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."
If they inspire a memory, email the: VFP-62 Webmaster ,and it will be posted here for others to enjoy. Or better yet, send your own memorabilia.
Updated May 16, 2010
"I Like the Navy"
- Good Memories of the Navy:_ "I Like The Navy" -Contributed by Bill Newby.
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
- 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
- Circa 1960-63:VFP-62 hanger Cecil Field - photo: Adam Miklovis
- 1960 USS Intrepid: Prices Pups - Roster Contributed by: J.J. McKenna
- Cecil Field Sports Trophies--VFP 62 was the base inter-mural champs in Fast pitch softball and in football in 1959. The only players I remember are T A Greene, Jerry Hollifield, Bobby Jones, Ron Lebo, Dave Saville, and myself (Marion Swinford).
- Circa 1960: VFP-62 barracks Cecil Field - photo: Vinnie Zabicki
- Poem to VFP-62 - submitted: Capt. Bob Kiem son of VFP-62 CO (1958)Capt Ed Kiem
- The only original Cecil Field hanger still standing. Not VFP-62's but closest to control tower Cecil Field hanger - (2007) submitted: John Sees
- Cecil Field "Afterburner" 1958 Contributed by Marion Swinford
- VFP-62 DET 33 Coffee Mug -OINC LCDR Frank "FANG" Liberato. ( Note the fangs on Snoopy ). Submitted by: Jim "SKI" Trenoskie AME2 1960-1963
- Wonderful collection of photos: Cecil Field & Jacksonville Complex - Directory & Guide - Contributed by George Montgomery
- 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
[Webmaster's Note: this email was received by vfp62.com 9/17/08]: "Hello, I am the Office manager at Cecil Pines the company that has taken over the enlisted section of homes on Cecil Field. We are interested in framing and hanging some historical pictures in our community center. I see you have quite a few that we might be interested in. Is it possible for me to get copies of some of the pictures on your site? How would I go about that? Thanks you for your help."
Christina Purdy
Cecil Pines / Office Manager
6008 Lake Cove Ave.
Jacksonville, Fl 32221
www.cecilpines.org
- 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)
- Recent photos of Cecil Field Check out:_ Modern Day Cecil Field -Taken by squadron members returning to Cecil.
- A rare picture of: Cecil Field chow hall - (circa early 60's) submitted: Marion Swinford
"I had no memory of what the chow hall looked like, only where it was. Seeing pictures like this sure brings back a lot of old times. I wish everyone would dig deeper in their old stuff and find more to post.--Greg Engler
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 Cecil Field Newsletters
submitted by Robert Strong
and Marion Swinford
USS Forrestal Det 59 FamilyGrams
submitted by George Montgomery
"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
VFP-62 Open House Cecil Field 1965
submitted by George Montgomery
USS Forrestal 1965-66 Detachment Newsletter
submitted by Greg Engler
1967 VFP-62 Squadron Roster
submitted by Marion Swinford
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