Combat Vet RF-8G Heading to Fort Worth

[Warbirdnerd]

I received an email this morning letting me know the folks at The Veteran’s Memorial Air Park have saved this combat vet RF-8 from a date on a bombing range…

The RF-8 is a true combat veteran. It started life with Navy Photo-Reconnaissance Squadron VFP-63. It, along with others, flew dangerous missions over Laos and Southeast Asia before the Vietnam War began. In fact, an RF-8, like this one, was the first casualty of that conflict. Later, this airplane was transferred to the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment at NAS Dallas. Many Marines in the Metroplex have a history with this airplane. Most recently, it was part of a display in Mobile, Alabama but was damaged by hurricane Katrina and returned to the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida. There, it was discovered by members of the Veteran's Memorial Air Park on a recovery mission of an A-4 "Skyhawk." "The airplane was slated to be a target on a bombing range in Florida until we said we wanted it for our Veteran's Memorial Air Park," Bloomberg stated. "This airplane is a combat veteran," Bloomberg continued "and it deserves a better fate than to be blown up for practice. Our air park will be a perfect place to honor the people who flew and served with this airplane and ones like it," Bloomberg added

Here are a couple of shots I took of it in April 2007 at Pensacola from the back of a golf cart…

Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Ztex]

Woot!
Been waiting for this news!


I can't wait to see here in Ft. Worth!

[Owen Miller]

I am so glad this one is going to be saved. When Battleship Park
got another RF-8 I was pleased, but was distressed to hear the
old one would be a target. It's really good news to know it will
be preserved.

The one in the background of your shot is also historic. That
one flew over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. If you
look at the color picture of JFK addressing VFP-62 that aircraft
is seen in the background as nose 906.

Last edited by Owen Miller on Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbirdnerd]

The one in the background of your shot is also historic. That
one flew over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. If you
look at the color picture of JFK addressing VFP-62 that aircraft
is seen in the background as nose 906.

Thanks for the info on this one Owen. A very historic bird indeed.
Anyone know the plans for it?

[airnutz]

I am so glad this one is going to be saved. When Battleship Park
got another RF-8

Yep, very good news! So if the Veterans Memorial AP is getting 146898, then
which RF-8 did Battleship Park get? They haven't updated to the new birds BuNo.

I've got a question Owen concerning an RF-8A, BuNo 145623, nose-611 photoed
aboard Coral Sea late '76 or Jan'77 with VF-191 "Satan's Kittens" F-4J's. Baugher has her at
AMARC in 1984, do you know if she has survived? Anyone got any history on this bird?
Nothing in the WR. Thanks in advance and thanks for the news and photos W'nerd!

[Owen Miller]

I can't shed any light on 145623. But I can provide info on Battleship
Park's 145645.

www.vfp62.com/Sea_Stories_5.html

[K5DH]

What's the story on the big hole in the starboard side of the air intake?

Dean the inquisitive

[mustangdriver]

I assume damage from the hurricane when it was still in Alabama. great news that it is going to be saved. Great work by the veterans group and by the NMNA.