Updated Dec. 9, 2007
SYNOPSIS: The Chance Vought F8 "Crusader" saw action early in U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia. Its fighter models participated both in the first Gulf of Tonkin reprisal in August 1964 and in the myriad attacks against North Vietnam during Operation Rolling Thunder. The Crusader was used exclusively by the Navy and Marine air wings (although there is one U.S. Air Force pilot reported shot down in an F8) and represented half or more of the carrier fighters in the Gulf of Tonkin during the first four years of the war. The aircraft was credited with nearly 53% of MiG kills in Vietnam.
The most frequently used fighter versions of the Crusader in Vietnam were
the C, D, and E models although the H and J were also used. The Charlie
carried only Sidewinders on fuselage racks, and were assigned such missions as CAP (Combat Air Patrol), flying at higher altitudes. The Echo model had a heavier reinforced wing able to carry extra Sidewinders or bombs, and were used to attack ground targets, giving it increased vulnerability. The Echo version launched with less fuel, to accommodate the larger bomb store, and frequently arrived back at ship low on fuel. The RF-8A models were equipped for photo reconnaissance. The RF-G were also photographic versions, but with additional cameras and navigational equipment.
The combat attrition rate of the Crusader was comparable to similar
fighters. Between 1964 to 1972, eighty-three Crusaders were either lost or
destroyed by enemy fire. Another 109 required major rebuilding. 145 Crusader pilots were recovered; 57 were not. Twenty of these pilots were captured and released. The other 43 remained missing at the end of the war. In addition, there were 16 pilots who went down on photographic versions of the aircraft. Of these 16, seven were captured (six were released, one died in captivity).
Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing,
prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S. Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive today. Fighter pilots in Vietnam were called upon to fly in many dangerous circumstances, and were prepared to be wounded, killed, or captured. It probably never occurred to them that some of them could be abandoned by the country they proudly served. (Webmaster's note: At first, I thought this last information might be far fetched but I recently met a Vietnamese whose uncle, a former South Vietnam high ranking officer was kept in captivity from 1975 to 2001)
(Contributed by former Navy LT Hank Miller, VA-152 Spad driver USS Oriskany 1966-67-68.)
VFP-63 and the Vietnam War
These VFP-63 RF-8G's had a special paint job to celebrate the country's 200th anniversary. Photo Courtesy - CDR Cecil Ogles
Our sister squadron, VFP-63 the west-coast photo squadron, had the major burden of the Vietnam War. As they lost planes, VFP-62 was used for plane replacements, which eventually led to its dis-establishment in 1968.
Click this link to read (.pdf file) a first hand account of the first jet (VFP-63) shot down in the war. RF-8 pilot Chuck Klusmann's rivoting account of his shoot down, capture, and escape.
VFP-62 and the Vietnam War
VFP-62 made one detatchment aboard the U.S.S. Roosevelt to Vietnam (June 21, 1966 to February 21, 1967). The pilots were John Baals (O-in-C), Norm Green (pilot of the damaged plane below), Ed Andrews. R. W. Deputy, and Norm Bundy (Killed in Action - see "In Memoriam").
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Above photos courtesy Ken Walling, webmaster www.vf32.info. "I was going to look on your CMC page, but clicked the Viet Nam site when I noticed a name I recognized, Ed "Hunyak" Andrews. Ed Andrews was our Maintance Officer with the Tomcats and I still have contact with him and we try to go out for dinner if I'm in Virginia Beach area.
Attached are 2 pages from the Viet Nam cruise book on the FDR with Air Wing One "AB". VF-32 was just assigned with that air group to go to Viet Nam and was with the same air group when I was assigned with the squadron."
Damaged wing by North Vietnamese SAM. U.S.S. Roosevelt. It is a testament to the ruggedness of the RF-8 Crusader and skill of the pilot.
The plane in the following photos was eventually lost off the Kitty Hawk in August of 1980. It was with either VFP-306 or VFP-63.
Click to enlarge -- Photo courtesy: A.W.Scarborough, PHC (Ret)
Photo Courtesy: Jim Macino (former ETR2 USS Franklin D. Roosevelt)
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