I reported for duty right out of 'A' School as an Airman (ATR) in March 1960. I was attached to the Avionics shop and worked on the F8U-1P, and A3D-2P. The sqaudron also had an SNB, and 2 F9Fs.

I work the fight line on night shift until I trasfered to LeMoore in March 1962.

Little more history.

The squadron was made up of 30 F8U-1Ps and 5 A3D-2Ps. There where somewhere 100s of sailors in the squadron. WE had 3 floors and both wings of on of the barrack at Miramar. Our skip was a full Captain (Schwab).

We sent all our A3D to Guam and they sent there F8Us to us sometime in 1962. This is when the name was change from VCP-63 (composit) to VFP-63 (fighter).

I remember working with the Photo-Crusaders of VFP 62 on the East coast.
I have a friend who was an AT in VAP 62. They had the A3's.
Some interesting stories about those 2 squadrons during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The famous pictures of the missles in cuba where taken by one of there F8s.

"Look Ma, No Guns"

I talked to a Pilot that once tried to get one of those to Mach 2.

Joined in Jan '59, went to Great Lakes company 22, then went to Milington for 'A' school just outlide of Memphis, Tn . I went through the first class of air flight traning when it moved from Norman, Ok.
Left Memphis striking for AMH ande went to VCP63. First job there I was a coop cleaner. Then transfered to security yeoman in the offices above the hanger.
I remember getting out on the flight line in the morning and doing calistenticsa with ENS. Palmer. Hammered down little dude. He eventually became Admiral of BUPERS, La.
I remember those wild poker games in the barracks on week-ends and the day the guy from Texas lost his gittar (sp) and his wife. Five card game, one down and four up. He was holding Aces over Queens and the other guy turned four Kings.
Left there and was transfered to VR21 out of BarbarsPoint and then sent me to VR21Det Atsugi Japan. Was there untill I came back in '62.
By the way if anybody knows the where abouts of Robert Clark from Virginia give him my address. or phone. 830-377-3192.

Have pictures from photo lab planes in flight.
Took ride with jgChristiansen one time.

I was at Memphis about June 1959, hot, hot, hot.

Joined VCP-63 in March 60. I was there on night shift when we sent an A3D to help on the investigation collaspe of the Texas Tower radar site of east. When we sent a plane to Barbers Point to photograph the Russian when they tried to intercept a film pack from a spy satillite, and when we moved out of the "Top Gun" hangers down to the 'Nose Docks" near the tower.

When we were down at the Nose Docks our shop was next door to the Photomate's shop.

Remember "Can't get a date, get a photomate"?

I remember VAP61 at NAS Agana,Guam. They flew AJ's. They were right next door to VW3. We flew an SAR for one of their AJ's, never did find it.

Willy Victor

quote:

Originally posted by VCP63:
I was at Memphis about June 1959, hot, hot, hot.

Joined VCP-63 in March 60. I was there on night shift when we sent an A3D to help on the investigation collaspe of the Texas Tower radar site of east. When we sent a plane to Barbers Point to photograph the Russian when they tried to intercept a film pack from a spy satillite, and when we moved out of the "Top Gun" hangers down to the 'Nose Docks" near the tower.

When we were down at the Nose Docks our shop was next door to the Photomate's shop.

Remember "Can't get a date, get a photomate"?

I was at Barbers Pt. when the AF snagged their first package, they used modified C119's. One of their planes is now at the AF museum in Dayton, Ohio.

Willy Victor

VFP-63 Det 1 '75-'78. Only AD1 in the Det. Worked the shop and as a troubleshooter. Helped with a lot of camera changes too.

There was a VFP-63 Det on the Kitty Hawk during WestPac 1979. I was a final checker and I usually manned the #3 cat. The photo birds were always launched off the #4 cat and I never did get used to those afterburners on those F-8s going off behind me when I was the port side checker.

There was an AE-2 I met in HS-10, Faustino Aranda, who was with VFP-63 then.

I was in VFP-63 Det One from 3/75 to 4/78. We were on board the Hancock CVA19 and the Costellation CV64. Great RF8G aircraft.

Found these pix in my scrapbook. The F8 was on a barge at the docks at Rosie Roads, PR waiting to be taken to Vieques Island where they were made into targets for the bombing range. The Navy/Marine pilots got one last use out of the frames.

I served with VFP-63 from May of 1966 to October of 1969, making cruises on the Tico and Hancock. I was an AZ2 when I got out. We were at Miramar and sent dets out to WESTPAC as well as Med cruises. I missed out by not making a Med cruise. I made back to back cruises. I'd love to hear from anyone who was with VFP-63. I was born and raised in Texas, but have lived in the San Diego area since getting out of the Navy and live in Carlsbad, 30 miles up the coast.

I have an emailed video of an EA3 that might have been VAP 63 taking the barrier aboard the Coral Sea.
If you want me to email it to you send me an email at willyfudd@msn.com

Served in VFP-63 from 1960 to 1962. USS Lexington Det Foxtrot and stayed in Atsugi Japan while one A/C was being repaired.
AMS-2 Andy Endresen

ALL
This squadron was across the runway from VW 1 and 3. They used to turn up the F8s during the evening movie. So loud the movie was a silent flick. This was 1959-1961 period. The squadron lost a A3D out in the Pacific, during a transit, as I recall. The WVs performed SAR for the lost transit aicraft. This probable was in 1960??
NAS Agana hosted VW, VAP, VCP and NAS aicraft at that time. There may have been a VP det there also, as i remember.
end

I was in VFP63 Det5 in 76-77. Made a couple of crusies on the America. Any body else?

I do.

Ken Ozbun AO-3 VFP-63 1973 to 75. Transferred from VF-124 both at Miramar, Carrier Quals on Ticonderoga. I transferred out of VF-124 when they got there first F-14s. Anybody remember Alvin a black guy that road a new 750cc Honda chopper with Bob Ghesquire & myself Bob & road 500cc Triumph's. I remember an A/C going down at the end of the runway in the new housing area being built, another A/C wet down there a week or two ago. Also remember an F-8 hitting the ground on takeoff after putting the gear up a little soon. We also lost John Glen's F8 in the ocean during a carrier Qual but I don't remember why it went down. We only recovered a honeycomb section of the wing. The A/C was supposed to go to the Smithsonian institute after that cruise. ozbun@att.net

quote:

Originally posted by ozzie154:
Ken Ozbun AO-3 VFP-63 1973 to 75. - We also lost John Glen's F8 in the ocean during a carrier Qual but I don't remember why it went down. We only recovered a honeycomb section of the wing.

Shame!

I was at Miramar from JUL63 to SEP66, with time out for a cruise to 'Nam APR65 to JAN66 on the Bonnie Dick. Our commander (Wilmer?) caught the #4 wire on a night wave-off and punched the nose gear into the Mitchell 35mm movie camera we had mounted up in Bay 1. And one of our pilots came back aboard with 50 pounds of bamboo stuck in the leading edges. Anyone want to 'fess up for that? My whole tour in the Navy is nothing but good memories, no matter how bad it was at times.