Vietnam war era VFP-63 Det 43 patch

[Patchcollector]

Here is a VFP-63 Det 43 patch from my collection.This unit flew the F-8J Crusaders in the Photo Reconnaissance role over Vietnam,Laos,Cambodia,and maybe even China(?) It is a large patch,I'm not sure where it was made.I love the kitty with the protruding eyes design!

Surprisingly,I could not find much info for the Unit on the web,there was a decent VFP-62 site,but not a dedicated VFP-63 site.

Here is a brief history of the unit:

 

The Light Photographic Squadron 63 was commissioned on January 20, 1949 as the Composite Squadron 61, VC-61. It was redesignated to the Fighter Photographic Squadron 61, VFP-61, on July 2, 1956, the Composite Photographic Squadron 63, VCP-63, on July 1, 1959, and finally to VFP-63 on July 1, 1961.

The squadron sent its detachments to the Carrier Air Wings in the Pacific fleet for reconnaissance missions. These detachments had the alphabetic detachment codes first and then had the codes identical with their assigned CVA’s hull number.

 

 

 

An interesting factoid about the unit:Lt Chuck Klusmann of VFP-63, was the first jet shot down and ejection of the air war in SE Asia.

Onus Probandi means in Latin:Burden of proof

 

Here is a link regarding his story:

Lt. Klusmanns' plane downing in Laos

 

A link to a PDF called "The Price of Freedom", Lt Chuck Klusmanns' recounting of his ordeal.

The Price of Freedom

 

Another link I found:

VFP-63 Info

[Patchcollector]

Back view

[Patchcollector]

Some Crusader pics I found online from VFP-63

[Patchcollector]

Another pic

[Patchcollector]

Here are some pics I found of wreckage from a Crusader found in China,hmmm,verrry interesting!

[Patchcollector]

Wreckage pic #3

[Patchcollector]

More

[Patchcollector]

These guys did a very dangerous job,flying low level photo recon missions over S.E Asia.Many planes were lost.

My hat goes off to the brave crews of VFP-63!

[Patchcollector]

Deployment info:

 

 

VFP-63 DEPLOYMENTS - MAJOR EVENTS

Month Year to Month Year Deployment / Event

APR 1963 - NOV 1963 West Pac

MAY 1963 - - - Shellback Initiation - 8 MAY 1963 - Indian Ocean

OCT 1963 - JUL 1964 West Pac-Viet Nam

FEB 1965 - NOV 1965 West Pac-Viet Nam

APR 1965 - JAN 1966 West Pac-Viet Nam

MAY 1966 - NOV 1966 West Pac-Viet Nam

FEB 1967 - AUG 1967 West Pac-Viet Nam

JUL 1967 - APR 1968 West Pac-Viet Nam

APR 1969 - NOV 1969 West Pac-Viet Nam

JAN 1970 - JUL 1970 Mediterranean

MAY 1970 - DEC 1970 West Pac-Viet Nam

OCT 1970 - JUN 1971 West Pac

MAY 1971 - NOV 1971 West Pac-Viet Nam

MAR 1973 - JUN 1973 West Pac-Viet Nam

JUN 1975 - JAN 1976 West Pac

JAN 1977 - AUG 1977 Mediterranean

JUN 1979 - MAY 1980 Mediterranean-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf

JAN 1980 - - - Shellback Initiation - 9 JAN 1980 - Atlantic Ocean

JAN 1980 - - - Shellback Initiation - 30 JAN 1980 - Pacific Ocean

[Patchcollector]

The Crusader was a large plane,see the man in the pic for scale,he is right behind the rear wheel!

[Patchcollector]

Another pic I found,this appears to be the units' main insignia

[Patchcollector]

I found this deployment list from the cruise that occurred at the time that the patch was made.

 

 

USS CORAL SEA

 

WESTPAC CVW-15 7/26/67 - 4/6/68

Squadron Name Markings Aircraft

VF-151 Vigilantes NL 1XX F-4B

VF-161 Chargers NL 2XX F4-B

VA-153 Blue Tail Flies NL 3XX A4-C

VA-25 Fist of the Fleet NL 4XX A-1H/J

VA-155 Silver Foxes NL 5XX A-4E

VAH-2 DET 43 Royal Rampants ZA 6XX KA-3B

VAW-13 Zappers VR-7XX EA-1F

VFP-63 DET 43 Eyes of the Fleet NL 71X RF-8G

VAW-116 Sun Kings NL 70X E-2A

HC-1 DET 43 Pacific Fleet Angels UP XX UH-2A

[Franky]

Very nice patch! I love VC/VFP Det. patches.

[Patchcollector]

Thanks Franky!If you have some to post,please do!And if you have any info about this unit to add to this thread,I would love to read about it!

[Patchcollector]

Here's another interesting pic I found,there are three different types of aircraft in this view!

[Patchcollector]

Here's a pic I found showing the cameras available for the aircraft.

[Patchcollector]

I just found this on the web,and if there were'nt a photo for proof,I would never believe it! :w00t:

While doing a search for Crusaders on the web,I happened upon an article describing how a

Crusader pilot took off,flew,and landed safely with the wings folded!!!

I did some more searches,and found that this has happened a number of times!

Man,the Crusader is a hardy airplane!

Here's the story and the pic.

Crusader flying with wings folded site

[Patchcollector]

Found this nice pic of a Crusader ejection

[Patchcollector]

Another member of this forum,Maverickson,has graciously allowed me to post a pic of one of his awesome patches,here is the VFP-63 patch.Thanks so much Dave!

[Patchcollector]

Here's a nice pic of a VFP-63 RF-8G

[Patchcollector]

A cool Crusader pic I found

[Patchcollector]

Another awesome Crusader pic I found

[Patchcollector]

I found a few more interesting Crusader pics online,I love the paint job with the teeth.

[Patchcollector]

Here's another cool pic of a NASA modified Crusader to conduct research and experiments with:

[9641]

6-12-2012

I know of the patch you have. my dad was the DET 43 officer in charge, on CVA 43 Coral sea in 1967-1968 cruise.

The patch was made for that DET 43 it is a rare patch about 10 made.The det had 4 RF-8G Crusaders was a Photo Bird.The Blue Kitty on the patch was called The BLUE MANX The eyes of the fleet. was on the top right side of the tail.

My dad was shot down and was a POW did not come home. I have a photo of plane.

Not sure how to put in photo do you have email i will it send to you.

James