Courtesy A. W. Scarborough PHC

Latest updates to VFP62.com

Site Updates as of January 30, 2012
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vfp62.com is a site that grows with the photo and memorabilia contributions
from former squadron members.
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Webmaster's message:

If you haven't gone through every link on our "Odds 'n Ends" pages, you're missing a lot. I just posted a link to a great video contributed by Robert Strong, showing the rescue of a B-29 crew in WW II. What's amazing, one of the survivors sees the footage after 65 years. On that same page, skip down to a link "The Final Roundup", a very touching reunion of a Mustang WW II fighter pilot with a restored P-51 and his grandchildren get a hop in it. A wonderful story you'll enjoy...one of the many on these pages. Check it out.

As I've announced on the "Cuban Missile Crisis" page, our forthcoming book ("Blue Moon over Cuba: JFK's Cuban Missile Hunters") will be published this year. I have added a new link to a YouTube video of the simulated low-level VFP-62 mission on October 23, 1962 from the movie "Thirteen Days" (2000). Although there are some historical inaccuracies, which I correct in the book, it is thrilling to watch. Turn-up your speakers and relive the sound of a Crusader in hot pursuit. Check it out.

We have some videos on the site but it is rare to get one that takes us back to squadron days at Cecil and at sea. Frank Bruesing took 8mm movies in 1964 aboard the USS Forrestal and at Cecil Field as well as Saufley Field at Pensacola. Something for everyone. It is on YouTube and a link to it is on "VFP-62 Memorabilia." Look for a quick pan of the barracks area, as well as some fine RF-8 shots and landings aboard the Forrestal. A real treasuer.

A number of non-VFP-62 members contribute photos to the site. One, Jim Macino, FDR ships company ETR2 has contributed photos of the VFP-62 Vietnam Detachment photos. Check it out on "Vietnam Operations" page.

Our VFP-62 Crusaders flew in anger, in combat environments, twice: The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. John Glenn has provided a wealth of information on the Vietnam detatchment in 1966-67. I've been building those pages slowly but you can check out the latest installments by going to "Vietnam Operations."

Also, our book on VFP-62's critical role in the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis is moving towards its publishing date in the summer of 2012, the 50th anniversary of the crisis. I wrote an article, that is a pretty good synopsis of the book for the National Naval Aviation Museum's magazine, FOUNDATION fall edition. It is in Adobe format and is a 10 MB file. You can link to it from the "Cuban Missile Crisis" page.

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Sea Stories

How a former VFP-62 shipmate missed the great Forrestal fire in 1967. See a brand-new Page 8.

VFP-62 Skippers

Added Captain Williard D. Dietz's biography.

Vietnam Operations

See New additons of VFP-62's Vietnam Detachment Memorabilia, starting with the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt's Family Gram Dec. 1966, heading towards Yankee Station. Also a FDR War Cruise Newsletter...all new.

Added page 2 to VFP-62 Vietnam Det photos.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A link has been added to the YouTube video of VFP-62 mission over Cuba from the movie "Thirteen Days."

A new book is being written about VFP-62 and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Check out an article "VFP-62 Supersonic Hooligans".

In Memoriam

Memorial for Donnie J. Stacy ADJ3 VFP-62 1961-63

Memorial for LCDR Ron Datka

VFP-62 Memorabilia

Link to VFP-62 video circa 1964 submitted by Frank Buesing.

Det 42 (1962-63)USS Franklin D. Roosevelt cruise book photos contributed by Richard Chilton

Det 65 (June-July 1963)USS Enterprise Med cruise--- contributed by Jim Trenoskie

Cruise book photos from Det 37-59 (USS Franklin D. Roosevelt)

New photos from the 1967-78 USS Franklin D Roosevelt Med Cruise Book.

VFP-62 Guest Log

Added Ken Keber (Sn in 1966-68) and Ed Prikryl (1963-65) to a Page 5.

We Love Crusaders

See new article of a VFP-62 mid-Air collision. Look for the link: "Crusader Mishaps"

VFP-62 Squadron History

Added a nice photo of a F9F-8P refueling from an AD-6..courtesy J.J. McKenna

Faces of VFP-62

New photos on Pages 1 & 13

Bulletin Board

Link to our VFP-62 2011 reunion photos in Jacksonville Sept. 16-18. Check it out.

Click on the link: "Mail Call" to see some interesting emails I receive. One is from a non-squadron member who provided the photo of Cecil Field from the air. (see photo on Reunion section.)

"Odds 'n Ends"

Go TO PAGE 5: Excellent link to a YouTube Blue Angels video. High Speed Internet needed.

"Links and Acknowledgements"

U2 flight video under "Special Interests"