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.

Operational history

Korean War

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

Vietnam

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

*17 October 1963 – 20 July 1964 Detachment C . On 6 June 1964 RF-8A uNo 146823was shot down by anti-aircraft (AAA) fire near the Plain of Jars, Laos, becoming the first Crusader lost in combat. The pilot Lt. C. F. Klusmann was captured but escaped and returned to US forces on 31 August.
*28 January-21 November 1964 Detachment E
*14 April-15 December 1964 Detachment B
*5 August 1964 – 6 May 1965 Detachment M
*21 October 1964 – 29 May 1965 Detachment L
*7 December 1964 – 1 November 1965 Detachment C . On 13 August RF-8A uNo 146849was hit by AAA over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued. On 8 September RF-8A uNo 146826crashed into the sea 5 miles east of Quảng Khê, the pilot LTJG Charles Goodwin was listed as presumptive finding of death. until 3 June 2017 when he was accounted for On 8 October RF-8A #145617 was lost due to mechanical failure, the pilot ejected and was rescued.
*6 March-23 November 1965 Detachment A . On 8 May RF-8A uNo 145628was hit by AAA fire over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued. On 1 June RF-8A uNo 146881was hit by AAA fire over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued.
*5 April-16 December 1965 Detachment G . On 29 August RF-8A uNo 146828was 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. On 8 September RF-8A uNo 146825was lost to AAA fire, the pilot LTJG Robert Rudolph was listed as missing in action until his remains were returned in December 1988.
*21 April 1965 – 13 January 1966 Detachment E USS ''Bon Homme Richard''. On 1 June 1965 RF-8A uNo 146852was shot down over Thanh Hóa Province, the pilot LTCDR Frederick Crosby was listed as killed in action, body not recovered until May 2017 when his remains were identified
*28 September 1965 – 13 May 1966 Detachment B USS ''Ticonderoga''. On 19 April RF-8A uNo 146843was lost to AAA, the pilot ejected and was rescued.
*10 November 1965 – 1 August 1966 Detachment L USS ''Hancock''. On 9 April RF-8A uNo 144611was hit by AAA fire, the pilot LTJG Thomas Walster ejected but drowned before SAR forces arrived. On 5 May RF-8A uNo 146831was shot down by AAA, the pilot Lt John Heilig ejected and was captured, he was released on 12 February 1973. On 21 June RF-8A uNo 146830was shot down by AAA, the pilot Lt Corbett Eastman ejected and was captured, he was released on 12 February 1973.
*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 .
*29 July 1966 – 23 February 1967 Detachment A USS ''Coral Sea''. On 8 October RF-8A uNo 146899was lost to AAA, the pilot ejected and was rescued.
*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 uNo 145614was shot down by AAA and the pilot Commander Collin Haines was captured and held prisoner until 4 March 1973.
*11 May-30 December 1967 Detachment 11
*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 uNo 144623was lost to AAA fire, the pilot LTCDR Milton Vescelius was listed as missing in action until his remains were returned in August 1985.
*27 December 1967 – 17 August 1968 Detachment 14 USS ''Ticonderoga''. On 28 March 1968 RF-8G uNo 144616was 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.
*27 January-10 October 1968 Detachment 31 USS ''Bon Homme Richard''. On 22 May RF-8G uNo 146830was shot down by AAA, the pilot LTJG Edwin Miller ejected and was captured, he was released on 14 March 1973.
*4 June 1968 – 8 February 1969 Detachment 11 USS ''Intrepid''. On 21 July RF-8G uNo 145642was lost due to mechanical failure, the pilot ejected and was rescued.
*18 July 1968 – 3 March 1969 Detachment 19 USS ''Hancock''. On 3 October RF-8G uNo 144620crashed into the sea, the pilot LT James Merrick was killed.
*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 uNo 146884was lost in a non-combat incident, the pilot ejected and was rescued.
*2 August 1969 – 15 April 1970 Detachment 19 USS ''Hancock''. On 16 December 1969 RF-8G uNo 145611was hit by antiaircraft fire and crashed at sea, the pilot LT Victor Buckley was listed as killed in action, body not recovered.
*23 September 1969 – 1 July 1970 Detachment 43 USS ''Coral Sea''
*5 March-17 December 1970 Detachment 38
*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 uNo 145624collapsed during launch, the pilot LT Joseph R. Klugg ejected but drowned before SAR forces could arrive.
*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 uNo 150299collided with F-8J #150299 of VF-24, both pilots ejected and were rescued.
*10 April 1972 – 3 March 1973 Detachment 3 USS ''Midway''. On 16 June RF-8G uNo 145613was hit by AAA near the Thanh Hóa Bridge, the pilot ejected and was rescued. 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.
*5 June 1972 – 30 March 1973 Detachment 4 USS ''Oriskany''. On 13 December 1972 RF-8G uNo 144608was destroyed in a non-combat incident.
*9 March-8 November 1973 Detachment 5 USS ''Coral Sea''
*8 May 1973 – 8 January 1974 Detachment 1 USS ''Hancock''

1970s 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.

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
* 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

Archive footage of VC-61 from 1953

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vfp-63
Fleet air reconnaissance squadrons of the United States Navy