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
Look for for most recent additions. Page updated: December 9, 2023
Previous Bulletin Board postings are available on the Bulletin Board Archive. (Last Updated: October 25, 2020)
Emails and interesting links from squadron members or others to VFP-62 will be posted here. After a time, they will be moved to: Mail Call: [Click Link]
Patriotic-Birthday Present
(12/9/23) Greg Engler, former VFP-62 AT2, shares his most-unique birthday gift. Above the Crusader reads, "VFP-62 Fightin' Photo."
Greg has contibuted greatly to our website, including his story and photos of his recovery of the VFP-62 time capsule at the former naval-air base, NAS Cecil Field. Read about it on our "VFP-62 Memorabilia" page.
(8/27/23) Hello Mr.Jack,
Firstly, I want to thank you for having a memorial page for my father Robert Stiles. He was very proud of VFP-62. He was a PH2, although later it was changed to a PHA2. He was in the squadron from mid-1956 through 1957 before going to NPC.
I've been going through some of his pictures and found some of him, as well as a couple from his time on the Intrepid in 1957 that are interesting, which I have attached to this email. The logo on the aircraft is really funny.
Thank you again,
Barry Stiles
Webmaster: Barry has contributed a number of excellent photos of the VFP-62 1956-57 era. They have been posted to "Squadron History," "In Memoriam (Robert Stiles memorial," "Faces of VFP-62 pg.7," and "VFP-62 Memorabilia." Hearing from squadron member's children who are interested in their father's Navy career is the best part of my job.
(7/13/23) Webmaster: I'm pleased to share this email with you:
Hello, I'm a Mexican citizen. I was 12 years old [during the] Cuban Missile Crisis. I'm sorry for my poor English but I want to say, "Thank you America for all your effort defending peace." I don't like the Russian system without Liberty.
Thank you America --- You Are a Great Nation.
A. A. Alarcon
Restored F9F-8P Cougar Bu.No. 144402 #962
(6/4/23) A vfp62.com guest provides a childhood memory of the restored F9F-8P story on "Squadron History."
Webmaster: What becomes of navy aircraft once they are removed from service? Some go to the "Bone Yard" at Davis Monthan and await their fate. A few are rescued, restored and displayed for the public in air museums. And some are obtained by municipalities and placed in parks for children to play around. That was the fate of the F9F-8P Cougar shown above---And, also restored. I recently received an email from a non-squadron member, Jason Dean, that was a joy to read and I want to share with you. Here is what Jason wrote:
"I am emailing regarding an article I found on your website (that believe you authored) concerning the backstory restoration of F9F-8P, BuNo 144402. [Click on link to read] I happened to be looking for information on this particular aircraft because it sat in Purcell Park in Harrisonburg VA for a significant portion of my formative years (if you weren't already aware), before the city removed it in the 90's due to 'safety concerns.' I have many fond memories of crawling through the airframe and sliding down the slide from the cockpit."
I'm happy to see that it has been restored to its former glory!
Kind Regards,
Jason Dean
Harrison Park-Government, VA Facebook page via Jason Dean
(6/4/23)Webmaster: We get visitors from all over the world and we're happy they enjoy our site. I received the following email on 5/28/23:
"Hola . Soy aficionado a la aviación militar. Me gustarÃa formar parte de vuestro grupo.
Un saludo" [Translation]: Hello, I am a fan of military aviation. I would like to be a part of your group. All the best. Fran Humanes (Spain).
My name is Cephas L Moore. I retired from the U. S. Navy as an AFCM, after thirty years active duty. I am also the ADJ-2 C. L. Moore listed in the Navy Unit Commendation awards in the back of the book.
I remember those days well. We worked 24/7 at VFP-62 home base at NAS Cecil Field, FL. We made many trips to NAS Jacksonville so the Photographer Mates could unload the the film from the returning aircraft and take it to the lab for processing.
Maintaining the aircraft for flight status was something we all took pride in.
I have the book on my Kindle, and still enjoying it.
Thanks for a great book.
Regards,
Cephas L Moore
AFCM USN (RET)
[Webmaster: The book he's referring to is "Blue Moon Over Cuba: Aerial Reconnaissance During the Cuban Missile Crisis" by Capt. William B. Ecker and Kenneth V. Jack]
I enjoyed finding your Website. I'm an ex-Naval officer with three years (1957-1960) sea duty aboard USS Northampton CLC-1, home port Norfolk. I have lived in Pensacola since 1971.
I miss being able to go aboard NAS Pensacola, especially the Museum.
I recently found a photo of my deceased wife at a Sunday School dinner at Marcello's Restaurant, which was close to the main gate. There was a man in the picture...film actor Leif Erickson (born William Wycliffe Anderson). A little Googling reveled that he was a Navy photographer and was married to a Pensacola lady, Ann Diamond. He died in Pensacola in 1986.
Wikipedia stated that he made some of the famous photos of the Japanese surrender on USS Missouri. I made a midshipman cruise aboard Missouri in 1954.
My guess is that he met Ann Diamond while attending photography school at NAS.
I am interested in knowing if anyone in your group can add to this story.
If you can spread this out far and wide, I'd like to see what comes out.
Thanks, Ronald S. McCuiston
Webmaster: I think if you do a Wikepedia search you'll recognize the actor being discussed here. If you want to contact Ronald, use the "Contact Webmaster" link on this page and I'll make the conncection for you.
(6/22/23) BEWARE of suspicious emails: A VFP-62 shipmate received this phishing email with reference to vfp62.com. It is an attempt to get the recipient to click on a link that would allow invasion for criminal purposes.
(6/7/23) National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola Florida now open!
(5/7/23) A special group of VFP-62 squadron members responded to a fundraiser for the purpose of extending this website's longevity on the Internet for 10 years (2023 - 2033). Their names are at the top of the "Home Page." and bottom of "External Links & Acknowledgements
Oldies but Goodies Interesting small reads on vfp62.com
Our website does not only have photos and history of aircraft but "little gems" hidden throughout the website. Many get missed. I'm going to use this space to call attention to them.
(1/30/2020) Excellent video of Blue Angels inside the cockpit: Cockpit View of Blue Angels GO TO FULL SCREEN Contributed by Bill Newby
(7/7/20)FIXED BROKEN LINK. Click to see EXCELLENT video of: Flight Deck Operations on USS Shangri La CVA-38 Circa 1962--What makes this video so special is the high quality color and "on the deck experience" of the photography---Webmaster.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!---Turn Speakers UP
From Marion Swinford: (4/1/17) Unusual Burial at Sea Loyce Edward Deen, an Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class, USNR, was a gunner on a TBM Avenger. On November 5, 1944, Deen's squadron participated in a raid on Manila where his plane was hit multiple times by anti-aircraft fire while attacking a Japanese cruiser. Deen was killed. The Avenger's pilot, Lt Robert Cosgrove, managed to return to his carrier, the USS Essex. Both Deen and the plane had been shot up so badly that it was decided to leave him in it. It is the only time in U.S. Navy history (and probably U.S. military history) that an aviator was buried in his aircraft after being killed in action.
(9/20/18)
Don't Let This One Get You
Short stories about the dangerous life on the flight deck and working around the Crusader
Falling off the angle deck of the carrier
Man gets sucked into the intake of a Crusader
Crusader goes overboard while being pushed
Video of the July 1967 Forrestal Flight Deck Fire that killed 134
(7/8/18) We lost several pilots during our 1962-63 USS Forrestal Med cruise. Our CAG published periodic newsletters, which were always superbly written and eagerly awaited by the crew. They were my first inspiration to write.
Click here for a reader's delight: Death of a Commrade--Jump into the rear seat of a F-4 Phantom on a night hop off the Forrestal. Enjoy!
(8/29/13) Official Website of the U.S. Navy: America's Navy Many interesting tabs for information on Navy topics.
(8/23/13): Adobe (.pdf format) Many links to information for Vets A tremendous list of sites and information that Vets commonly need access to. --- Contributed by Bill Newby
INTERNAL LINK---Updated (12/19/14):Click here for: USS Forrestal Ceremonies and Information---Includes information and photos of the scrapping of the Forrestal.
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 over 400,000 who have signed up have noted an affiliation with VFP-62 -- six to be exact. 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
(1/27/13):
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt Cruise DVDs and Cruise Book CDs
Go to my website: www.ussfranklindroosevelt.com . There are links to see and obtain DVDs for ALL FDR cruises from 1956 thru 1976/77 and cruisebooks on CD from 1965 thru 1976/77.
Information Requests and Replys Email replys to: Webmaster (link at top of page)
[Webmaster's Note: The old information requests have been moved to the Bulletin Board Archive (see link on this page). New requests will be added to this area as received.
Webmaster is no longer able to contact the following. Remember to send me any changes to your email contact information.
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