Photographic Reconnaissance Squadrons Light  62

 "Hawkeyes"

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History 

3. January 1949 VC-62 Established at NAS Norfolk VA
2. July 1956 VC-62 redesignated VFP-62
5. January 1968 VFP-62 Disestablished at NAS Cecil Field FL

Tailcodes 

1948 - 1950 TL
1950 - 1956 PL
1956 - 1968 GA
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Planes:
 

 

 

1948 - 1953
F4U-5P
 
 

 

 

1948 - 1953
F8F-2P
 

 

 

1951 - 1958
F2H-2P
 

 

 

1953 - 1956
F9F-6P
 

 

 

1956 - 1960
F9F-8P
 

 

 

1957 - 1968
F8U-1P (RF-8A)
 
 

 

 

1966 - 1968
RF-8G
   
VFP-62 Deployments 
VC-62
12. September 1949 - 22. November 1949 CV-47 USS Philippine Sea CVG-1 Det. F6F-5P TL 00
6. September 1949 - 26. January 1950 CV-32 USS Leyte CVG-7 Det. ? TL 00
6. January 1950 - 23. May 1950 CVB-41 USS Midway CVG-4 Det.  ? TL 00
2. May 1950 - 25. August 1950 CV-32 USS Leyte CVG-3 Det.  ? TL 00
10. July 1950 - 10. November 1950 CVB-41 USS Midway CVG-4 Det. ? TL 00
6. September 1950 - 3. February 1951 CV-32 USS Leyte CVG-3 Det. 3 F4U-5P TL 00
10. Janaury 1951 - 17. May 1951 CVB-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-6 Det.  ? TL 00
16. January 1951 - 20. July 1951 CV-36 USS Antietam CVG-8 Det.  ? TL 00
20. March 1951 - 6. October 1951 CVB-43 USS Coral Sea CVG-1 Det. 6 F8F-2P TL 00
15. May 1951 - 4. October 1951 CV-34 USS Oriskany CVG-4 Det. 8 F8F-2P PL 00
22. May 1951 - 10. July 1951 CVB-41 USS Midway CVG-3 Det. 5 F2H-2P PL 00
3.  September 1951 - 4. February 1952 CVB-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-17 Det. 7 F2H-2P PL 00
3. September 1951 - 21. December 1951 CV-32 USS Leyte CVG-3 Det. 3 F8F-2P PL 00
28. November 1951 - 11. June 1952 CV-40 USS Tarawa CVG-8 Det. 32 F2H-2P PL 00
9. Janaury 1952 - 5. May 1952 CVB-41 USS Midway CVG-6 Det. 5 F2H-2P PL 900
2. March 1952 - 7. April 1952 CVB-43 USS Coral Sea CVG-4 Det. 6 F2H-2P PL 00
19. April 1952 - 12. October 1952 CVB-43 USS Coral Sea CVG-4 Det. 6 F2H-2P PL 00
24. May 1952 - 11. October 1952 CV-18 USS Wasp CVG-1 Det. 38 F2H-2P PL 00
23. June 1952 - 4. August 1952 CVB-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-17 Det. 7 F2H-2P PL 00
26. August 1952 - 8. October 1952 CVB-41 USS Midway CVG-6 Det. 5 F2H-2P PL 900
26. August 1952 - 19. December 1952 CVB-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-17 Det. 7 F2H-2P PL 00
29. August 1952 - 4. February 1953 CV-32 USS Leyte CVG-3 Det. 3 F2H-2P PL 00
1. December 1952 - 19. May 1953 CVB-41 USS Midway CVG-6 Det. 5 F2H-2P PL 900
7. January 1953 - 3. July 1953 CVA-40 USS Tarawa CVG-10 Det. 32 F2H-2P PL 900
26. April 1953 - 21. October 1953 CVB-43 USS Coral Sea CVG-8 Det. 6 F2H-2P E 910
26. April 1953 - 4. December 1953 CVA-39 USS Lake Champlain CVG-4 Det. 44 F2H-2P F 900
11. June 1953 - 3. December 1953 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-1 Det. 7 F2H-2P T 900
27. July 1953 - 15. August 1953 CVA-20 USS Bennington CVG-7 Det. 41 F2H-2P PL 900
17. August 1953 - 4. September 1953 CVA-15 USS Randolph CVG-10 Det. 53 F2H-2P PL 900
16. September 1953 - 1. May 1954 CVA-18 USS Wasp CVG-17 Det. 38 F2H-2P R 900
16. September 1953 - 21. February 1954 CVA-20 USS Bennington CVG-7 Det. 41 F2H-2P PL 900
12. November 1953 - 19. August 1954 CVA-40 USS Tarawa CVG-3 Det. 32 F2H-2P PL 900
4. January 1954 - 4. August 1954 CVB-41 USS Midway CVG-6 Det. 35 F2H-2P PL 900
6. January 1954 - 1. March 1954 CVA-12 USS Hornet ATG-181 Det. 57 F2H-2P PL 900
1. March 1954 - 21. April 1954 CVA-45 USS Valley Forge - Det.52 F9F-6P PL 900
28. March 1954 - 5. June 1954 CVA-43 USS Coral Sea CVG-10 Det. 31 F2H-2P PL 900
7. July 1954 - 20. December 1954 CVA-43 USS Coral Sea CVG-10 Det. 31 F2H-2P PL 900
September 1954 - November 1954 CVA-11 USS Intrepid ATG-201 Det. ? PL 900
28. September 1954 - 22. April 1955 CVA-39 USS Lake Champlain CVG-8 Det. 34 F2H-2P E 900
30. November 1954 - 18. June 1955 CVA-15 USS Randolph ATG-181 Det. 36 F2H-2P PL 900
27. December 1954 - 14. July 1955 CVA-41 USS Midway CVG-1 Det. 35 F2H-2P PL 00
5. April 1955 - 29. September 1955 CVB-43 USS Coral Sea CVG-17 Det. 31 F2H-2P PL 900
28. May 1955 - 22. November 1955 CVA-11 USS Intrepid CVG-4 Det. 33 F2H-2P PL 900
4. May 1955 - 10. December 1955 CVA-12 USS Hornet CVG-7 Det. 32 F9F-6P PL 900
9. October 1955 - 30. April 1955 CVA-39 USS Lake Champlain CVG-6 Det. 34 F2H-2P PL 900
31. Oktober 1955 - 16. April 1956 CVA-20 USS Bennington ATG-201 Det. 30 F9F-6P PL 50
4. November 1955 - 1. August 1956 CVA-14 USS Ticonderoga CVG-3 Det. 39 F2H-2P PL 900
12. March 1956 - 5. September 1956  CVA-11 USS Intrepid CVG-8 Det. 33 F2H-2P PL 00
24. January 1956 - 31. March 1956 CVA-59 USS Forrestal ATG-181 Det. 42 F2H-2P PL 900
VFP-62
14. July 1956 - 19. February 1957 CVA-15 USS Randolph ATG-202 Det. 36 F9F-8P PL 50
9. August 1956 - 25. October 1956 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-17 Det. 37 ? PL 900
13. August 1956 - 11. February 1957 CVA-43 USS Coral Sea CVG-10 Det. 31 F2H-2P PL 900
15. October 1956 - 22. May 1957 CVA-20 USS Bennington ATG-181 Det. 30 F9F-8P PL 40
7. November 1956 - 12. December 1956 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVG-1 Det. 42 F2H-2P T 900
7. November 1956 - 9. December 1956 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-17 Det. 37 F9F-8P PL 930
19. November 1956 - 12. December 1956 CVA-39 USS Lake Champlain ATG-182 Det. 34 F2H-2P PL 900
15. January 1957 - 22. July 1957 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVG-1 Det. 42 F2H-2P T 900
21. January 1957 - 27. July 1957 CVA-39 USS Lake Champlain ATG-182 Det. 34 F9F-8P PL 30
1. July 1957 - 24. February 1958 CVA-15 USS Randolph CVG-4 Det. 43 F9F-8P GA 32
12. July 1957 - 5. March 1958 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-17 Det. 37 F9F-8P PL 930
16. August 1957 - 21. October 1957 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVG-1 Det. 42 F2H-2P AL 900
3. September 1957 - 22. October 1957 CVA-11 USS Intrepid CVG-6 Det. 33 F9F-8P GA 900
3. September 1957 - 22. October 1957 CVA-60 USS Saratoga CVG-7 Det. 43 F2H-2P GA 900
1. February 1958 - 1. October 1958 CVA-60 USS Saratoga CVG-3 Det. 43 F9F-8P AC 960
2. February 1958 - 17. November 1958 CVA-9 USS Essex ATG-201 Det. 45 F9F-8P AP 900
9. June 1958- 8. August 1958 CVA-11 USS Intrepid ATG-181 Det. 33 F9F-8P GA 900
11. July 1958 - 17. August 1958 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVG-10 Det. 42 F8U-1P AK 900
2. September 1958 - 12. March 1959 CVA-15 USS Randolph CVG-7 Det. 36 F9F-8P AG 900
2. September 1958 - 12. March 1959 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVG-10 Det. 42 F8U-1P AK 900
13. February 1959 - 1. September 1959 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-1 Det. 37 F8U-1P  AB 910
13. February 1959 - 30. August 1959 CVA-11 USS Intrepid CVG-6 Det. 33 F9F-8P AF 900
22. April 1959 - 30. June 1959 CVA-62 USS Independence  CVG-7 Det. 41 F8U-1P GA 900
7. August 1959 - 26. February 1960 CVA-9 USS Essex CVG-10 Det. 45 F9F-8P AK 970
14. August 1959 - 26. February 1960 CVA-60 USS Saratoga CVG-3 Det. 43 F8U-1P AC 900
28. January 1960 - 24. August 1960 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-1 Det. 37 F8U-1P  AB 900
28. January 1960 - 31. August 1960 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVG-8 Det. 42 F8U-1P AJ 900
1. June 1960 - 18. July 1960 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVG-10 Det. 44 F8U-1P GA 900
4. August 1960 - 17. February 1961 CVA-11 USS Intrepid CVG-6 Det. 33 F8U-1P GA 900
4. August 1960 - 3. March 1961 CVA-62 USS Independence  CVG-7 Det. 41 F8U-1P AG 900
22. August 1960 - 26. February 1961 CVA-60 USS Saratoga CVG-3 Det. 43 F8U-1P AC 900
6. September 1960 - 20. October 1960 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVG-10 Det. 44 F8U-1P GA 900
14. November 1960 - 27. November 1960 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVG-10 Det. 44 F8U-1P GA 900
2. February 1961 - 15. May 1961 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVG-10 Det. 44 F8U-1P GA 900
9. February 1961 - 25. August 1961 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVG-8 Det. 42 F8U-1P AJ 900
15. February 1961 - 28. August 1961 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-1 Det. 37 F8U-1P  AB 900
3. August 1961 - 1. March 1962 CVA-11 USS Intrepid CVG-6 Det. 33 F8U-1P GA 900
4. August 1961 - 19. December 1961 CVA-62 USS Independence CVG-7 Det. 41 F8U-1P AG 900
19. November 1961 - 30. November 1961 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-1 Det. 37 F8U-1P  AB 900
28. November 1961 - 11. May 1962 CVA-60 USS Saratoga CVG-3 Det. 43 F8U-1P AC 900
5. February 1962 - 8 April 1962 CVAN-65 USS Enterprise CVG-1 Det. 60 F8U-1P  GA 900
7. February 1962 - 28. August 1962 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVG-10 Det. 38 F8U-1P  GA 900
3. March 1962 - 6. May 1962 CVA-64 USS Constellation CVG-13 Det. 64 F8U-1P  GA 900
19. April 1962 - 27. August 1962 CVA-62 USS Independence  CVG-7 Det. 41 F8U-1P AG 900
3. August 1962 - 11. October 1962 CVAN-65 USS Enterprise CVG-6 Det. 65 F8U-1P AF 900
3. August 1962 - 2. March 1963 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVG-8 Det. 59 F8U-1P AJ 900
14. September 1962 - 22. April 1963 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVG-1 Det. 42 RF-8A  AB 910
11. October 1962 - 26. November 1962 CVA-62 USS Independence CVG-7 Det. 62 F8U-1P AG 900
24. October 1962 - 20. November 1962 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVG-10 Det. 38 F8U-1P GA 900
6. February 1963 - 4. September 1963 CVAN-65 USS Enterprise CVG-6 Det. 65 RF-8A  AE 900
29. March 1963 - 25. October 1963 CVA-60 USS Saratoga CVW-3 Det. 60 RF-8A  AC 900
6. August 1963 - 4. March 1964 CVA-62 USS Independence CVW-7 Det. 62 RF-8A AG 600
1. Oktober 1963 - 23. May 1964 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVG-10 Det. 38 RF-8A  GA 900
8. February 1964 - 3. October 1964 CVAN-65 USS Enterprise CVW-6 Det. 65 RF-8A  AE 900
10. July 1964 - 13. March 1965 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVW-8 Det. 59 RF-8A AJ 900
28. April 1964 - 22. December 1964 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVW-1 Det. 42 RF-8A  AB 910
8. September 1964 - 5. November 1964 CVA-62 USS Independence CVW-7 Det. 62 RF-8A AG 600
10. February 1965 - 20. September 1965 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVW-10 Det. 38 RF-8A  GA 900
1. May 1965 - 1. July 1965 CVA-66 USS America CVW-6 Det. 66 RF-8A  GA 900
28. June 1965 - 17. December 1965 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVW-1 Det. 42 RF-8A  AB 910
24. August 1965 - 7. April 1966 CVA-59 USS Forrestal CVW-8 Det. 59 RF-8A AJ 900
21. June 1966 - 21. February 1967 CVA-42 USS F. D. Roosevelt CVW-1 Det. 42 RF-8A  AB 910
29. September 1966 - 20. May 1967 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVW-8 Det. 38 RF-8G  AJ 900
15. November 1967 - 31. December 1967 CVA-38 USS Shangri La CVW-8 Det. 38 RF-8G  AJ 910
....
Pictures:
   
  .
     
VFP-62 Commanding Officers 
Cdr. W. O. Moore 1. January 1949 ?
? ? 5. January 1968
? ?

?

Capt. Edwin (Ed) L. Kiem 1957 1958
Cdr. W. A. Shryock 1958 April 1960
Cdr. C. A. Crow April 1960 1960
Cdr. F. E. Foltz 1960 1961
Cdr. George Winslow 1961 12. September 1962
Capt. William B. Ecker 12. September 1962 5. September 1963
Cdr. Robert O. Coulthard 5. September 1963 October 1964
Cdr. Claude Navarette October 1964 1964
Cdr. Al Wilhite 1964 June 1966
Cdr. Norman Youngblood June 1966 September 1967
Capt. Morris (Mo) Hayes September 1967

3. January 1968

...

History 

VFP-62 was established in January 1949 as Composite Squadron SIX TWO, nicknamed the Fighting Photos, and was equipped with Grumman F8F-2P Bearcat and Vought F4U-5P Corsair fighter aircraft converted to reconnaissance platforms. The squadron provided a detachment of reconnaissance planes for each of the Carrier Air Wings of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The first VC-62 detachment was assigned to Carrier Air Group 7 (CVG-7) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Leyte (CV-32) from September 1949 to January 1950 for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

Detachments of the squadron operated from all Atlantic Fleet attack aircraft carriers based on the U.S. east coast. From September 1950 to February 1951, a VC-62 detachment also operated during the Korean War from the USS Leyte as part of CVG-3.

In 1951, the squadron converted to jet aircraft and was equipped with the McDonnell F2H-2P Banshee. On 2 July 1956, the squadron was redesignated Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron SIX TWO (VFP-62) and transitioned to the Grumman F9F-6P Cougar (later F9F-8P). Renamed Light Photographic Squadron SIX TWO in order to distinguish it from Heavy Photographic squadrons that were being established, the squadron received its first Vought F8U-1P Crusader aircraft in 1959, which were redesignated as the RF-8A Crusader in 1962. In 1966, these aircraft were upgraded to a new standard designated as the RF-8G.

VFP-62 is best known as the squadron that took the first low-level photos of the Soviet missile bases in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. At the time, it was commanded by Commander William Ecker, USN.

From June 1966 to February 1967, VFP-62 Det 42 operated from the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) off Vietnam as part of CVW-1. VFP-62 was subsequently disestablished on 1 January 1968, with its role assumed by its Pacific Fleet sister squadron, VFP-63, also flying the RF-8G, and by several reconnaissance attack squadrons (RVAH) flying the RA-5C Vigilante.


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last update 22. February 2013

written 1. February 2010

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