|
|
VFP62.com | ||
| VFP-62 HISTORY | |||
|
|||
|
|||
| HOME :: | |||
|
|||
| |||
The Eyes of the Fleet
VFP-62
VFP-62 was a large squadron, based at Cecil Field, Florida. It provided detachments to each carrier in the Atlantic Fleet (There was a sister squadron (VFP-63) for the Pacific Fleet). Each detachment would have three RF-8s and a crew to support it. Deployments would be made from Mayport Florida or Norfolk, Va. The crew would be sent to the carrier ahead of the planes and would carry all of the equipment necessary for a deployment. The planes would either join the carrier at sea or fly to the carrier's base and be hoisted via crane to the carrier's deck.
There were usually three to four pilots, the senior officer was the Officer in Charge. The other officers shared responsibilities for the detachment. There was one Chief Petty Officer in charge of the enlisted men and subordinate senior petty officers in charge of each maintenance department crew. Before a major (2-3 month) cruise, there would be several carrier qualification deployments, several weeks each. After these deployments, the detachment would return to the parent squadron.
VFP-62 was disestablished on Jan. 5, 1968 and replaced by VFP-63.
