FIGHTER SQUADRON ONE ONE ONE VF-111 SUNDOWNERS

VF-111 F8U-2N (F-8D) 148638 at HAS Lemoore on 7-8-61_ The afterburner section was painted on early F8U-2Ns. (William Swisher)

VF-111 was originally commissioned as Fighter Squadron Eleven (VF-11) on 10 October 1942 at NAS North Island, California. Two weeks later the squadron was in Hawaii

· training in their F4F-4 Wildcats. It was

· while at NAS Maui that the squadron's "Sundowner" insignia was devised.

· This insignia proved to be prophetic as

· during the period of April to July 1943, VF-11 shot down fifty-six Japanese aircraft from its Guadalcanal base.

VF-11 transitioned to the F6F Hellcat for its second combat tour aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). When the war ended the Sundowners returned to NAS North Island and transitioned to the F8F-1 Bearcat.

In July 1948 VF-11 was redesig­nated VF-111. The Sundowners Iran‑

· sitioned to F9F-2 Panthers in 1950 and deployed aboard the USS Philip­pine Sea (CV-47) in July for the first of three Korean War cruises. During their third war cruise, the Sundowners were on hand to fly the final strike of the Korean War on 27 July 1953.

After the war VF-111 transitioned to swept-winged F9F-6 and F9F-8 Cougars, which were replaced by the FJ-3 Fury in June 1957. On 19 Janu­ary 1959, VF-111 was decommiss­ioned and the next day VA-156, a NAS Moffitt Field based Fl 1F Tiger squ­adron, was redesignated VF-111. VA-156 adopted the Sundowners nickname and heritage. upon the re-designation. The new VF-111 would complete two F11F deployments aboard the USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) and the USS Hancock (CVA-19) be­tween 1959 and 1961.

Upon returning to NAS Miramar in March 1961, VF-111 became the first Navy squadron to re-equip with the F8U-2N (F-8D) Crusader. The F-8Ds deployed twice aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) in 1962 and in 1963-64. The squadron was reas­signed to Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) and was redesignated VF-26 (see VF-26) on 1 September 1964. The designation lasted only until 17 September when the squadron re­verted back to VF-111.

VF-111 was flying from the Kitty Hawk when the naval air war in South East Asia turned into a shooting war in 1964. On 6 June a VFP-63 RF-8A from the Kitty Hawk was shot down over Laos and because of this fighter escort was ordered on all future re­connaissance flights. On 7 June VF-111 earned the dubious distinction of losing the first fighter version of the F-8 to hostile fire. The Sundowners commander, CDR Doyle W. Lynn, was shot down over Laos while es­corting two VFP-63 RF-BAs. CDR Lynn ejected safely 35 miles south of Xieng Khouang and wad successfully rescued the next day.

The Sundowners returned to Vietnam in 1965 aboard the USS Midway (CVA-41) as part of CVW-2.

CVW-2's "NE" tail code replaced the CVW-11 "NH" tail code used aboard the Kitty Hawk. During the cruise three VF-111 pilots were lost during combat operations. On 8 May CDR L. D. La Haye was lost in F-8D 148637, followed by the squadron's skipper, CDR Lynn on 27 May while flying F-8D 148706. The third pilot was LTJG G. R. Gollahon, who was lost on 12 August in F-8D 147911.

After returning to Miramar in No­vember, the F-8Ds were slowly replaced by F-BCs. The F-8Cs were replaced by F-8 Es in preparation for the 1966 War cruise aboard the USS Oriskany (CVA-34). The squadron's tail code was changed to "AH" to reflect assignment to CVW-16.

The squadron and the Oriskany sailed for Vietnam on 26 May 1966 and arrived on station on 11 June. During the cruise three Crusaders were lost in combat over North Viet­nam. F-8E 150880 was lost to AAA on 11 August and the pilot LTJG C. A. Balisteri was recovered. On 13 August LCDR N. S. Levy was recovered after losing 150866 to AAA. A MiG claimed 150896 on 5 September and CAPT W.

K. Abbott became a POW. The squadron returned to Miramar on 16 November and commenced turn­around training for their 1967 cruise.

Once back at Miramar, the squa­dron once again received F-8Cs. On 11 May 1967, VF-111's Detachment 11 known as "Omars Orphans" de­ployed aboard the USS Intrepid (CVS-11) on that carrier's second war cruise. The anti-submarine carrier In­trepid was being operated as a light attack carrier, and after its first Viet­nam cruise, the fighter detachment was assigned to provide CVW-10 with its own escorts. With DET 11, VF-111 received its third tail code "AK". During the cruise, which ended on 30 De­cember 1967, VF-111 lost one aircraft (146993) to AAA fire over the north on 12 August, with the pilot LCDR F. S. Teague being recovered.

The Sundowners' second Oriska­ny War cruise which started on 16 June 1967 proved to be extremely costly for CVW-16. The carrier lost 29 aircraft during combat and another 10 to operational problems. VF-111 proved to be lucky by losing only 4 aircraft. AAA claimed 146938 on 10-5-67 and 146907 on 12-5-67. Op­erational accidents claimed 146929 on 9-8-67 and 147004 on 11-19-67.

The squadron returned to Miramar on 31 January 1968.

Omars Orphans deployed aboard Intrepid again on 4 June 1968. It was during this cruise that the Sundowners would claim their only MiG kill. On 19 September, LT Anthony Nargi en­countered a MiG-21 during a MiG CAP mission. He subsequently downed the MiG-21 with a AIM-9 Sidewinder for VF-111's 160th. kill. This kill was recorded on LT Nargi's 111th. mission while flying F-8C 146961. The detachment returned home on 8 February 1969.

VF-111's Oriskany based aircraft were converted to the remanufactured "H" model in preparation for the 1969 cruise aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14). The Sundowners left for Vietnam on 1 February 1969 and ar­rived on station on 18 February. This deployment proved to be relatively uneventful for the squadron with only one operational loss on 7-6-69.

CVW-16 returned to Miramar on 18 September 1969 and was reas­signed to CVW-8 aboard the USS Shangri-La (CVS-38). The Shang, an­other anti-sub carrier from the Atlantic Fleet which was loaned to the Pacific Fleet as a light attack carrier left May-port, Florida, on 5 March 1970.

CVW-8's "AJ" tail code became the squadron's fifth tail code. When the squadron returned home on 17 De­cember 1970, they had flown over 12,500 missions over Vietnam and were awarded the Navy Unit Com­mendation and the Meritorious Unit Citation.

In 1971'the F-8H Crusaders were replaced by F-4B Phantoms which in turn were replaced by the F-14A Tomcat in April 1977.

VF-111 F-8Ds 147065 (#102) and 147048 (#104) with unpainted afterburner sec¬tions and thin red fin stripe, on 12-18-63 while flying from the Kitty Hawk. (USN)

PHOTOS, PREVIOUS PAGE: VF-111's Commanding Officer's F-8D 148652 landing aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) during the 1962 cruise. Tail stripe was red and fin tip was black. (USN via Barry Miller) VF-111 F-8D 147056 on 12-20-63 with the name LT N. W. COX painted under the canopy rail. (USN) VF-111 F-8Ds 148638 (#111) and 1413699 (#114) in March 1964 while over Japan. Red sharkmouths have been added and the speed brakes are fully extended. Note characture on fin tip as drawn below. (USN)

VF-111 F-8D 148647 at NAS Miramar on 9-12-64, sporting the new CVW-2 "NE" tail code and with USS MIDWAY paint¬ed on the fuselage side. (Swisher)

VF-111 F-8D 147908 with sharkmouth and red stripes on the tail, wing tips, and ventral fins on 9-12-64. Pilot's name, LTJG J. E. SHARDY, is painted below the canopy rail. (Swisher)

VF-111 F-8D 147062 forms up with a VAH-8 Skywarrior tanker off the coast of Vietnam on 6-15-63. (USN)

VF-111 F-8D 147072 with CVW-16's "AH" tail code on 2-19-66_ Tail and wing stripes were red_ (Clay Jansson)

VF-111 F-8C 150907 at NAS Miramar on 2-19-66, prior to the 1966 USS Oriskany cruise. Air Wing Sixteen's "AH" tail code and
USS Oriskany have been added. The name "CDR R. COOK" is painted under the canopy rail. (Clay Jansson)

VF-111 F-8E 149185 at NAS Lemoore on 5-1-66. Characture on tail was known as "Omar" (see drawing below). Pilots name printed below the canopy rail was LCDR PETE PETERS. (Swisher)

VF-111 F-8E 149180 landing at NAS Atsugi on 8-11-66. (T. Matsuzaki)

VF-111's only MiG killer, F-8C 146961 on 5-24-68 at NAS Miramar, ten days prior to departing on its MiG killing cruise. The air
craft was the mount of LT JOE THOMPSON and had TIGER painted in white on the red tail stripe. LT ANTHONY NARGI would be
flying her on 9-19-68 when he would use a AIM-9 Sidewinder to down a MIG-21. (Clay Jansson)

VF-111 Detachment 11 (Omar's Orphans) F-8C 146911 on 5-24-68. The red tail, wing, and ventral fin stripes were bor¬dered by black and the Rising Sun motif has been added to the rudder. The name "ROADRUNNEF. has been added to the tail stripe. (Clay Jansson)

VF-111 F-8C traps aboard the USS Intrepid (CVS-11) in Sep¬tember 1968 while operating in the Gulf of Tonkin. The raised wing's bulkhead was red and the aircraft was typically armed with two Sidewinders. (USN via Barry Miller)

CDR JOE FINNEY's F-8C on 5-24-68. (Jansson) F-8C 147022 on 7-27-68. (Jansson) VF-111 F-8H 148636 taxiing forward on the Ticonderoga in 1969. This aircraft was lost during an op¬erational accident on 7-6-69. SUNDOWNERS was painted in white on the red wing bulkhead. (Dom Hayes) F-8H 148661 which was flown by LT CARL STATTIN on 1-28-69. The "Ali" tail code was bordered in white. (Harry Gann)

VF-111 F-8H 148652 on 3-14-70 with CVW-8s "AJ" tail code. The name LCDR BLACKJACK FINLEY was painted un¬der the canopy rail. (Clay Jansson)

CDR BILL RENNIE's F-8H 147909 on 3-19-70. (Clay Jansson)

VF-111 F-8H 148684 over Atsugi on 7-24-70. (T. Matsuzaki)

VF-111 F-8H 147048, CAG
BIRD, on 3-14-70 prior to the Sundowners' last F-8 cruise. The rising sun rudder markings were red, yellow, green, or¬ange, and blue. (Clay Jansson) 147048 during cruise while over NAS Atsugi on 7-24-70_ (T. Matsuzaki)

F-811 147055 belonging to LT CHUCK SCOTT at Da Nang in 1970. F-8H 148677 in June 1970; see the back cover. (Barry Miller)