VFP-62 Time Capsule
Page 1
Updated October 4, 2011
VFP-62 Time Capsule Before Burial - contributed by Capt. Mo Hayes
(L)Jim Jelsma of VT group who did the clearing for us; (R) Greg Engler
Cecil Field July 20, 2011 - Photo: Bob Buehn.
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Go To: Time Capsule Sucess (Page 5)
INTRODUCTION: In January 1968, VFP-62 was disestablished. Squadron members decided to collect various memorabilia and bury it in a "Time Capsule" behind the Officer's Recreation Facility at Cecil Field FL.
Time Capsule Burial Ceremony
Captain William B. Ecker's recollection of it is reproduced below.
Excerpt from the forthcoming book (To be Published by Osprey Publishing U.K.--2012):
Operation Blue Moon: JFK's Cuban Missile Hunters
by Capt. William B. Ecker, USN (ret.) and Kenneth V. Jack
Light Photographic Squadron 62 was disestabilished in January 1968. All tangible evidence of the existence of the squadron, that is awards, insignia, signs, plaques, and pictures was placed into "coffins." After an evening of "mourning the death" (diestablishment) of the squadron, a trail of approximately one hundred persons escorted the "remains" to the grave site. The funeral began on the stroke of midnight and with each of the mourners carrying a lighted torch (and with some carrying a pretty good load of other spirits as well) the procession wound its way to the "grave." The grave is located in the rear of the ORF (no longer called the Officers Club but the Officers Recreation Facility) at NAS Cecil Field. It was intended to be a time-capsule but as far as I knew, no opening date has been set.
We invited present and past squadron members including past C.O.s and others
in the photo community from far and wide.
Several guys who served in NavAir regarding reconnaissance and other photo
related matters came down from D.C. I do not remember their names, but they
were influential and widely known photo personnel.
Capt. Mo Hayes
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Left Photo L-R: ?,Cdr. Bob Coulthard, Cdr. Mo Hayes
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L-R: Cdr. Bob Coulthard, Cdr. Al Wilhite, Cdr. Mo Hayes
Right Photo L-R: Billy Phillips (F8 pilot--not VFP-62), Cdr. Mo Hayes (VFP-62 CO), Cdr. Coop Schuler (VFP-62 XO)
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L-R: Coop Schuler, (then) Cdr. Mo Hayes and his wife June; JAX Air article Dec. 14, 1967 (enlarge further in browser);
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Go To: Time Capsule Search (Page 2) || Go To: Success!! Time Capsule Found (Page 3) || Go To: Time Capsule Salvage Operation (Page 4) ||
Go To: Time Capsule Sucess (Page 5)
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Created on ... December 18, 2010
