VFP-63

Operational history

Korean War

Vietnam

• 17 October 1963 – 20 July 1964 Detachment C. On 6 June 1964 RF-8A was shot down by anti-aircraft 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 was hit by AAA over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued. On 8 September RF-8A crashed 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 was hit by AAA fire over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued. On 1 June RF-8A was 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 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. On 8 September RF-8A was 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 was 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 was lost to AAA, the pilot ejected and was rescued.
• 10 November 1965 – 1 August 1966 Detachment L USS Hancock. On 9 April RF-8A was hit by AAA fire, the pilot LTJG Thomas Walster ejected but drowned before SAR forces arrived. On 5 May RF-8A was 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 was 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 was 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 was 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 was 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 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.
• 27 January-10 October 1968 Detachment 31 USS Bon Homme Richard. On 22 May RF-8G was 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 was 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 crashed 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 was 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 was 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 collapsed 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 collided 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 was 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 was 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

  1970's to Disestablishment

Home port assignments

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