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VFP-62/63 VIETNAM OPERATIONS

(Including VFP-63)
Updated July 14, 2022




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    Updated 3/9/18






    New book on VMCJ-1 (Marines), VFP-62 and VFP-63 Vietnam combat operations.

    Details below.

    VFP-62 made one combat detachment (1966-67) to Vietnam. Its story is told in Chapter 5. VFP-63 sent detachments for the entirety of the war.



    Overview by Kenneth V. Jack, author


    A comprehensive, illustrated history of photo recon
    launched by the U.S. Navy over Vietnam, 1964-72.

    Photo reconnaissance played a significant role during the Cold War, however it remained unknown to the public for many years because its product and methods remained classified for security purposes. While the U-2 gets most of the credit during the Cold War, low-level photo reconnaissance played an equally important role and was essential to target selection and bomb damage assessment during the Vietnam War. Moreover the contribution of naval aviation photo reconnaissance to the bombing effort in Vietnam is largely an untold story. This book highlights the role of the unarmed supersonic RF-8A/G photo-Crusader throughout the war, and also the part played by its F-8 and F-4 escort fighters.

    Veteran and historian Kenneth Jack pieces together the chronological history of photo recon in the Vietnam War between 1964 and 1972, describing all types of missions undertaken, including several Crusader vs. MiG dogfights and multiple RF-8 shootdowns with their associated, dramatic rescues. The narrative focuses on Navy Photo Squadron VFP-63, but also dedicates chapters to VFP-62 and Marine VMCJ-1. Clandestine missions conducted over Laos began 1964, becoming a congressionally authorized war after the Tonkin Gulf incident in August 1964. VFP-63 played a role in that incident and thereafter sent detachments to Navy carriers for the remainder of the war. By war's end, they had lost 30 aircraft with 10 pilots killed, six POWs, and 14 rescued. The historical narrative is brought to life through vivid first-hand details of missions over intensely defended targets in Laos and North Vietnam. While most books on the Vietnam air war focus on fighter and bombing action, this book provides fresh insight into the air war through its focus on photo reconnaissance and coverage of both versions of the Crusader.



    See "Eyes of the Fleet Over Vietnam" page on Facebook


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  • Click to enlarge


    To ORDER BOOK: contact Webmaster this page OR

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  • Book Review

    EYES OF THE FLEET OVER VIETNAM:
    RF-8 Crusader Combat Photo Reconnaissance Missions
    By Kenneth V. Jack
    Casemate Publishers, 2021. 230 pages.
    ISBN: 978-1-63624-074-9

    Flying over North Vietnam during the U.S. air war there was dangerous enough for armed fighters and attack aircraft, but even more so for the Navy and Marine Corps photo-reconnaissance pilots who flew the unarmed RF-8 Crusader aircraft through the world's densest anti-aircraft defenses to collect images of potential targets and assess the battle damage after air strikes.

    The author, a former Navy photographer's mate, chronicles the history of and the missions flown by three squadrons over Vietnam.

    Each squadron pilot who lost his life on these missions is memorialized in the text. The author, whose photo research was excellent, also covers the camera technology used by the Crusader and the three other Navy and Marine Corps photo-reconnaissance jets used in the war. ---Sea Power--February-March

    Click to see a 15 minute photo video of the book by a sample of its photos:

    CLICK Photo Video ---Turn on speakers.



VFP-62 Vietnam War Detachment
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) Cruise Map


 

    Taken from the Operation Electronics Div TACAN space aboard FDR CVA-42: VFP-62 operations in Vietnam 1966-67. This aircraft was lost with Lt j.g. Norm Bundy on Sept. 6, 1966. See ** for more information.
    Photo Jim Macino ETR2 (click photo to enlarge)

    VFP-62 and the Vietnam War


    VFP-62 made one detatchment aboard the U.S.S. Roosevelt to Vietnam (June 21, 1966 to February 21, 1967). The pilots were John Baals (O-in-C), Norm Green (pilot of the damaged plane below), Ed Andrews. R. W. Deputy, and Norm Bundy (Killed in Action - see "In Memoriam").



    **(11/13/14) [Webmaster: The following from Cdr. Norm Green gives more information on the above photo.] "Close inspection of the photo reveals that the aircraft has flown 25 combat missions when the picture was taken; it was pretty busy since we had only flown missions on about 23 days at that point. Using Russian math and some guesswork I would guess that the picture was taken on perhaps the 4th or the 5th of Sept, I flew that aircraft both Days. At first I thought that it might have been the 6th of Sept, the day Norm Bundy crashed in that aircraft; but I doubt that because of the light ripples in the water. There was no wind on the 6th of Sept, the Gulf of Tonkin was as smooth as glass. I remember that the cat officers could only give us 5-6 knots above stall speed that day. The Rosy had all boilers on line and was pulling her guts out. Amazing, sometimes I struggle to remember my street number but remember things from 48 years ago.

  • Differring from other detachments, they had 2 PI's and 4 aircraft. They operated with 3 aircraft aboard the ship and rotated one through Cubi Point where they had 3 or 4 of the troops based to work on any maintence problems and keep a couple of steps ahead of the corrosion control game.


    • The following are 2 pages from the Viet Nam cruise book on the FDR with Air Wing One "AB". VF-32 was just assigned with that air group to go to Viet Nam and was with the same air group when I was assigned with the squadron."




    Above photos courtesy Ken Walling, webmaster www.vf32.info. "I was going to look on your CMC page, but clicked the Viet Nam site when I noticed a name I recognized, Ed "Hunyak" Andrews. Ed Andrews was our Maintance Officer with the Tomcats and I still have contact with him and we try to go out for dinner if I'm in Virginia Beach area.



    The Crusader at War

    The plane in the following photos was eventually lost off the Kitty Hawk in August of 1980. It was with either VFP-306 or VFP-63.


    click to enlarge

    Air-to-air photo heading back to the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42). According to (then Lt.) Cdr. Norm Green pilot of the RF-8G, with typical fighter pilot humor: "the result of attempting to occupy same space as a well aimed 57mm round." Photo: Norm Green and does not enlarge.

    The story behind the above photo: "One interesting note about the airborne shot of the damage--the picture was shot in 1966 by the RIO in the back seat of my F4B escort, I don't remember who it was. The pilot was Lt Marv Baker of VF-32; I spoke to him at a recent Crusader reunion and he could not remember who the RIO was. We do know that he used a very sophisticated camera known as a Kodak Instamatic; the one with the little drop-in cartridges. I don't think the Roosevelt was able to process the film so he had them developed during our next in-port visit. A few weeks later he gave me a couple of the prints; they were probably about 3" X 4". The prints were eventually lost among hundreds of other 60's era snapshots, survived many moves and years of less than desireable storage conditions in attics, basements and closets. They resurfaced about 4 years ago somewhat the worse from age, well over 40 years after their birth. I scanned them into the computer, did the best I could to clean them up and improve the color and -VOILA- the wonders of science and computers!" Best regards, Norm Green

    click to enlarge

    Damaged wing by North Vietnamese 57mm shell during a reconnaissance run. It is a testament to the ruggedness of the RF-8G Crusader and skill of the pilot (then Lt) Norm Green).
    Click to enlarge -- Photo courtesy: A.W.Scarborough, PHC (Ret)



    click to enlarge

    Photo Courtesy: Jim Macino (former ETR2 USS Franklin D. Roosevelt -- webmaster ussfranklindroosevelt.com)


    Video of the above damaged RF-8G--Courtesy of Larry Blumenthal

    (1/25/13)

    Click to see video: VFP-62 RF-8G battle damage video


  • (10/10/14)

    Surface-to-Air Missile (SA-2) Detonation off wing of VFP-62 RF-8G

    Photo Contribution: Cdr. Norm Green, VFP-62 pilot



    The story behind the photo: The photo is an SA-2 detonation that missed Ensign Ed Andrews [see "In Memoriam"] and me after some hard maneuvering.

    We were running along a karst ridge northwest of Thanh Hoa, ECM [electronic countermeasures] lights up and about 15 miles at our 9:00 o'clock an SA-2 [Russian surface-to-air missile] lifts, climbs to 5K, tilts over and tracks us.

    We push the power up and turn into the SAM. Waiting for the appropriate time to make our break, he transmits-"Uh lead, check our 3 o'clock"; another SA-2 also has us boresighted. Afterburner now, hard right break, go for the deck, we successfully evade both.

    In the excitement, Ed loses me and is gripping the power lever so hard that for the next 30-40 seconds the only thing that can be heard over the radio is his deep, raspy breathing [he jammed the transmit button]; it sounds like he has been hit. But all is well---we were just glad to be still flying---and we make it back to mother Rosie [USS Roosevelt CVA-42].--Cdr. Norm Green

    SYNOPSIS: The Chance Vought F8 "Crusader" saw action early in U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia. Its fighter models participated both in the first Gulf of Tonkin reprisal in August 1964 and in the myriad attacks against North Vietnam during Operation Rolling Thunder. The Crusader was used exclusively by the Navy and Marine air wings (although there is one U.S. Air Force pilot reported shot down in an F8) and represented half or more of the carrier fighters in the Gulf of Tonkin during the first four years of the war. The aircraft was credited with nearly 53% of MiG kills in Vietnam.

    The most frequently used fighter versions of the Crusader in Vietnam were the C, D, and E models although the H and J were also used. The Charlie carried only Sidewinders on fuselage racks, and were assigned such missions as CAP (Combat Air Patrol), flying at higher altitudes. The Echo model had a heavier reinforced wing able to carry extra Sidewinders or bombs, and were used to attack ground targets, giving it increased vulnerability. The Echo version launched with less fuel, to accommodate the larger bomb store, and frequently arrived back at ship low on fuel. The RF-8A models were equipped for photo reconnaissance. The RF-G were also photographic versions, but with additional cameras and navigational equipment.--(Contributed by former Navy LT Hank Miller, VA-152 Spad driver USS Oriskany 1966-67-68.)

    The combat attrition rate of the Crusader was comparable to similar fighters.
    • Between 1964 to 1972, eighty-three Crusaders were either lost or destroyed by enemy fire. Another 109 required major rebuilding.

    • 145 Crusader pilots were recovered; 57 were not. Twenty of these pilots were captured and released. The other 43 remained missing at the end of the war.

    • According to Chris Hobson's "Vietnam Air Losses": "Total number of Navy RF-8 (photo Crusader) aircraft lost: 31. Fatalities: 12. POW's: 6. Aircraft lost by year: 1964: 2. 1965: 8. 1966: 7. 1967: 3. 1968: 4. 1969: 2. 1970: 1. 1971: 0. 1972: 4. Marine RF8 loss (1965): 1. --Contributed by Mofak

    • VFP-63 pilot, Scott Ruby, adds: "The so-called official record lists 20 RF-8's as lost to combat. Plaques for 12 RF-8 drivers that did not return are on display at the Miramar golf course. However, that number is in some degree of debate. Another list I had access to lists 32 RF-8's as lost in the conflict."

    • VFP-62's Lt.jg Norm Bundy was lost on Sept. 6, 1966 (More information below and "In Memoriam."


    Capt. Jerry Coffee, Prisoner of War
    (Feb. 3, 1966 to Feb. 12, 1973)

    Cdr. Coffee and his RIO (Lt. Robert Hanson) in a RVAH-13 RA-5C photo Vigilante
    were hit by AAA over North Vietnam

    [(3/5/13) Webmaster's Note: Capt. Jerry Coffee was a Lieutenant when I arrived at VFP-62 in April 1960. On October 23, 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he made one of the first six low-level reconnaissance missions over Cuban missile sites. He wrote a story about his mission on October 25, finding the first evidence of tactical nuclear weapons in Cuba (See it on our "Cuban Missile Crisis" page: The Photos That Averted World War III.) For more information on his shoot-down, Click on: Event Report] Click to see a video of: Capt. Coffee's Motivational Speech YouTube video on his motivational speech. He was the featured speaker at a convention I attended in Hawaii years ago it was very inspiring. --Pete Wallace


    VFP-63 and the Vietnam War



    These VFP-63 RF-8G's had a special paint job to celebrate the country's 200th anniversary. Photo Courtesy - CDR Cecil Ogles

    Our sister squadron, VFP-63 the west-coast photo squadron, had the major burden of the Vietnam War. As they lost planes, VFP-62 was used for plane replacements, which eventually led to its dis-establishment in 1968.



  • Click this link to get (.pdf file) a first-hand account of the first jet (VFP-63 RF-8G) shot down in the war.
    RF-8 pilot Chuck Klusmann's rivoting account of his shoot down, capture, and escape.



  • Rear fuselage of a photo Crusader with "VFP-6" showing:-F8U-1P (RF-8) Wreckage in China - It is conceivable that wreckage of photo Cruaders were brought to China from Vietnam for intelligence gathering. Click to see the photos and text from the photographer Howard Shen.



  • (update 1/13/16)) Click to read: WAR STORIES--Photo Missions and Rescues Over Vietnam -Accounts of the RF-8 in war.



    EXTERNAL Links: to Vietnam War Sites for more Information

  • (9/9/14) Vietnam War Casualties on the Vietnam Virtual Wall---Selections can be made state-by-state, photographs, units and more.---Contributed by Greg Engler & Adam Miklovis

    I hope that everyone who receives this appreciates what those who served in Vietnam sacrificed for our country.

    The link provides a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war with the names, bio's and other information on our lost heroes. Those who remember that timeframe, or perhaps lost friends or family can look them up on this site.


  • Texas Tech Univ's Vietnam Center Best comprehensive online research library of Vietnam material in the world.



  • [Webmaster's Note: This huge website is the creation of Tom Pilsch, former Air Force Forward Air Controller (FAC). You will find an extensive history of the Vietnam War.]
    Click here: Best search list ever compiled about the Vietnam War.

    (3/25/13)Gentlemen,
    While surfing the Web today, I came across your great site and especially appreciated your recognition of my Vietnam War Websources* page as "Best search list ever compiled about the Vietnam War." I very much appreciate the honor.

    I really enjoyed your site. I have been a fan of the Crusader since it first flew -- a beautiful airplane -- and your stories and photos were great.

    I have added two links to your site, one on the saga of LT Klusmann and the other to your war stories. In doing this I realized my Air Force bias had unintentionally shown through -- I have little on the page about naval air ops in SEA. I have begun to rectify that. This is embarrassing since one of my all-time favorite war flix is "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" since it first came out!

    To you and all of your members: thank you for your service and for your efforts to preserve the history of what we did in Southeast Asia, and

    Welcome Home!
    Tom Pilsch Trail 32, Hue '68-'69
    [Click to see: Tom's Home Page--What does a FAC protect himself with? That and more.]




  • EXTERNAL Records of Vietnam War Information on the Marine Corps



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