FIGHTER SQUADRON SIX TWO, VF-62 BOOMERANGS (BOOMERS)

VF-62's XO, CDR J. E. Davis in F8U-1 145350, hangs momentarily In the cat-walk of CVA-38 before falling into the North Sea in Sept 1960. (USN)

VF-62 was commissioned on 1 July 1955 at NAS Cecil Field and was equipped with North American FJ-3 Fury aircraft. The squadron would de¬ploy their Furys aboard the USS Randolph (CVA-15) and the USS Es¬sex (CVA-9) prior to converting to F8U-1 Crusaders in 1960.

On 1 March 1960, VF-62 received its first F8U-1s. All but four pilots were transferred out and ten new RAG trained (VF-174) pilots were received to initiate the transition. On 1 June the Boomers deployed aboard the USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) to the Caribbe¬an. In addition to a concentrated shake-down cruise, VF-62 conducted a highly successful gunnery program at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Day and night carrier qualifications were com¬pleted for all pilots and the Shang returned to Mayport on 18 July. The squadron then returned to Cecil to complete COMPLEXES in gunnery and intercepts.
On 6 September 1960, VF-62 de¬ployed again in Shangri-La and sailed for the North Atlantic in order to par¬ticipate in the major NATO exercise Sword Thrust. During this exercise, operations were conducted in the Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic, in conjunction with other NATO forces. The only VF-62 mishap was a faulty catapult shot on which the squadron X0, CDR J. E. Davis, went off the starboard side of the deck, where the F-8 broke up and sank. CDR Davis, however, escaped without injury and was recovered by helicopter. At the completion of Sword Thrust, the Shang docked in Southampton, En-gland, for ten days prior to sailing for
Mayport on10 October.

CDR George C. Talley's F8U-1 Crusader 145375 was the first aircraft to land aboard the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) in January 1962. CDR Tally was CAG of Air Group One aboard Enterprise. (USN)

On 16 November, the training cy¬cle took VF-62 aboard the Shangri-La for a two week refresher cruise to the Caribbean. The squadron returned to Cecil Field on 28 November, where normal training was resumed and Christmas was spent at home.
On 1 February, VF-62 embarked aboard the Shangri-La for Rota, Spain. Three months of extensive gunnery and tactics training was ac¬complished at Rota, after which the squadron returned to Cecil Field on 16 May. Just two weeks after return from the Mediterranean, the Boomerangs were ordered to load back aboard the Shang on 1 June for an emergency deployment to the Dominican Repub¬lic, where a polictical crises was taking place. After two weeks off the Domini¬can Republic the squadron proceeded to the Island of Viexes to participate in fullscale Marine landing exercises pri¬or to returning home on 20 June 1961. Day and night refresher carquals were conducted between 18 and 28 July and between 21 and 27 August.
September and October were spent in concentrated training of radar and Sidewinder intercept techniques. Then on 1 November the entire squa¬dron deployed to Leeward Point, NAS Guantanamo, for three weeks of in¬tensive air-to-air gunnery. The Boom¬ers set a NAVAIRLANT record in No¬vember by flying 809 hours in one month. The squadron returned to Cecil in December, but Christmas leave was curtailed due to the mount¬ing political tensions in Latin America. Because of this the squadron main¬tained a combat ready status 24 hours a day into the New Year.

VF-62 F-8B 145438 is being hoisted aboard the Shangri-La in 1963.

In the month of January 1962, day and night refresher carquals were conducted off the Florida coast aboard the USS F. D. Roosevelt (CVA-42), with all pilots becoming day and night qualified.
On 8 February 1962, VF-62 was temporarily assigned to Carrier Air Group One for the Shakedown cruise of the world's largest ship and first nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS En¬terprise (CYAN-65). A group of five, VF-62 pilots had already operated on the Big "E- in mid-January, when CDR G. C. Tally, CAG ONE, made the first jet landing on the Enterprise. Operat¬ing out of Guantanamo Bay, the Big "E" received the highest mark ever at¬tained by a Navy ship while under shakedown. VF-62 was no less im¬pressive, as it flew 614.6 hours during the month of March alone, and ac¬counted for 548 of the 2908 landings amassed on the nuclear carrier.
In early April of 1962, VF-62 again joined the Big "E" where in company with the USS Forrestal (CVA-59), the squadron took part in a joint air show and firepower demonstration for Pres¬ident John F. Kennedy and members of Congress. Five VF-62 pilots; CDR Moorer, LCDR Elmer, LT Oliver, and LT Heiss had the honor of shaking hands with the president following the giant demonstration.
In late October 1962, during the initial build-up for the Cuban Missile Crisis, Fighting Sixty Two was put un¬der temporary control of the U. S. Air Force. Under the Tactical Air Com¬mand all activities were coordinated through CVG-10. The primary mission during this period was strike and fighter escort for attack aircraft.
The Boomers were temporarily assigned to CVG-3 aboard the USS Lexington (CVS-16) until 26 Novem¬ber 1962 when they were reassigned back to CVG-10. The squadron re¬turned to Cecil Field on 14 December and sent five F-8Bs to NAS Key West to stand fighter alert duty from 19 De¬cember until January 1963. Then, between 29 January until 20 March, four aircraft were assigned fighter alert at NAS Leeward Point, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

VF-62 F8U-1 (F-84) and F8U-1E (F-BE) aircraft were marked with yellow wing tip and upper tail stripes bordered by black with black boomerangs painted on them. (USN)

against DELMAR tow targets and in air-to-air gunnery. refresher landings aboard the Shang and experimented with the new attack capabilities of the F-8E.
CVA-38 and VF-62 departed for the MED on 1 October 1963. The Shang steamed through the Straits of Gibraltar on October 11 and relieved the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) at Golfo di Palmas two days later. VF-62 and Air Wing Ten put on a air power dem¬onstration for the NATO Defense College in early November. This was followed by a NATO exercise named the Invasion of Spain. December saw VF-62 attack a French Air Group from their carrier the FOCH, in a joint NATO exercise. Another exercise, operation Quick Draw 1-64 was conducted in January. The Shang was relieved by the USS F. D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) in mid-May and sailed for home.
VF-62 was on the move again when it participated in Operation Sail in June 1964 as part of the World's Fair festivities at New York. Then, af¬ter returning to Mayport, the squadron demonstrated the versatility of the F-8E to visiting Midshipmen.
In September 1964 the Boomers found their seagoing home on the USS Independence (CVA-62). The Big "I" was taking part in a joint NATO exercise in the North Atlantic, and VF-62 was taken along to keep Soviet reconnaissance aircraft under obser¬vation if they attempted to approach the force. This mission proved very productive with the squadron inter¬cepting more than twenty-five intruders. The Indy was then diverted to the MED for a month to give the FDR emergency relief. During this pe¬riod, LTJG Lade Clark successfully ejected after his Crusader flamed-out in the groove and hook skipped #3 and #4 wires.
VF-62 again deployed aboard the Shang on 15 February 1965 for a seven month MED cruise. While on this cruise, the squadron sent a three plane detachment to the USS Sarato¬ga (CVA-60) for a two month period. The squadron returned to Cecil in September and on the 29th of October was presented the COMNAVAIR¬LANT Battle Readiness Excellence Plaque by RADM H. H. Caldwell, COM FAI RJAX.

VF-62 F-8E 150352 with the words CDR JOE MOORER painted under the cano¬py rail on 8-1-63. (USN)

VF-62 F-8E 150915 while on tempoary duty with the USS INDEPENDENCE. ON LOAN TO, is painted in small letters above USS INDEPENDENCE on the fu-selage side. (USN via Barry Miller)

Two VF-62 F-8E Crusaders, 150339 (#207) and 150341 (#208) in flight. When the F-8Es arrived the markings changed to a wide
yellow stripe which almost covered the complete tail, see the color photo on the inside back cover. (USN via Barry Miller)

VF-62 F-8E 150923 on 5-1-66. The aircraft is freshly painted and the large yellow tail and small black boomerangs can be easily seen. (William Swisher)

The remainder of the squadron stayed at Cecil during January, Feb¬ruary, and March. Training centered around Sidewinder intercepts
From 15 December 1965 until 15 January 1966 VF-62 was assigned alert duty at NAS Key West. Once back at Cecil training exercises con¬tinued until June 1966 when VF-62 deployed aboard the Shang for a training cruise to Cuba.
After returning to Cecil on 28 July, the Boomers traded in their F-8Es for F-8Ds. The squadron took the "D" model on a MED cruise beginning on 29 September 1966. Once in the MED, they participated in operations Phiblex with the Marines, Lafayette with the French and Dawn Clear with-the Italians.
While conducting a joint exercise with the USS America, VF-62 had the misfortune of a mid-air collision. Both pilots, LCDR Joe Vinti and LTJG Ed Davis, ejected safely and were re¬turned to the Shang amidst happy squadron members. This deployment was followed by two further Shang deployments. These deployments were; from 14 November 1967 until 4 August 1968 and from 7 January 1969 until 1 July 1969.
The Boomerangs (Boomers or Yellowtails) of VF-62 were decom¬missioned at NAS Cecil Field, Florida, on 1 October 1969.

VF-62 F-3D 148708 at Cecil on 5-25-67. The tail code has been changed to "AJ, denoting assignment to CVW-8. (Clay Jansson)