VFP-63

VFP-63 was a Light Photographic Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Composite Squadron Sixty-One (VC-61) on 20 January 1949, it was redesignated as Fighter Photographic Squadron (VFP-61) on 2 July 1956. Redesignated as Composite Photographic Squadron Sixty-Three (VCP-63) on 1 July 1959 and finally redesignated as Light Photographic Squadron Sixty-Three (VFP-63) on 1 July 1961. The squadron provided a detachment of reconnaissance planes for each of the Carrier Air Wings of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The squadron was disestablished on 30 June 1982.^[1]

Operational history

VC-61 F9F-5P Panther over NAS North Island c.1950

VC-61 F9F-6P Cougar over NAS Miramar in 1954

VFP-61 F2H-2P Banshee lands on USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) c.1957

F9F Cougars of VA-192 and VFP-61 over Formosa c.1957

VFP-63 RF-8G Crusader over Vietnam in 1966

VFP-63 RF-8G at NAS Midway in 1974

Korean War

VC-61 detachments of F4U-4/5P Corsairs served until mid-1951 when they were replaced by the F9F-2P Cougar.^[2]

Vietnam

VFP-63 was the only Navy combat unit with elements continuously deployed throughout the Vietnam War.^[1]:492 Detachments of RF-8A/G Crusaders served the following deployments:^[3]

• 17 October 1963 – 20 July 1964 Detachment C USS Kitty Hawk. On 6 June 1964 RF-8A #146823 was shot down by anti-aircraft (AAA) fire near the Plain of Jars, Laos, becoming the first Crusader lost in combat.^[3]:91 The pilot Lt. C. F. Klusmann was captured but escaped and returned to US forces on 31 August.^[4]
• 28 January-21 November 1964 Detachment E USS Bon Homme Richard
• 14 April-15 December 1964 Detachment B USS Ticonderoga
• 5 May 1964 – 1 February 1965 Detachment F USS Constellation
• 5 August 1964 – 6 May 1965 Detachment M USS Ranger
• 21 October 1964 – 29 May 1965 Detachment L USS Hancock
• 7 December 1964 – 1 November 1965 Detachment C USS Coral Sea. On 13 August RF-8A #146849 was hit by AAA over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued.^[5] On 8 September RF-8A 146826 crashed into the sea 5 miles east of Quảng Khê, the pilot LTJG Charles Goodwin was listed as presumptive finding of death.^[5][6] On 8 October RF-8A #145617 was lost due to mechanical failure, the pilot ejected and was rescued.^[5]
• 6 March-23 November 1965 Detachment A USS Midway. On 8 May RF-8A #145628 was hit by AAA fire over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued.^[5] On 1 June RF-8A #146881 was hit by AAA fire over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued.^[5]
• 5 April-16 December 1965 Detachment G USS Oriskany. On 29 August RF-8A #146828 was hit by AAA fire near Vinh, the pilot LT Henry McWhorter was listed as missing in action until his remains were returned in April 1986.^[4][5] On 8 September RF-8A #146825 was lost to AAA fire, the pilot LTJG Robert Rudolph was listed as missing in action until his remains were returned in December 1988.^[4][5]
• 21 April 1965 – 13 January 1966 Detachment E USS Bon Homme Richard. On 1 June 1965 RF-8A #146852 was shot down over Thanh Hóa Province, the pilot LTCDR Frederick Crosby was listed as killed in action, body not recovered.^[6][7]
• 28 September 1965 – 13 May 1966 Detachment B USS Ticonderoga. On 19 April RF-8A #146843 was lost to AAA, the pilot ejected and was rescued.^[5]
• 10 November 1965 – 1 August 1966 Detachment L USS Hancock. On 9 April RF-8A #144611 was hit by AAA fire, the pilot LTJG Thomas Walster ejected but drowned before SAR forces arrived.^[5][8] On 5 May RF-8A #146831 was shot down by AAA, the pilot Lt John Heilig ejected and was captured, he was released on 12 February 1973.^[4][5] On 21 June RF-8A #146830 was shot down by AAA, the pilot Lt Corbett Eastman ejected and was captured, he was released on 12 February 1973.^[4][5]
• 26 May-16 November 1966 Detachment G USS Oriskany. On 31 August 1966 an RF-8A was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into Haiphong Harbour, the pilot LCDR Tom Tucker was rescued by a helicopter from USS Kearsarge.^[1]:458[5]
• 29 July 1966 – 23 February 1967 Detachment A USS Coral Sea. On 8 October RF-8A #146899 was lost to AAA, the pilot ejected and was rescued.^[5]
• 15 October 1966 – 29 May 1967 Detachment E USS Ticonderoga
• 5 January-22 July 1967 Detachment B USS Hancock
• 26 January-25 August 1967 Detachment L USS Bon Homme Richard. On 5 June RF-8A #145614 was shot down by AAA and the pilot Commander Collin Haines was captured and held prisoner until 4 March 1973.^[1]:459[4]
• 11 May-30 December 1967 Detachment 11 USS Intrepid
• 16 July 1967 – 31 January 1968 Detachment 34 USS Oriskany
• 26 July 1967 – 6 April 1968 Detachment 43 USS Coral Sea. On 21 September RF-8G #144623 was lost to AAA fire, the pilot LTCDR Milton Vescelius was listed as missing in action until his remains were returned in August 1985.^[4][9]
• 27 December 1967 – 17 August 1968 Detachment 14 USS Ticonderoga. On 28 March 1968 RF-8G #144616 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Laos, the pilot LTCMDR M W Wallace was listed as missing in action until his remains were identified in December 1988.^[3]:92[4][9]
• 27 January-10 October 1968 Detachment 31 USS Bon Homme Richard. On 22 May RF-8G #146830 was shot down by AAA, the pilot LTJG Edwin Miller ejected and was captured, he was released on 14 March 1973.^[4][9]
• 4 June 1968 – 8 February 1969 Detachment 11 USS Intrepid. On 21 July RF-8G #145642 was lost due to mechanical failure, the pilot ejected and was rescued.^[9]
• 18 July 1968 – 3 March 1969 Detachment 19 USS Hancock. On 3 October RF-8G #144620 crashed into the sea, the pilot LT James Merrick was killed.^[10]
• 7 September 1968 – 18 April 1969 Detachment 43 USS Coral Sea
• 1 February-18 September 1969 Detachment 14 USS Ticonderoga
• 18 March-29 October 1969 Detachment 31 USS Bon Homme Richard
• 16 April-17 November 1969 Detachment 34 USS Oriskany. On 24 May RF-8G #146884 was lost in a non-combat incident, the pilot ejected and was rescued.^[11]
• 2 August 1969 – 15 April 1970 Detachment 19 USS Hancock. On 16 December 1969 RF-8G #145611 was hit by antiaircraft fire and crashed at sea, the pilot LT Victor Buckley was listed as killed in action, body not recovered.^[6][12]
• 23 September 1969 – 1 July 1970 Detachment 43 USS Coral Sea
• 5 March-17 December 1970 Detachment 38 USS Shangri-La
• 2 April-12 November 1970 Detachment 31 USS Bon Homme Richard
• 14 May-10 December 1970 Detachment 34 USS Oriskany. On 14 November the landing gear on RF-8G #145624 collapsed during launch, the pilot LT Joseph R. Klugg ejected but drowned before SAR forces could arrive.^[6][13]
• 22 October 1970 – 2 June 1971 Detachment 1 USS Hancock
• 16 April-6 November 1971 Detachment 3 USS Midway
• 14 May-18 December 1971 Detachment 4 USS Oriskany
• 12 November 1971 – 17 July 1972 Detachment 5 USS Coral Sea
• 7 January-3 October 1972 Detachment 1 USS Hancock. On 5 September RF-8G #150299 collided with F-8J #150299 of VF-24, both pilots ejected and were rescued.^[11]
• 10 April 1972 – 3 March 1973 Detachment 3 USS Midway. On 16 June RF-8G #145613 was hit by AAA near the Thanh Hóa Bridge, the pilot ejected and was rescued.^[11] On 22 July RF-8G was hit by AAA, the pilot LTCDR Gordon Paige ejected and was captured, he was released on 29 March 1973.^[4][11]
• 5 June 1972 – 30 March 1973 Detachment 4 USS Oriskany. On 13 December 1972 RF-8G #144608 was destroyed in a non-combat incident.^[11]
• 9 March-8 November 1973 Detachment 5 USS Coral Sea
• 8 May 1973 – 8 January 1974 Detachment 1 USS Hancock

1970's to Disestablishment

In August 1972 with the Crusader being replaced as a frontline Navy fighter, F-8 training squadron VF-124 transferred its remaining aircraft and the training mission to VFP-63.

On 28 May 1982 the squadron's last two RF-8s were flown to Davis–Monthan Air Force Base for storage.^[1]:495

Home port assignments

NAS Miramar

Aircraft Assignment

• F4U-5P Corsair
• F2H-2P Banshee
• F9F-5P Panther
• F9F-2/6P Cougar
• A-3D-2P/RA-3B Skywarrior - 1 July 1959^[1]:411
• RF-8A/G Crusader

Notable former members

• Donnie Cochran
• Kathleen Paige

See also

• Reconnaissance aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• History of the United States Navy

References

External links

United States Navy
Portal Category
Leadership	Secretary of the Navy Under Secretary of the Navy Chief of Naval Operations Vice Chief of Naval Operations Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy 4-star admirals House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces Senate Subcommittee on Seapower
Structure	Navy Navy Reserve Fleet Marine Force Expeditionary Combat Command Merchant Marine The Pentagon Units Aircraft wings Aircraft squadrons Carrier strike group Installations Naval Observatory Master jet base Operating forces Fleet Forces Command Pacific Fleet Naval Forces Europe Naval Forces Central Command Naval Forces Southern Command Naval Special Warfare Command Naval Reserve Forces Operational Test and Evaluation Force Naval Network Warfare Command Military Sealift Command Shore Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Air Systems Command Naval Facilities Engineering Command Naval Supply Systems Command Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Fleet Cyber Command Naval Academy Naval Education and Training Command Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Office of Naval Intelligence Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center Naval Legal Service Command Naval Observatory Navy Occupational Safety & Health Bureau of Naval Personnel Chief of Naval Personnel Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Navy Installations Command Fleets Third Fleet Fourth Fleet Fifth Fleet Sixth Fleet Seventh Fleet Tenth Fleet Ships A–B C D–F G–H I–K L M N–O P Q–R S T–V W–Z Aircraft carriers Airships Amphibious warfare ships Auxiliaries Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Destroyer escorts Escort carriers Frigates Mine warfare vessels Monitors Patrol vessels Sailing frigates Steam frigates Steam gunboats Ships of the line Sloops of war Submarines Torpedo boats
Personnel and training	People Officers Insignia Designators Enlisted Rates Ratings Classification Personnel Chaplain Corps Chief United States Navy EOD Medical Corps Dental Corps Nurse Corps Medical Service Corps Supply Corps Civil Engineer Corps JAG Corps NCIS Boatswain's mates Hospital corpsman Naval Aviator SEALs Seabees SWCCs Hispanic sailors Training Recruit United States Naval Academy Officer Candidate School STA-21 NROTC BESS BFTT CNATT COMPTUEX NAWCTSD AIM Naval Chaplaincy School Naval Hospital Corps School Naval Justice School Naval Postgraduate School United States Armed Forces School of Music Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Navy Supply Corps School Naval War College Nuclear Power School JMTC TOPGUN USNTPS Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Equipment	Uniforms Awards Badges Current fleet Reserve fleet Aircraft Weapons Naval reactors
History and traditions	History "Anchors Aweigh" Blue Angels Ceremonial Barge Chesapeake Continental Navy Ensign Fleet bands Fleet Week Jack Line-crossing ceremony National Museum Navy Band Navy Flag Navy Hymn Navy Memorial Navy service numbers Sailor's Creed Ship commissioning Ship decommissioning Tingey House USS Constitution Wetting-down United States naval gunfire support debate

• Archive footage of VC-61 from 1953