VFP-62 Bulletin Board
VFP-62 RF8 913 BuNo 145645 taking a picture of the VA-66 A-4 formation
USS Intrepid detachment June 16, 1961
Picture taken by pilot John DeChant. Contributed by Don Van Horn PHC
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Page updated: February 1, 2021
Previous Bulletin Board postings are available on the Bulletin Board Archive. (Last Updated: October 25, 2020)
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Updated 3/9/18
Go Navy!
Contributed by Bill Faber
MAIL CALL
[Webmaster's Message: Emails from squadron members or others to VFP-62 will be posted here. After a time, they will be moved to: Mail Call: ---Last Updated: 7/5/18]
- (2/1/21) Exciting movie trailer: Top Gun II movie trailer ---Go full screen and turn up the volume.
- (1/29/21) [Webmaster: The book he's referring to is "Blue Moon Over Cuba: Aerial Reconnaissance During the Cuban Missile Crisis" by Capt. William B. Ecker and Kenneth V. Jack]
My name is Cephas L Moore. I retired from the U. S. Navy as an AFCM, after thirty years active duty. I am also the ADJ-2 C. L. Moore listed in the Navy Unit Commendation awards in the back of the book.
I remember those days well. We worked 24/7 at VFP-62 home base at NAS Cecil Field, FL. We made many trips to NAS Jacksonville so the Photographer Mates could unload the the film from the returning aircraft and take it to the lab for processing.
Maintaining the aircraft for flight status was something we all took pride in.
I have the book on my Kindle, and still enjoying it.
Thanks for a great book.
Regards,
Cephas L Moore
AFCM USN (RET)
- (10/26/20)
VFP-62 - Med Cruise 1958
by Daryl Phillippi PH1 VFP-62: 1957-59
During this pandemic I have found myself with a lot of time on my hands.
In my younger years I shot a lot of films. In modern times it is so easy to convert to digital and edit them. Therefore I have put together a 10 1/2 minute video of the USS Saratoga and injected some shots of the VFP-62 detachment and ended with a lot of the crew and a video of a bunch of "kids" acting like kids at a beach party.--- Daryl Phillippi
Webmaster: Click the link to see Daryl's ten minute video: USS Saratoga and VFP-62 Beach Party by Daryl Phillippi
- (10/25/20) I enjoyed finding your Website. I'm an ex-Naval officer with three years (1957-1960) sea duty aboard USS Northampton CLC-1, home port Norfolk. I have lived in Pensacola since 1971.
I miss being able to go aboard NAS Pensacola, especially the Museum.
I recently found a photo of my deceased wife at a Sunday School dinner at Marcello's Restaurant, which was close to the main gate. There was a man in the picture...film actor Leif Erickson (born William Wycliffe Anderson). A little Googling reveled that he was a Navy photographer and was married to a Pensacola lady, Ann Diamond. He died in Pensacola in 1986.
Wikipedia stated that he made some of the famous photos of the Japanese surrender on USS Missouri. I made a midshipman cruise aboard Missouri in 1954.
My guess is that he met Ann Diamond while attending photography school at NAS.
I am interested in knowing if anyone in your group can add to this story.
If you can spread this out far and wide, I'd like to see what comes out.
Thanks, Ronald S. McCuiston
Webmaster: I think if you do a Wikepedia search you'll recognize the actor being discussed here. If you want to contact Ronald, use the "Contact Webmaster" link on this page and I'll make the conncection for you.
- (7/7//20) EXCELLENT VIDEO: Naval Aviator POWs From Vietnam Share Experiences Good scenes of POWs, capture, aerial views of aircraft.
- (1/30/2020) Excellent video of Blue Angels inside the cockpit: Cockpit View of Blue Angels GO TO FULL SCREEN Contributed by Bill Newby
- (12/2/2019) Click to see EXCELLENT video of: Flight Operations on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-42 Circa early 60s
- (5/19/19) YouTube video: Memories of USS Enterprise & Decommissioning Ceremony 24-minute review of her history, flight deck fire tragedy, and last cruise--Courtesy of Charles Prescott III
- (7/7/20)FIXED BROKEN LINK. Click to see EXCELLENT video of: Flight Operations on USS Shangri La CVA-38 Circa 1962--What makes this video so special is the high quality color and "on the deck experience" of the photography---Webmaster.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!---Turn Speakers UP
From Marion Swinford: (4/1/17) Unusual Burial at Sea Loyce Edward Deen, an Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class, USNR, was a gunner on a TBM Avenger. On November 5, 1944, Deen's squadron participated in a raid on Manila where his plane was hit multiple times by anti-aircraft fire while attacking a Japanese cruiser. Deen was killed. The Avenger's pilot, Lt Robert Cosgrove, managed to return to his carrier, the USS Essex. Both Deen and the plane had been shot up so badly that it was decided to leave him in it. It is the only time in U.S. Navy history (and probably U.S. military history) that an aviator was buried in his aircraft after being killed in action.
Recent News and Announcements
Message from Webmaster
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A special group of VFP-62 squadron members responded to a fundraiser for the purpose of extending this website's longevity on the Internet for 10 years (2023 - 2033). Their names are at the top of the "Home Page."
Our website does not only have photos and history of aircraft but "little gems" hidden throughout the website.
Many get missed. I'm going to use this space to call attention to them.
Oldies but Goodies
Interesting small reads on vfp62.com
- (9/20/18)
Don't Let This One Get You
Short stories about the dangerous life on the flight deck and working around the Crusader
- Falling off the angle deck of the carrier
- Man gets sucked into the intake of a Crusader
- Crusader goes overboard while being pushed
- Video of the July 1967 Forrestal Flight Deck Fire that killed 134
(7/8/18) We lost several pilots during our 1962-63 USS Forrestal Med cruise. Our CAG published periodic newsletters, which were always superbly written and eagerly awaited by the crew. They were my first inspiration to write.
Click here for a reader's delight: Death of a Commrade--Jump into the rear seat of a F-4 Phantom on a night hop off the Forrestal. Enjoy!
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Webmaster is no longer able to contact the following. Remember to send me any changes to your email contact information.
Correct email addresses are requested for the following squadron members:
- Terry Burch
- Austin Hatcher
- Randy Lefler
- Thomas McGuire
- A.E. Morsch
- Jack Lehman
- Ken Kelly
- Daniel Olejnik
- Al Clayton
- Bob Garling
- Terry Burch
- Willie J. Harvey
- David Duke
- Jim Hamilton
- John Sammond
- Al Kennedy
- James Rominger
- Russ Stull
- Lonnie Simmons
Reunion Announcements and Information
Past VFP-62 Reunions: Photos & Information
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Stay in Touch Links and Information
Click on underlined text.
(9/15/14) Click to see: Military Medals, shirts, etc.---Not an endorsement but a resourse.
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(8/29/13) Official Website of the U.S. Navy: America's Navy Many interesting tabs for information on Navy topics.
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(8/23/13): Adobe (.pdf format) Many links to information for Vets A tremendous list of sites and information that Vets commonly need access to. --- Contributed by Bill Newby
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8/31/10: Check out Facebook: "VFP-62 Fightin' Photo"
USS FORRESTAL INFORMATION
- EXTERNAL LINK: (MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED TO ENTER) Visit--> USS FORRESTAL Association CVA/CV/AVT-59 Website
- INTERNAL LINK---Updated (12/19/14): Click here for: USS Forrestal Ceremonies and Information ---Includes information and photos of the scrapping of the Forrestal.
- A good "People Finder" : zabasearch.com
- A rich website specially created to provide Sailors of all eras the opportunity to not only locate Shipmates from the past, but also to provide a unique venue to enjoy the camaraderie of others who served through the sharing of memories and photographs. "Together We Served" is a neat site populated by present and former sailors and officers. But only a few of the over 400,000 who have signed up have noted an affiliation with VFP-62 -- six to be exact. There are two types of membership - free and full, which costs $20/year, $45 for three years and $125 for a lifetime. If you join please credit Marion Swinford or Jim Brumm.
- Free site to join. The site has a good Buddy Finder, military news updates, videos, and a VFP-62 group to join. Military.com Periodic emails are sent to keep you informed.
- Lots of U.S. Navy information, history, specials for members and more: U S Navy Institute
Information Requests and Replys
Email replys to: Webmaster (link at top of page)
[Webmaster's Note: The old information requests have been moved to the Bulletin Board Archive (see link on this page). New requests will be added to this area as received.
(1/27/13): USS Franklin D. Roosevelt Cruise DVDs and Cruise Book CDs
Please go to my website: www.ussfranklindroosevelt.com . There are links to see and obtain DVDs for ALL FDR cruises from 1956 thru 1976/77 and cruisebooks on CD from 1965 thru 1976/77.
Larry Blumenthal, webmaster
Previous Bulletin Board postings are available on the Bulletin Board Archive. (Last Updated: April 14, 2019)
CLICK To Go To:
Bulletin Board Archive
--Information posted to Bulletin Board in the past