USN Photo Recon, Lab & Photographic Units

[Franky]

VFP-61 Det Kilo USS Hornet 1958 and VFP-61 Det Charlie USS Shangri La 1958.

[Bearmon]

Siamundo and Franky, great patches thanks for adding

[Siamundo]

Great looking patches Franky! I haven't seen any of those before. Thanks for posting.

[Franky]

Many thanks Guys. One more patch , VFP-62 Detachment 45 USS Essex in 1958.

[Franky]

VC-61 Detachment Able USS Yorktown.

[Siamundo]

Those are another couple of great looking patches Franky. Here is one that hasn't been posted yet for VFP 62.

[Salvage Sailor]

VFP-206 USNR Light Photgraphic Squadron in service 1970 to 1987 flying RF-8G Crusaders

 

 

VFP-206 would be the last US Navy unit to operate the F-8 Crusader and was the last specialized photographic reconnaissance aircraft in Navy service. The last operational RF-8G #146860, was donated to the Smithsonian Institution on 30 March 1987, the day after VFP-206 was disestablished, it is now on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

 

[Siamundo]

A recent pickup from VFP-63. I have no idea when or upon which ships Detachment 5 may have been stationed though.

[Franky]

Hi Sean,

very nice found! The patch is from Vietnam War and Detachment 5 was part of CVW-15 from 1971-75 and CVW-6 1976-79 and 1979-80 part of CVW-8. About the Blue Tail Stripes I think its 1971-75 USS Coral Sea!

Maybe it will helps.

[Siamundo]

Thank you Franky. I did a little more investigating as this patch actually came together with a couple of other patches: VAQ-135, Detachment 3; and VA 22. All three squadrons were aboard the USS Coral as part of CVW-15 during her 1971 cruise so that might be where it's from. Thanks for the insight about the blue and white stripes. I believed they had some significance, but I could not figure it out.

[Salvage Sailor]

US Naval Station Adak Alaska Photo Lab

"Birthplace of the Winds", the candle is a nice design touch

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

RVAH-64 EAGLE EYES - Reconnaissance Attack Heavy Squadron Fourteen, in service 1968 to 1974

 

 

RVAH-14 was the second squadron specifically formed to operate the RA-5C Vigilante and was most short-lived of any RVAH squadron. RVAH-14 was initially established on 1 February 1968 at NAS Sanford, Florida in order to accommodate the impending commissioning of the USS John F. Kennedy, the latter of which was scheduled for 7 September 1968. Throughout its existence, RVAH-14 concentrated on Cold War operations, primarily in support of the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, and was the only frontline RVAH squadron not to see action during the Vietnam War. The squadron's emblem was created by cartoonist Roy Crane, the creator of the Buz Sawyer comic strip. RVAH-14 was selected to be the first RVAH squadron to inactivate. As a result, on 1 May 1974, before it could be transferred with the other RVAH squadrons to NAS Key West, RVAH-14 was disestablished at NAS Albany, Georgia

 

[Salvage Sailor]

USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) Combat Camera Crew

 

 

[Salvage Sailor]

VMCJ-1 GOLDEN HAWKS PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE - USS MIDWAY (CV-41)

Received from a career USMC pilot who served on the Midway

 

 

From the USS MIDWAY website:

 

Brig Gen Bloomer regarding Marine Corps Aviation Reconnaissance historical information and recollections of his tour as the last CO of VMCJ-1 http://cv41.org/vmcj-1.html

 

Art Bloomer, Brig Gen USMC ret. Photos: http://www.cv41.org/photos/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=12583

 

[Siamundo]

A nice big Crusader patch for VCP-61. Measures about 11.5" from nose to tail. SS was the tail code for this squadron.

[firefighter]

A nice big Crusader patch for VCP-61. Measures about 11.5" from nose to tail. SS was the tail code for this squadron.

That is very cool. There’s a thread on large jacket patches, you should add it.

[Salvage Sailor]

Fleet Imaging Center Pacific - Cold War era

They were at Barbers Point on Oahu with detachments in Yokosuka, Subic Bay, etc.

 

 

Predecessor command

 

FICPAC PI

Fleet Intelligence Center, Pacific Facility, Subic Bay

 

[TheCrustyBosun]

Here’s one from Ike. 

[Salvage Sailor]

RVAH-11 'CHECKERTAILS'

Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron Eleven

Disestablished in 1975

 

 

[collwrld]

I am writing a book on Cold War steins and I am trying to research a stein named to "Dave"
Who served with VJ-62 or VAP-62 Detachment Charlie in the NELM area from May to Oct 1956.
If you can help, please contact me at [email protected] or give me a call @ 818 /720-1100
Thank you in advance
Mario Pancino

[Salvage Sailor]

Very nice stein Mario,

 

For those who are curious, the NELM acronym means US Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (a defunct Post War/Cold War command)

 

Source:  

A Century of U.S. Naval Intelligence

By Wyman H. Packard

 

 

[Bearmon]

Fleet Air Photo Lab Atsugi Japanese manufacture a little different than the other on posted

[busternfo]

Nice patch Bearmon.  What is the size please?

 

Dennie

[Bearmon]

On 8/16/2023 at 8:31 PM, busternfo said:

Nice patch Bearmon.  What is the size please?

 

Dennie

5 inches top to bottom 

[busternfo]

Thanks Bearmon.  By the way, is there any policy regarding saving photos of items shown on the forum. other than those marked as copyrighted?  Thanks,

 

Dennie