VFP-63 Eyes of the Fleet RF-8 (1968) Model,Vought F-8 Crusader,18",Mahogany

Description: VFP-63 Eyes of the Fleet (R)F-8 (1968) Model Relive flying in the Crusader in this carefully carved and painted RF-8 model of the VFP-63 Eyes of the Fleet. Each model is carefully carved and painted to provide a unique piece of art that will go great with the goat locker. Model is 18 inches in length. Korean War VC-61 detachments of F4U-4/5P Corsairs served until mid-1951 when they were replaced by the F9F-2P Cougar. Vietnam VFP-63 was the only Navy combat unit with elements continuously deployed throughout the Vietnam War. 492 Detachments of RF-8A/G Crusaders served the following deployments: 17 October 1963 - 20 July 1964 Detachment C USS Kitty Hawk. On 6 June 1964 RF-8A #146823 was shot down by anti-aircraft (AAA) fire near the Plain of Jars, Laos, becoming the first Crusader lost in combat.:91 The pilot Lt. C. F. Klusmann was captured but escaped and returned to US forces on 31 August.[4] 28 January-21 November 1964 Detachment E USS Bon Homme Richard 14 April-15 December 1964 Detachment B USS Ticonderoga 5 May 1964 - 1 February 1965 Detachment F USS Constellation 5 August 1964 - 6 May 1965 Detachment M USS Ranger 21 October 1964 - 29 May 1965 Detachment L USS Hancock 7 December 1964 - 1 November 1965 Detachment C USS Coral Sea. On 13 August RF-8A #146849 was hit by AAA over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued.[5] On 8 September RF-8A 146826 crashed into the sea 5 miles east of Quảng Khê, the pilot LTJG Charles Goodwin was listed as presumptive finding of death.[5][6] 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 USS Midway. On 8 May RF-8A #145628 was hit by AAA fire over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued.[5] On 1 June RF-8A #146881 was hit by AAA fire over North Vietnam, the pilot ejected and was rescued. 5 April-16 December 1965 Detachment G USS Oriskany. On 29 August RF-8A #146828 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.[4][5] On 8 September RF-8A #146825 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 #146852 was shot down over Thanh Hóa Province, the pilot LTCDR Frederick Crosby was listed as killed in action, body not recovered. 28 September 1965 - 13 May 1966 Detachment B USS Ticonderoga. On 19 April RF-8A #146843 was lost to AAA, the pilot ejected and was rescued.[5] 10 November 1965 - 1 August 1966 Detachment L USS Hancock. On 9 April RF-8A #144611 was hit by AAA fire, the pilot LTJG Thomas Walster ejected but drowned before SAR forces arrived.[5][8] On 5 May RF-8A #146831 was shot down by AAA, the pilot Lt John Heilig ejected and was captured, he was released on 12 February 1973.[4][5] On 21 June RF-8A #146830 was shot down by AAA, the pilot Lt Corbett Eastman ejected and was captured, he was released on 12 February 1973.[4][5] 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 USS Kearsarge.[1]:458[5] 29 July 1966 - 23 February 1967 Detachment A USS Coral Sea. On 8 October RF-8A #146899 was lost to AAA, the pilot ejected and was rescued.[5] 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 #145614 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 USS Intrepid 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 #144623 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 #144616 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.[3]:92[4][9] 27 January-10 October 1968 Detachment 31 USS Bon Homme Richard. On 22 May RF-8G #146830 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 #145642 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 #144620 crashed into the sea, the pilot LT James Merrick was killed.[10] 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 #146884 was lost in a non-combat incident, the pilot ejected and was rescued.[11] 2 August 1969 - 15 April 1970 Detachment 19 USS Hancock. On 16 December 1969 RF-8G #145611 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 USS Shangri-La 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 #145624 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 #150299 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 #145613 was hit by AAA near the Thanh Hóa Bridge, the pilot ejected and was rescued.[11] 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 #144608 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 In August 1972 with the Crusader being replaced as a frontline Navy fighter, F-8 training squadron VF-124 transferred its remaining aircraft and the training mission to VFP-63. On 28 May 1982 the squadron's last two RF-8s were flown to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for storage.

Price: 359 USD

Location: Seymour, Tennessee

End Time: 2025-01-12T17:46:25.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD