VFP-62 Bulletin Board
VFP-62 RF8 913 BuNo 145645 taking a picture of the VA-66 A-4 formation
USS Intrepid detachment June 16, 1961
Picture taken by pilot John DeChant. Contributed by Don Van Horn PHC
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Updated: April 28, 2008
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MAIL CALL and "Odds 'n Ends"
Webmaster's Message: We occasionally get interesting mail. In an effort to share that, I've created a new link:
- Click here to read: Viewer's Mail to the Site
- Click here to read: Assorted "Odds 'n Ends" Non-VFP-62 but interesting stuff from vistor contributions
Stay in Touch Links and Information
- A good "People Finder" : zabasearch.com
- A rich website specially created to provide Sailors of all eras the opportunity to not only locate Shipmates from the past, but also to provide a unique venue to enjoy the camaraderie of others who served through the sharing of memories and photographs. Together We Served is a neat site populated by present and former sailors and officers. But only a few of the nearly 25,000 who have signed up have noted an affiliation with VFP-62. There are two types of membership - free and full, which costs $20/year, $45 for three years and $125 for a lifetime. If you join please credit Marion Swinford or Jim Brumm.
- Free site to join. The site has a good Buddy Finder, military news updates, videos, and a VFP-62 group to join. Military.com Periodic emails are sent to keep you informed.
- Lots of U.S. Navy information, history, specials for members and more: U S Navy Institute
Reunion Announcements
Information Requests
- Anybody out there from Det 37-57 FDR? Also Pilots Joe Pline John Kramer Warren Dukes or Ens Mike? Please Contact Dave (Swede) Olson olsondd@charter.net Thanks.
- INFORMATION REQUEST:Im trying to find the other fellows who flew with my dad [Charlie Counter] in Det 43-58. Those are; Henry North, R J (or G?) "Bucky" Walters, Charlie Ray, and Jack Hennessey. Do you know if it is R or G Walters ?, and do you know of the status of Jack Hennessey? Did he die in a plane crash?
Todd Counter, son of Charlie Counter
My email address is: Click to email Todd: kd5dov@yahoo.com
- INFORMATION REQUEST: Could anyone tell me the where abouts of Frank Fiorini, Stan and Red Davidson as well as Tom DeWolf?
Greg Engler
My email address is: Click to email Greg: grege@mfi.net
- INFORMATION REQUEST: Does anyone have any contacts for the detachment pilots in the VFP-62 detachment aboard "runway 9" - the USS Essex circa 1956-57. One was Bob Ochterloney(?). Another possibly was Ralph Sykes. I'd appreciate a fill in for the other two. The VFP-62 guys used our ready-
room. Good people.
Regards,
Bill Connor VF-112, CAG-11
Email: Bill Connor wconnor8@comcast.net
- INFORMATION REQUEST: During the Cuban Missile Crisis when VFP-62 made the flights over Cuba, did any of the RF-8A Crusader get hit with any Anti-Aircraft or small arms fire during these missions? Also would anyone remember VF-32 flying support of the Photo Recon missions? I’m gathering information to record what the Swordsmen of Fighting-32 have done during this time. VF-32 sent a Det. to Key West and at that time the squadron was home based out of NAS Cecil Field. VF-32 is assigned with CAG-3, Tail code "AC" and deployed with the USS Saratoga CV-60, and flying the F8U-2N. Any information you may have will be greatly appreciated.
Ken Walling, webmaster www.vf32.info
- Response #1:To the best of my knowledge, there was no battle damage to any VFP-62 aircraft during the CMC. Now bird strikes, that is another question.
I am almost certain that I talked to Bill Ecker (CO during the CMC) and he confirmed that the battle damage suggested in Thirteen Days was a bunch of Hollywood BS.
The only thing that I can add is that I remember that the CO of (I think it was) VF-32 was CDR Gordo Gray. Great guy.
They were the guys who would probably take off via a green light from the tower (radio silence) shortly after the RF-8s took off under the same conditions. Prior to take off, they would have briefed with the photo guys and knew our coast-in and coast-out points.
What a wonderful thought it was to know that they were waiting for us at our exit from the beach. And when we did, they would radio to say that our tails were clear.
I do not recall whether the ROE (rules of engagement) permitted them to fly over Cuba if we were shot down. I seem to think (wishfully?) that they could.
In short, we photo-beanies were most appreciative of the fighter guys who were there to cover us in spades.
Capt. Ed Feeks, Jacksonville, FL
[Webmaster's Note: Gordon L. Gray Jr. (USN retired) died on December 2, 2007 from complications relating to pneumonia.]
- INFORMATION REQUEST Who was the VFP-62 Photo Officer before CDR Koch? --Submitted by Jim Brumm
- Response: CDR Griffin comes to mind. When he left us, I believe he went up to Armed Forces Radio in NYC. True? - Adam Miklovis
- Jim Brumm's Response: Yes! Thank you Adam.
He's the reason I ended up at Armed Forces Radio and got the news experience that carried me through a career as a reporter.
CDR Griffin was OIC of Armed Forces Radio New York, which was part of the Armed Forces Press Radio and TV Service, New York office. I never figured out how a LDO (Photo Officer) got that assignment, but I'm glad he did. As memory serves, he sought it to be as near as possible to his retirement home in New York's Hudson Valley.
When I got shore duty orders in the Spring of 62, I was waiting to sew on my Second Class Crow -- which I did in May, before departing in June. My shore duty orders were to the Pentagon -- which did not sound like a fun place for a newly minted JO2. I also got orders to NESEP prep school which I had earned by passing the test the previous fall.
Just before I took that test, I learned that NESEP -- Naval Enlisted Scientific Education Program -- had dropped the major I wanted: Metrology. But at LCDR Gunther's (SP? the admin officer) urging, I took the test anyway. The next spring I was glad I had an option. I went to prep school at Bainbridge, MD, hoping I could convince the folks there to let me study something besides engineering. I had tried that on my own a few years earlier and did not appreciate trying again. When I was told no, I said send me to shore duty.
As I understand it -- probably from the conversation I had with CDR Griffin the day I arrived at AFRS NY -- he had gone to the Journalist desk in BuPers looking for a couple journalists for the newsroom. He went through the pile of orders awaiting shore duty assignment and pulled out two he knew. I was one of them, which got me the experience I needed to go to work for Dow Jones when I got out of the Navy.
- INFORMATION REQUEST: Does anyone remember Lt. Lynn's ejection from a VFP-62 F9F-8P off Barbados, or the two F8U-1Ps that crashed near Cecil Field?---John McKenna
- INFORMATION REQUEST: Good Morning Sir,
As an avid aircraft modeler and a veteran of the U.S Army and USAF I send my highest regards and deepest sympathies to all that have served and died while honoring themselves and our country while serving Thank You All. I'm writing this morning in hopes of trying to gather some information regarding an incident on August 27.1972 over North Vietnam.
I'm trying to find the BuNo of an RF-8 from VFP-63 Det 3, CVA-41 ( call sign "BABY GIANT" ) that was on a recee BDA mission when the F-4B NF-210 BuNo 151013, that was escorting MIGCAP was lost to a SA-2 . Of the six SAMS fired at them one struck home and sent the crew to "The Hilton" for the remainder of the war. I want to build a model of THAT RF-8 but have very little info to go on. Any information or stories,pictures etc.. regarding incident would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
Mitchell Slaughter.
e-mail:Click to email me:
- Response #1: That must have been Clark's escort. The VF 151 crew. I would have to look at the cruise book to remember his name. Big tall guy was the pilot. I have no idea which airplane he was flying at the time and Clark was killed a long time ago so would not know how to check his logbook. Except for Vic who was lost at the end of the war that was the only other escort we lost. - Skip Leonard
- Response #2: The crew of the VF-151 loss on 27 AUG 1972 was LCDR Theodore W. Triebel and LTJG David A Everett according to the 1972 USS MIDWAY cruise book. Clark Bruce was the photo pilot who lost an escort over the beach. I have no details of the event. I do not know the BUNO of the RF-8G Clark was flying that day. Clark died at sea many years ago in an EA-6B and I have lost contact with his wife and family; I do not know where his logbook might be. I do not know where the unit master flight logs from those years are kept or if they were kept. Clark returned to the ship, very low state, could not get his inflight refueling probe out and landed with about 600 lbs of fuel, did not tell anyone, just did it. The CO of VF-161 was very angry with Clark for not staying over the crash sight until relieved by a SAR CAP: Clark said he was run out of the area by AAA so he stayed just off the coast and attempted to guide the SAR CAP to the sight but it is likely they were never able to locate the F-4. You might find something by looking for SAR efforts, must have been messages sent about the SAR. Sorry I cannot help you more; it was a long time ago. If there is an F-4 organization around or a VF-151 unit on the internet, they might know. Baby Giant was the call sign given to our detachment because our squadron call of Corktip was being used by another detachment in the area.
Will Gray
OinC VFP-63 Det 3
- Response #3: The four pilots on that det were Gordie Page (shot down/POW) Paul Ringwood(shot up, but got out of it), Skip Leonard, Clarke Bruce. As I said before, Gordie took over the det after me. After he got shot down, Will went out to take the det. Will also went on to be a CO of an EA6 squadron. Clarke went on to an EA6 squadron. Unfortunately, he flew into the water one night off the cat - took three people with him. --Scott Ruby
- INFORMATION REQUEST: Do any of you remember the "lemon" Don Jusko painted on - I think it was 911 (or 913) - during a shake down cruise in early '64? The fly-off was just off the coast of Jacksonville - as we were going back to port in Norfolk. Before the planes could land at Cecil - Chance-Vaunght had contacted the CO @ Cecil and told to "GET THAT PLANE PAINTED". Wonder if any of the photos of this event survived? Not too sure but that LTJG Staub was the pilot.--George Montgomery former PN3
(Don Jusko says, "He caught a lot of hell for that!" - webmaster)
- INFORMATION REQUEST: During our time in Istanbul - Det 59 - we got up one morning to have the Russian fleet anchored "within our Carrier Group"!! There were photos taken, I can remember them as clear as day - thought I had some, but can't find. I had thought that I would find them on the VFP-62 web sight - maybe I need to check the Forrestal photos. Do any of you recall this? -- George Montgomery former PN3
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