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VFP-62 Memorabilia


VFP-62 Hanger - Circa 1962-63
Photo by John Sees



Memorabilia from VFP-62 crew members, dusting off memories from decades ago, when we were all that much younger. As Greg Engler says, "At this point in life we have much more to look back at than we have to look forward to, in both time and in events as well."

Updated November 15, 2011

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    If they inspire a memory, click this link -VFP-62 Webmaster to send a comment, correction, or contribution to this page.

    Memories of Life at VFP-62

    One of the best things we had at Cecil, I thought, was that the EM club was right across the street from the back door to the barracks which made the crawl back to the barracks that much easier and that much less confusing after an evening of 10 cents a can beer. -- Greg Engler
  • Greg Engler's discovery of: VFP-62 Time Capsule--NAS Cecil Field [Webmaster's Note: New pages showing the recovery and slavage of the VFP-62 Time Capsule (5/18/11)
  • Fabulous --Collection of NAS Cecil Field Memorabilia __Past & Present


  • On 8 August 1962 -Miss Florida (Gloria Brodie) pic.#1 -Paid a visit to the "FLYING UBANGIS" - VA-12 at NAS CECIL FIELD. They flew A-4 Skyhawks.Miss Florida (Gloria Brodie) pic.#2 - --Contributed by Frank Buesing

  • 1960 USS Intrepid: Prices Pups - Roster Contributed by: J.J. McKenna

  • Poem to VFP-62 ---CAN BE ENLARGED IN BROWSER WINDOW-- submitted: Capt. Bob Kiem son of VFP-62 CO (1958)Capt Ed Kiem

  • VFP-62 DET 33 Coffee Mug -OINC LCDR Frank "FANG" Liberato. ( Note the fangs on Snoopy ). Submitted by: Jim "SKI" Trenoskie AME2 1960-1963

  • Here's a photo of a:-VFP-62 F8U-1P BuNo 144613--taken by me at the NAS JAX airshow in 1958--J.J. McKenna
  • Photo taken in mid-1960 as our VFP-62 Det.33 was arriving at NAS Norva from NAS Cecil Field, FL.: Unloading Det gear at Norfolk-We were taking our three F8U-1P Crusaders aboard USS Intrepid CVA-11 for carquals, first Crusader unit to operate aboard the Mighty I. Never could figure out why, when we traveled by military cargo, that we had to have our dress uniforms on and then be expected to load/offload our gear - at the aircraft and then at the ship! -J.J. McKenna

  • Det 33-60-Gitmo crew "At Work!!" RF8 927 BuNo 146872)--J.J. McKenna

  • Organized choirs and routy singing were wide-spread activities in the squadrons of the 60's. Check out:_VFP-62 Song Book --Submitted by Jay Kirkland son of LT James T. Kirkland Jr. (VFP-62 pilot 1958 - 1960)

  • (12/18/10)Click to see: Cecil Field C1--Photo 1 and Cecil Field C1--Photo 2..located at Grissom AFB. The plane was used to transport personnel, equipment, at Cecil Field. Photos: Frank Buesing

I was a kid at the time and wish I had been wise enough to appreciate all the experience more. I am grateful to those who led us and kept us safe.--Robert (Bob) Lane (circa 1969 FDR ships company ABF-3)

Webmaster's Note: VFP-62 was a large squadron that supplied detachments (DET) to the fleet carriers. These detachments usually had 30-40 crew members with 2-3 planes. The senior officer was the Officer in Charge (OinC) and senior petty officers would be the leaders of the enlisted maintenance and support crews.

When the carrier returned from deployment, the detachment would return to base at Cecil Field. There was high competition among the various detachments "to be the best". You can see that in the writings of the varous newsletters, which was written by the crew. Very good writing if I might add.

    November 1957 VFP-62 Newsletter
    The arrival of the F8U-1P (RF-8) Crusader
    submitted by Daryl Phillippi

  • WARNING!! 1.5MB Adobe (.pdf) file: VFP-62 enters the supersonic era File may load slowly for dialup internet users.

"It was an exciting time to be on the FDR with F8s in burner leaving the deck." --John Dwyer (FDR Det. 37-59)

    Det 42-58 (USS Forrestal) Newsletters
    The first Detachment with F8U-1P's on the USS Forrestal
    submitted by James Taylor USN Ret.

  • August 1958 Newsletter


    VFP-62 Det 37-59 Cruise Book Photos
    USS Franklin D. Roosevelt
    Submitted by Larry Blumenthal, webmaster www.usnavyphotos.com

  • Click to see more:_Det 37-59 Cruise Book Photos -




    Det 42 (USS Franklin D. Roosevelt) 1962-63
    submitted by Richard Chilton

  • Adobe (pdf format) 2MB file: Page 1 photos -Pilot is Lt. j.g. Rodney Rogers

  • Adobe (pdf format) 2MB file: Page 2 photos -Photomate Harper

"I'm 58 years old. My earliest memory as a child is the smell of jet fuel. My father, LtCmdr. Joe Pline USN Ret. (deceased) served with VFP-62 in or around 1957. I still wear his squadron patch on my riding jacket (with his permission of course)." -- Dale Pline


    YouTube Video -- VFP-62 circa 1964
    submitted by Frank Buesing

    Description of scenes in the video:

  • FLIGHT SCHOOL - T-34 MENTOR SAUFLEY FIELD - NAS PENSACOLA 1964!

  • USS FORRESTAL ARRIVING AT NAS ROOSEVELT ROADS - FEB/1964 "21 GUN SALUTE"

  • "OPERATION SPRINGBOARD" FLIGHT OPERATIONS - FEB/1964 USS FORRESTAL - VFP-62

  • SCENES FROM NAS CECIL FIELD 1964

  • EXTERNAL LINK to You.Tube: Video of VFP-62 circa 1964)

USS Forrestal 1965-66 Detachment Newsletter
submitted by Greg Engler

    1967-68 FDR Det 42 Cruise Book Photos
    submitted by Ken Keber


  • FDR Det 42 1967-68 Cruise Book Photos

    • [Webmaster's Note: VFP-62 was disestablished in January 1968. This detachment originated as VFP-62 but became VFP-63 in 1968.]

    Email the Webmaster

    If they inspire a memory, click this link -VFP-62 Webmaster to send a comment, correction, or contribution to this page.