Mail Call Page 2
Letters to the vfp62.com webmaster
Det 62 (USS Independence) 1962
Contributed: Ray Wittenauer
Updated: Jan. 24, 2017
Webmasters message: Letters to the webmaster will be posted, most recently received first.
- (10/2/11): I was a Yeoman on the CAG-10 Staff (USS Shangri La)in 1961-1962. I saw your
website, did some browsing and thought I'd send you the attachment so that
you can post it on the website.
All of the people of Detachment 38 were great people and if you know where
any of the Officers listed in the attachment are currently, I'd appreciate
knowing.
Thank You,
John Roderick
YN2 USNR
Webmaster's Note: I posted photos sent by John to "Faces of VFP-62" pages 1 and 13.
- (6/4/11):Hi,I just found your website. I was at Cecil back in the 1960's. My time at Cecil field was with VA-106 from 1964-1967. We started out in the Old hangers and then after our last Med cruise we were in the new hangers right in back of the old chow hall.
WE varied barracks on the circle. I was back at the base a few years ago and saddened that all the barracks and chow hall were torn down. There are other buildings missing too. I remember VFP-62 very well. Your outfit was with us on the 64 & 65 Med cruises On USS Shangri-La CVA-38.
Great bunch of Guys. One guy in particular was Mike Dowdy. Has he ever showed up in your reunion group?
I'll come back and look often.
I remember Cecil well. I still don't understand our government shutting the base down. It was a master jet base for the east coast. I just didn't make sense to me to close Cecil and put all our East coast planes all in one location where 1 good bomb could take out all our East coast Naval Aviation operations. I thought it a stupid move.
I've been back to the base a number of times since its closure. I'm glad to see its been used for civil aviation and some military applications. I often thought it would become a northern commercial aviation field to be able to handle commercial flights like all the major airlines. Jacksonvuille didn't see it that way. Oh well!! Now they are talking about making it into a Space Port. Why they didn't allow the Air Force or Army to have it I don't know either.
They could have allowed to have some of the VP outfits at NAS Jax move over there. Wow, the mind set of our goverment I'll never understand. We leave many military decisions to civilions who don't have a clue. A lot of the problem is the bean counters GAO.
Here is a picture I think you guys would like to have. I saw some of the pictures you have up on your site and I'd like to be able to get a copy of them for our squadron reunions.
Regards and thank you,
Roger Del Turco
- (4/21/11):Hi,
Sorry to bother you, but I wanted to tell you that as a teacher, I've been using your resource page referencing naval history: (http://www.vfp62.com/links.html) for compiling a resource guide, I hope that's okay! I'm a teacher and I have been compiling a resource guide for students to further learn and research. One of my students in particular really enjoys naval and fleet information.
Here's another good page my student, Steven, found that you might want to include: "USA Naval History: The USS Monitor" - http://www.usa-people-search.com/content-usa-naval-history-the-uss-monitor.aspx.
I figured you might have a use for it as an additional resource on your page above-there's some great information on war fleets and their pivotal role within the war. I thought your visitors might find it beneficial as well. (Plus, I would love to show my student, Steven that his hard work paid off) I hope this helped!
Happy 2011
Mrs. Kelly Harris
[Webmaster's Note: This link is posted to our "Links and Acknowledgements" Page]
- 1/20/11: [Webmaster's Note: Once in awhile, I get a personally gratifying email that is special. In the years I taught advanced high school mathematics I had the great fortune to touch many future leaders. In this case, Cliff became a Navy Captain, serving our nation for 26 years. Does it get better than that?]
Hi Mr Jack,
On the off chance you might remember me, my name is Cliff Pish, and I was a student of yours in the late 70's. Surfing the web and found your site on VFP-62....I remember you talking about the Navy in class. Anyway, I went on to serve a career in the Navy myself; retired a couple months ago. Enjoyed your site and hope you are well.
All the best,
Cliff Pish
CAPT, USN(ret)
- 1/11/11: [Webmaster's Note: This is an example of children finding their fathers on vfp62.com.]
Greetings: As is my custom from time to time, I "Google" my father (CAPT Eugene "Bz" Bezore); I was pleasantly surprised to come across the VFP-62 site.
I believe Bz cruised with the squadron in '58 (Lebanon?) and '61 (Det CO). My Papa passed away on 7 April 2007. I have photos of him & aircraft from the period and I may be able to locate some old cruise books, etc. If you are interested, please don't hesitate to respond.
Great site, keep up the good work.
1SG Jeffrey "Beez" Bezore, AUS (Ret)
- 12/30/10: [Webmaster's Note: This is an example of the requests I get from young people interested in the squadron and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Name and phone number disguised because the writer is underaged.]
Dear Sirs,
My name is A*** B***, I am a student at Pensacola High School. I am doing a project on the Cuban Missile Crisis, and would like to interview someone who was involved with the reconnaissance or war preparation for the crisis.
Please respond to this e-mail or call me at ***-***-**** if you would like to provide me with a source to help me with my documentary.
Sincerely,
A*** B***
- 9/30/10: Ken,
This is Todd Counter, son of LTJG Chuck Counter, VFP-62, Det. 43-58.
Through your efforts with this website I have been able to find out the status of all the pilots my father flew with on the Sara in 1958 during operation Blue Bat. After over 50 years my father spoke with Charlie Chitty and Bucky Walters. We found out that Hank North , Jack Hennessey, and Charlie Ray may be gone. Marion Swinford, also in 43-58 has also spoke with my dad and has been a real help and pleasure to connect with and gave me in-site of what my dad was like back then. It's been a real boost to my father and myself.
I want my dad to tell you about him flying under the St. Johns River Bridge. He tells a great story of it. "I turned my lights off, flew under, booked out and monitored the radio for traffic of what I did" ... real funny stuff. His email is [email protected]
Anyway, he has a few photos that Im going to get scanned and will send to you around Christmas time. Again, thank you and the folks who assist with the website. Ya'll are doing a great thing. I look forward to getting two copies of your book.
Best Regards and Kill em' with Fil m'.
Todd Counter, P.G.
Proud Son of Chuck Counter, VFP-62
- Sept. 12, 1010:After going through all the info I have received from you & John Sees and the Log Books, I have come to the conclusion that plane [RF8] 913 Bu. No. 145645 is the most likely plane LCDR Larry flew for the filming of the AAM [Air-to-air missile] launch [see Sea Stories for the story]. If I were building this model for myself, that is the plane I would make it. However, Larry's daughters have a photo of him with plane 921 Bu. No. 146864. So, I am going to build it as that aircraft. Laura will be the recipient of it, and I will send photos of it to Diane.
Thank you so very much for all the info and help you have given me concerning this project. Once it is completed, I will send you photos. And please give my thanks and regards to John Sees.
Thanks again!
...Macy VanDeusen
- February 6, 1010: Dear Sir:
I am an old Marine Air Winger, who was a Crew Chief on CH-46's from 75 to 79 with HMM-264 and HMM-162. I crewed on both the F and E models. I am now just an ardent student of Naval Aviation.
I was watching a section on the History Channel about your squadron on the History Channel. As I was watching it, I remembered that my Uncle Jimmy Clayton was with photo recon F-8's during the Vietnam War. I used the goggle search engine and came up with you web site. Sure enough, he was with that squadron.
I forwarded your web site to him and I hope that he makes contact with you, if he hasn't already.
Thank You,
Ron Mann
- January 26, 2010: Hi Ken:
This is Scott Scarborough. Went by your site and have to say that it is one of the best sites going. Looks like you have more and more people showing up for it now. My dad finally got around to getting a computer but still needs to be shown some things with it. He wants very much to contact you guys as he really misses those days. He is intimated by the ON switch though.
I noticed on Carl Dugger's in memoriam page that Dana Yates, Carl�s grand daughter wanted to get in touch with me. That would be great, as my folks haven�t seen Donna Dugger in years. Carl and my dad were close and on the 1963 Saratoga cruise. So Donna and my mother use to get together all the time. I use to play with Carl�s kids, Mike and Linda, Dana's mother now. Mike taught me how to ride a bicycle. Please send Dana�s email or let her have mine either way.
Since I am going back to NH, I can now get my dad to go to some reunions. Any coming up? Nice to see your hard work pay [off].
Scott
[Webmaster's Note: Scott provided the interface to our site for his father, Chief Art Scarborough, and his photos are all over the site.]
- Ken,
I can't get enough of the website and our past, I really appreciate everything you have accomplished and the efforts that you are still making, I truly feel lucky to be part of VFP-62. I am planning to visit with Robert Strong hopefully this June, see the old Cecil Field if possible and maybe meet with others who still live in the area. This only became possible after I punched in VFP-62 and searched!! What a Great Surprise! You can imagine what I felt while reading Bob Strong's page and at the end he asked if anyone knew of my where-abouts!
Thank You,
Sincerely,
Robert R. King
- August 23, 09: HEY KEN
JUST WANTED TO DROP YOU A NOTE AND SAY THANKS AGAIN FOR DOING A GREAT JOB ON THE WEBSITE.
AS YOU KNOW I GOT IN TOUCH WITH ROBERT KING. I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR HIM FOR 10 YEARS. WITHOUT THE WEBSITE I WOULD NEVER HAVE FOUND HIM. YOU KNOW IT MEANS A LOT TO US OLD GUYS TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH OLD SHIPMATES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VFP FOLKS HERE IN JACKSONVILLE AND SOME WERE WORKING OUT AT NAS JAX WITH ME AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME.
I HAVE SOME PICTURES THAT I TOOK AT PENSACOLA AIR MUSEUM AND AT THE RECEPTION AT THE HOTEL DURING OUR REUNION. SOME AREN'T TOO GOOD BUT IF YOU WANT ME TO, I'LL SEND THEM TO YOU. YOU CAN PICK THE ONES TO GO ON THE WEBSITE OR WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO DO.
IF YOU EVER NEED ANY INFO ABOUT JACKSONVILLE OR ANYTHING OUT AT CECIL FIELD LET ME KNOW. I'M ONLY 10 MILES FROM CECIL AND I CAN GO OUT THERE ANY TIME.
THANKS A LOT
ROBERT STRONG
- July 8,09: Gentlemen:
As we approach the 4th of July I want each of you to know
that, as we eat ribs, watch fireworks, and so on each member
of my family will be thinking about the veterans who paid for our
freedom with their blood. It's not just a day to kick back and
celebrate; it's a day to honor those who made it possible.
Thanks to each of you for your service to our nation. We are
"The Home of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave.
We've got the ship [Battleship Alabama] prettied up for the 4th. Be sure to get a
copy of the new USA Today. It will feature a photoshoot at Battle-
ship Park [Mobile Al].
Blue skies & gratitude,
Owen Miller
- June 21: Your song book is great. Saw the link on the F8 Crusader Page. I'm an Old Jolly Roger-1958-62 and we had quite a selection of songs as well. Wish I had a copy of them. Good work on your part.--Ray
[Webmaster's Note: See VFP-62 Memorabilia "VFP-62 Song Book"]
- June 10: What a treat to find your web site. I was a VFP-63 �lifer�. I went there from boot camp in �66 and left as a PHC, 12 years later. Shortly after that, I picked up LDO and went right back to VFP-63 as the photo officer.
Your pictures bring back many great memories. I knew a ton of the guys in them. I was surprised to see Bobby Russell, whom I knew very well after he was already retired. I never knew he was in VFP-62, though. I tried to track him down a few years ago, to no avail.
Anyway, it�s a great site. Thanks for sharing the stories and photos.
Best Regards,
Don LeRoi VFP-63 1966-82
- Hi there,
Firstly, congrats on a really good site. I live in Malta and came across the pic of a pair of Cougars over Hal Far, Malta. The tail codes show AC and would really appreciate if you could identify which carrier was VFP 62 deployed to and perhaps the air wing too.
Great site again, and as a suggestion, it would be good to have a list of ship deployments of the squadron over the years.
All the best and Happy Christmas from tiny Malta, in the Med.
I am a native Maltese, very fond and a great admirer of the US Navy and organize the Malta airshow here in September. I also run an ANA squadron (Association of Naval Aviation) 50 and managed one trap on a C2 to USS Washington a couple of years ago. Nothing to get excited about but my respect towards the US military and especially the US Navy brings me close to the US embassy here and at this time we are trying to get a flat top to Malta which is a tricky situation because Malta has this �neutrality� clause and while we do get navy ships (just had USS Barry in Valletta last week) and the Kennedy and America 4 and 5 years ago the fact that the navy now only has nuclear carriers may get the �greens� all excited, something which the government here would rather avoid.
Joe Ciliberti
[Webmaster's Note: Joe found a picture of some photo Cougars (F9F-6P) flying over Malta on our "Squadron History" Page.]
[Webmaster's Note: These responses were received regarding the announcement of vfp62.com's third anniversary as a website.]
- Happy anniversary, Ken,
Congratulation on your website, you have accumulated a great amount of info about the Squadron. Great job.
The vf32.info site has reached full capacity and I need to delete some items to make room for anything new, but its a very reduced price for me.
Along the lines of Anniversaries, It was mentioned that in 2012 will be the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. A joint Crusader Squadron reunion? Take care..
KenW
vf32.info
- - - - -Thanks to you and Pete���may you have the energy to continue the journey�..and the time to enjoy the ride!! George Montgomery.
- Ken, nice job on the memorial for Jim Kirkland. I know it is very much appreciated by his family. Keep up the good work, you are a tribute to us old sailors in keeping the word going out there. I keep hoping to see someone else from the 42-60 Detachment on the Forrestal come forward and connect to the site. Your efforts are very much worthwhile..Mac Warnell
- Ken and Happy Birthday to the Squadron. Here's another contribution. I have just put up the start of a new website, www.ussfranklindroosevelt.com, which will be all about the FDR and her squadrons. A VFP-62 F8U is one of the rotating headers on the site. Please go have a look. --Larry Blumenthal
Ken the website looks great. I remember running into it while looking for a similar site on VFP-63. Never did find one.
I checked into VFP-63 in Nov �62 as a brand new First Class, I had left �B� School a Second Class and put on the First Class crow while driving cross-country. I made a West Pac cruise on the USS Coral Sea. We returned to the States the day they buried President Kennedy, Nov. 25th. 1963. I�ll never forget it.
Years later I completed �C� School with the NEC 8195 Photographic Systems Technician designator in 1970. Boy! What an eye opening experience that was. I lost several nights sleep during that tour. I found out just how little I knew about the RF-8.
I checked into VFP-63 a second time in April, 1970. I started out in charge of the Photo Line Division, that lasted about a year. When the squadron reorganized I got orders to Det. 5, Leading Chief. We were assigned to the, you guessed it, USS Coral Sea. I made two West Pac cruises; they were unique because, I went as the Maintenance Chief, actually the only Chief. The Original Maintenance Chief had a heart attack just as we were leaving the States. Need less to say; it was a very interesting cruise. I got to know RF-8 very well, and I loved every minute of it.
Once again Ken, thank you for putting so much time and effort into the site. It means a lot to this old sailor to see the Chance Vaught Reconnaissance Crusader receive such recognition. She was indeed a truly remarkable aircraft.
James A. Bremner
PHC USN(ret)
I am attaching a link [below] to photos showing the A-6 Intruder that will be marked as Adm Denton's aircraft and displayed at Battle-ship Memorial Park in Mobile, AL. Presently the aircraft is in Pensacola. It will soon be barged to Mobile. What is key in the photos so far is the young volunteers in the Naval Aviation Schools Command aboard NASP that have given of their time to work on the aircraft to help prepare it for fresh paint and VA-75 markings. This is a tribute both to the younger generation of "airdales" and to their command structure instructing them on their history and heritage from those who came before.
Today I had the honor to thank and shake the hands of the student/volunteers that have preformed around 430 man hours of prep work on the aircraft. LCDR Clay Hester and I had the opportunity to address the sailors on the sacrifices of Adm. Denton, Adm. Stockdale and the other POWs from the Vietnam era. I wish you could have seen their faces as we described the things they had to endure. I believe there will be a spike at the base library in books such as, "When Hell Was In Session", "In Love And War", and "Chained Eagle".
As time goes on I will continue to post photos showing the progress of the aircraft. You may wish to bookmark the Webshots site to follow developments. This aircraft will be a fine tribute to all the men of the Vietnam War, especially the Naval Aviators who flew the A-6, with a spotlight on Adm. Jeremiah Denton and the men of VA-75.
Blue skies,
Owen Miller
USS Alabama
[Webmaster's Note: Owen Miller was instrumental in getting the RF-8 (BuNo. 145645) restored as a VFP-62 aircraft and displayed at Battleship Park. See photos linked on our "We Love Crusaders" Page.]
Restoring the Intruder Photos at Battleship Park"
Hello, I am the Office manager at Cecil Pines the company that has taken over the enlisted section of homes on Cecil Field. We are interested in framing and hanging some historical pictures in our community center. I see you have quite a few that we might be interested in. Is it possible for me to get copies of some of the pictures on your site? How would I go about that? Thanks you for your help.
Christina Purdy
Cecil Pines / Office Manager
6008 Lake Cove Ave.
Jacksonville, Fl 32221
tel 904 771 8839 / fax 904 771 7409
www.cecilpines.org
Gentlemen,
I'm 58 years old. My earliest memory as a child is the smell of jet fuel. My father, LtCmdr. Joe Pline USN Ret. (deceased) served with VFP-62 in or around 1957. I still wear his squadron patch on my riding jacket (with his permission of course).
I still remember riding out to the base with my mother and brothers and sisters to meet the squadron when they returned from a 'cruise'. It was always a very exciting time for us. To stand next to those planes and smell the jet fuel is a powerful memory that I carry to this day (l!). You men were heros to us and we were proud of you all. I enlisted in the Navy myself in 1968 and served on USS Hyman DD-732 and USS Vermilion LKA-107.
I would very much appreciate hearing from anyone that served with my father and knew him during those early years. He was also flew for VF-42. I am attaching a picture of the jets in one of his squadrons. Please let me know if you can identify the squadron and the aircraft. Thank you very much.
Dale Pline
Use link below to view old and new stuff by me:
http://www.myspace.com/catpressedjeenz
[Webmaster's Note: Some responses to this email:]
Those aircraft are Grumman F11F-1s of VF-21 Machbusters from Oceana NAS, VA. We had VF-33 F11F-1s on USS Intrepid when I was in VFP-62 Det.33.
They lost one on a Caribbean cruise; ship made a hard turn, plane captain was out of cockpit going to chain it down. It jumped the chocks, he jumped back in to blow the brakes and they went over together. Never found him...
JJ [McKenna]
I was in VFP-62 in 1957-58. LT. Joseph E. Pline, 7245 Wonder Lane, with wife Ada and children,Sharon, Dale, Gary, and Marc, was listed on the Directory of Officers (VFP-62) 1 February 1958. I am sorry to say I cannot recall his face, but I do recall him flying in the Squadron at that time, and I very well may have flown with him.
The aircraft shown in the picture are F11F-1 of VF 21. In 1958 VF-21 was part of Air Group Eight on the Forrestal. The VFP-62 Detachment 42A-58 was part of that Group, made up of Detachment Skipper LCDR Leo Bohanick, LT. Bertie Homan, LT. Chuck O'Brien, LTJG. George Rodgers, LTJG. George Lawniczak, and LTJG Kropf (Photo Interp) on that brief cruise. As you know, once a VFP-62 pilot was carrier qualified and completed the Photo Training Syllabus, four pilots (with three aircraft) went in detachments to every "attack carrier" in the Atlantic Fleet. One might go out for a few weeks with one detachment and return home to Jacksonville for a few weeks or a few months; before going out again as part of a different detachment, on a different carrier. The result was, you could be in the Squadron and miss seeing one of your fellow members for months (for ever).
Although this information does not all have a direct connection with your Dad, I hope it is of some interest.
With kindest regards, George Rodgers
Created on ... January 27, 2007