Gs came later: I was separated in July 1966)  I am pleased and proud to have served with them, and if I had to do it again,   I would do it in a heartbeat !  God bless them 
I finished my time in service with a one year stint with the Naval Reserves in 1967 flying with VP 775 ( P2H Neptunes ) out of Los Alamitos.   I'm in touch a few guys and one officer ( pilot ) from VFP 63 Det Bravo, at present.  

Sincerely,
Mario Guillont Jr.
guillont@juno.com
AMS 3
VFP 63 Det Bravo

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219.  Saw your name on the F-8 “Gunfighters” page and would like to add my name to the list of those who helped keep those planes aloft. I was in VF-24 in 1972, and made 1 WESPAC cruise as a squadron parachute rigger. 

 Look fwd to hearing from others. “Thanks”
Respectfully,  Jim McGrane, Postmaster
 Home E-mail- jmmjmcg@bowlinggreen.net

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218.  [deleted at request of sender]

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217.  My first duty station was VC 10 in Gitmo in 1969. Didn't even know we had a base in Cuba.  I was a ADJAN at the time. Besides being a plane captian on F8s I also flew aircrew on the squadrons S 2s. We let the black shoes shoot at us. They missed 
a lot.Thanks for the work on the website. Glad I found it. 

G.R. (Jerry) Cornelius, Jr. 
DRYWALLCONTRACTR@aol.com

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216.  I was in Crash Crew at MCAS Beaufort, SC from 1962 thru 1964.I guess that was just a year or so before the F8s were replaced by the F4 Phantom. I have a model of the the F8E but it only had USN decals with it. If anyone knows where I might find USMC decals I'd really appreciate it. My e-mail address is bmixon1@bellsouth.net.
Thanks

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215.  I was a plane capt. in vmf-334 mag 33 El Toro from 1960 to 1963.I was sent to Dallas-Forth-Worth to the Chance-Vought plant to watch the man.of the crusader.I was sent to N.B.C.school. I was put on pro pay.But the thing I'am most proud of is I was the only enlisted man that was qualified to start a crusader when it come out of the hanger.WHAT A FEELING! If I was succeful in the Corp. it was because of what my recruiter told me "Keap your mouth shut and do what you are told".More to come later Cpl.James L coker
lcoker@webshoppe.net

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214.  Thanks for the page on all of the Navy squadrons.  I was with VF-53 from 12-1968 to 1-1971.  To let you know we made one more deployment on the Bonnie Dick from March to November, 1970 at which time we came back to NAS Miramar to be decommissioned.  To let you know, the LT. Tom Smisek in the photo is now the mayor of Coronado.  I was a blackshoe with the squadron, but still have fond memories of being part of Naval Aviation.
George Harris [gharris@rochester.wednet.edu] 
former PN2

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213.  I served in Fleet Composite Squadron One (VC-1) at NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii from 1967 to 1970. A lot of people don't know that VC-1 was the aggressor squadron for all carrier air wings passing by Hawaii for Vietnam. Many "Crusader" missions were flown against airwings during the battlegroups Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE). I was an aviation sheetmetal mechanic at the time and was engine turn qualified on a couple of F-8 Crusader models. Hydraulic leaks in the wings were a problem for me due to my big hands. Not much room to work in when trying to fix problems. All my shipmates really loved the high speed fly-bys pilots did on occasion. The shockwave in the afterburner flame was really neat. The F-8 was a great plane. I went on to become an aviation maintenance Limited Duty Officer (LDO). Am now a program manager working for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems on the USAF "Predator" program. This is a great aircraft but not nearly as great as the Crusader.
 
Steve Martin [smartin@cts.com]
LCdr, USN, Ret.
San Diego, CA.

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212.  I was a 2nd class petty officer in '53 and we made a cruise aboard the "Bonnie Dick" in 1970 but at this moment I can't give the dates. I know that the "bonnie Dick" was going to Bremerton Wash. after we got off in Nov. 70  to be mothballed. I remember some of the pilots names that you have pictures of on the website. I was AME2 Charles D. Smith. Thanks, Chuck kloidt@adelphia.net

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211.  I was a PH-3 when I transferred from FICPACFAC, Cubi Pt., to VFP-63 in July 1969. I got my second stripe (PH-2) shortly afterward. I worked at both the photo lab across from the NAS Control Tower and on the line in the camera bays. Since the RF-8s were the backbone of photo-recon, a lot of the PHs and PTs moved between FICPACFAC and VFP-63 during the war. For me, coming to Miramar was like coming home since my father was a Flight Surgeon and had been stationed at Miramar with VF-1 in the 1950s. Even more interesting was when he asked me who my CO was at VFP-63 and I answered, "Cmdr McCloud." Turned out that Cmdr McCloud had been in VF-1 when my father was there. Just shows what a small world it is when you are a 'brown shoe.' 

I was scheduled in late '69 to go on a Det to the Roosevelt for a Med cruise, but I was a 2nd Class by then and was told that they were too top-heavy and needed some lower rates. I transferred to my last station, a one-man photo lab at the ASW School on Point Loma in late 1970. A big change from 'brown shoe' to a strict 'black shoe' training command. But, again, since I had grown up in San Diego, on Point Loma, it was all home to me. I got after 4 years, though it seemed longer since I had 20 years with my father's service time before I enlisted in 1968.

All of you are right, the RF-8G was a great machine. The fastest, in the RF configuration as John Glenn showed, in the US Navy. I do not see any listing for any of the PHs on the site. Too bad. 

I have found some of the FICPACFAC guys on the Internet as well, searching for both FICPACFAC and FICPAC.

I moved from San Diego to Sonoma County (northern California) when I got out in 1972. Since 2001 I have based myself in Germany and been working as a consultant on IT and software projects in Pakistan, Bulgaria, Bosnia and other parts.

Sheldon (Mac) Dunn, former PH-2
sheldunn@InTheOrchard.com

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210.  Thanks for the web-site. I served in the Marines (made E-5 at last!)  during the 60's with F-8, F4, & TA-4J's as one of your electrical maintenance guys.  Proud that I did my best to keep you flying, got to ride once in awhile, and still talk to others from those days.  I have a photo of the AVIONICS group (radar, radio, elect) around one of  VMFA 251 #9471 plane # 12 birds in front of H&M 32 at MCAS Beaufort, 67-68' time frame.  Care to have one ?, write.

Happy Birthday Marine. 

Jim Hatcher 
Civil Engineer for NAVFAC jim.hatcher@navy.mil

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209.  I was aboard the Oriskany CVA34 from May 1972-March 1974. My name is Tom Morgan. I was an Aviation Ground Support Equipment, ASM3 on the flight deck, and GSE shop.
I am trying to locate explanations to events that I witnessed. Maybe you witnessed it or maybe you heard about them.
I am particularly interested in these events that accrued during June 1972-March 1974.
(1)        How many actual fires, including the endless fire drills almost on a daily bases would you say we had during the cruise of 1972-73? And didn’t we have several serious fires that could have gotten out of control on our ship.
(2)        It seemed like an endless stream of jets coming in from bombing runs and some that came in to make emergency landings. I seen so many jets taking off and landing it was one big blur up there. Do you remember the A-7 Corsair jet floating upright in the water on the port side of the ship and then about 15 minutes later it sunk? Did the pilot eject into the side of the ship? And what caused the accident? I don’t remember what month or even the year, but it did happen because I saw it happen. It happened either on 1972-1973 or the 1973-1974 cruises. 
(3)        I know about tragic event accident regarding Peter Chan it affected a lot of us. But what happen to the guy I saw fall off the #2 elevator during a nighttime unrep unloading bombs. I saw him in the water and wash away into the darkness that night.  What ever happened to him?                  
(4)       And, how many jet fires on the flight deck do you think we had. I know we had at least one catch on fire for sure and luckily it didn’t turn into a disaster. 

Regards,
ASM3, Thomas R. Morgan  
USS Oriskany
My E-mail address: olddiver@dp.net

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208.  Terry L. Peed ADJ2 QUEERS CAN'T DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For all of you that are alive, here's a beer. For everyone who ain't, here's a shot. Love ya'll hooraah. VF24/AIMD engine shop. 1973-1975. contact beyer59@yahoo.com

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207.    was  with mag 13 h&ms 13 and vmf 232 ..  1960   1962   and with  mag 33 vmf 334  1962  1964   los al  till the shit hit the fan>>>> ill never forget those that i served with from the top to the bottom...   i was rag picker .!!!  the flight line and deck was my home ..  wish id not took the easy way out in 1965.. any help i can do you ????   mike gruwell  cpl usmc 1959  1965  .. mikegruwell@aol.com 

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206.  I am looking for help about the air crash that took place at MiraMar NAS on dec 22nd 1969.  An F-8J assigned to squadron VF-92/VF-96 crashed into a hangar killing 14 ground crewmembers.  I was an HM2 at the time and had the unpleasant sight of one of my men die at that time.  Being of loss of memory, I am trying to find someone who can renmember any of the names of the men who perished that day .  I am hoping this might spark my memory.  Any information that can be dug up would be appreciated.  I remember one of the people in the flight tower, but at present he suffers alzheimers.  Thank you for your help, and the help of any fellow seaman.  
Carl Wajahuski   rcmpcapt@yahoo.com

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205.  I was assigned to VF 142 NAS Miramar in the 57 to 60 time frame.  I would like to get some history on VF 142,  F8 U Crusader AC and Far East Cruise that we took on the USS Ranger, CVA 61.  A Tailhook member who flew this AC said the tailhook magazine would be the starting place to gather info. I found the Crusader association on the tailhook web site, and hopefully someone can steer me in the right direction.  
Thanks.
John Poltenovage [jfp6625@adelphia.net]

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204.  My name is Jon Coombs. I was a " tin bender " in the Marine Corps from '63 to '67. I  first worked on F-8's at MARTD NAS Dallas. I  was with VMF ( AW ) 451 at Beaufort after coming back from 'Nam during my last few months in the Corps, when the unit was commanded by LtCol W. Wessel. I made a deployment to Yuma with 451 prior to getting out. The F-8 site and especially the 451 page really brought back memories. 
Thanks for recognizing the maintenance guys. 
Semper Fi 

Jon Coombs, JDinSAVGA@aol.com 

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203.  Cpl John G. Maragnano joined (Dec ’62) the cadre waiting for the squadron to return from Atsugi. I served in the avionics section as an AQ (fire control radar technician) until she departed for the Med in the Fall of ’65. VMF (AW) 451, MAG 31
jcmaragnano@attbi.com

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202.   

Daniel (Danny) Thomas Bumgardner out of Alameda, Ca. Now live in Pinole, Ca about 20 miles from Alameda.
Would like names of others on Hancock who now live in northern California 
GingerGB1@aol.com

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201.  I served aboard USS Hancock (CVA-19) 1966-1969. When did Road Runner 111, VF-211 (149186) fly from Hancock? Squadron Publications states October 1968? Are their any photos of Road Runner? Any info appreciated.

Thank You, Larry Dye [lrdye@earthlink.net]

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