Fun fact I didn't learn too long ago, a lot of their Crusader pilots were apparently enlisted. Not sure the full details but I saw it in an article about high-time Crusader pilots.
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F-8 Crusader pilots?
- Thread starter Faded Float Coat
- Start date
Fun fact I didn't learn too long ago, a lot of their Crusader pilots were apparently enlisted. Not sure the full details but I saw it in an article about high-time Crusader pilots.
I met an old F-8 pilot last summer, i'm trying to find his business card.
I met him at an arts & crafts fair in Woods Hole, he does wood turnings and had a pic of a Crusader at the ramp behind his table. He was in one of the first Topgun classes, transitioned to Phantoms.
He has a Irish last name, and I think his callsign is 'Mick'
If I find his contact info i'll pass it on
I met him at an arts & crafts fair in Woods Hole, he does wood turnings and had a pic of a Crusader at the ramp behind his table. He was in one of the first Topgun classes, transitioned to Phantoms.
He has a Irish last name, and I think his callsign is 'Mick'
If I find his contact info i'll pass it on
I went looking for the article, or any info, on enlisted French pilots and couldn't find much at all (mainly for my own curiosity and also to make sure I wasn't talking out of my ass). From what I can remember the article was about Last Annual Crusader Ball when they asked for all the 1000 hour Crusader pilots to stand, then 2000 and so on. In that they mentioned some of the most experienced French Crusader pilots were enlisted.
The only thing I could find after a real was this article from 1996 that talked about the last F-8P display pilot, and it mentions that he started his training at 17 and got his wings as a Petty Officer then to the fleet at age 21. He was a Lieutenant de vaisseau (O-3) by the time of the article. From that it seems like the Israeli way of pilot training, who may have gotten it from the French, where they take high performing folks at ~18 and turn them into 'fleet' aviators in 2-4 years.
BTW, the next Last Annual Crusader Ball (34th one) is set to take place at Hook '25 this summer. If you want to know about the F-8 and the pilots that flew 'em, you aren't going to find a better resource.
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VSF = ASWFitRon = a squadron that would provide fighter aircraft to protect the specialized anti-submarine aircraft carriers (designated CVS from 1955 - 1973) from enemy air attacks. Although used officially for only a brief period, "VSF" is a convenient way of saying "fighters operating from an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft carrier.” AFIK, most of them were A-4’s but the F-8 makes sense as well.
Beat me to it by one second!
Slowpoke! Actually you just took your time to provide more details while I went for speed. I undeleted your post if folks don't want to go to the link I provided to see what the internets looked like circa 1998.
Damn. I know the author fairly well. I flew sailplanes with Boom at a club in Hampton Roads ( http://www.tidewatersoaring.org/ ). Great guy, tons of knowledge. Of course he would know and would write about it!
fighterace
New Member
Is Tony Nargi still living today ? He scored the last F-8 Crusader aerial victory. He flew with VF-111. Thanks.
fighterace
New Member
While I ask about Nargi is Joe Shea, Mo Wright, Phil Wood, and Norm McCoy still around as well? All have confirmed aerial victories in the F-8.