FIGHTER SQUADRON TWENTY FOUR, VF-24 CHECKERTAILS

VF-24 Checkertail pilot shows the re¬sults of applying too much back

pressure too fast while taking a wave-off during one of the squadron's

Mid¬way deployments. (via Art Schoen')

VF-24 was originally commis¬sioned as VF-211 in June 1955 at NAS Moffett Field, California. As¬signed to CVG-21 and flying FJ-3 Furys, VF-211 deployed aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) in August 1956.
After the Checkertails returned from their WESTPAC cruise, transition to the F8U-1 (F-8A) Crusader took place. The new supersonic Crusaders deployed aboard the USS Midway (CVA-41) in August 1958.
On 9 March 1959, VF-211 was reassigned to CVG-2 and was redes¬ignated VF-24. The squadron deployed aboard Midway again from August 1959 until March 1960. Upon returning to Moffett Field, VF-24 corn¬menced transition to the F8U-2 (F-8C) Crusader. The Checkertails took their new F8U-2s to sea from February 1961 until September 1961. Upon re¬turn to CONUS, VF-24's new home was NAS Miramar, Two more peace¬time cruises were conducted aboard Midway, one in 1962 and one in 1963-64.
The squadron was briefly redesignated VF-214 from 1 until 17 September 1964 (see VF-214).

VF-24 F8U-1 s 145388 (#112) and 145326 (#101) in flight. Notice

location of wing codes and red and white checkerboard stripe on the

tails. (USN via Berry Miller)

The start of our expanded in¬volvement in Vietnam brought a reassignment to CVW-21 and the USS Hancock (CVA-19). VF-24 along with VF-211 put to sea aboard "Nana" on 10-21-64 on the first of what was to be eight combat cruises, seven aboard Hancock and one aboard the Bon Homme Richard. The first Viet¬nam cruise saw the Checkertails taking part in operation Flaming Dart, a series of reprisal strikes against Dong Hoi, on 7 February 1965. This was followed by participation in early Rolling Thunder missions, with the squadron returning to CONUS in May 1965.
The War necessitated a quick turn-around and VF-24 saw itself back in the Tonkin Gulf by November 1965.

CHECKERTAIL F-8Cs FROM THE USS MIDWAY (CVA-41) DURING 1963 AND 1964
VF-24 F-8C 147020 at Miramar after returning from the 1962 WESTPAC

cruise. A red checkmark has been added to the tail and the aircraft

shows the effects of salt water corro¬sion. (1-19-63 by Clay Jansson)
For the 1963-64 cruise, VF-24's modex was changed from the 100 series

to the 400 series as seen on 1-15-64 as F-8Cs 147015 (#452), 147000

(#457), 147710 (#454), and 146919 (#460) fly In formation. (USN via S. Nicolau)



This deployment, which lasted until August 1966, saw VF-24 being overshadowed by its sister squadron VF-211 who had scored four victoriesover North Vietnamese MiGs. During the next War cruise, 26 Janu¬ary 1967 until 25 August 1967, aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) VF-24 would draw blood. On 19 May LCDR Bobby Lee and LT
Phillip Wood each bagged a MiG-17 with AIM-9D Sidewinders. This per¬formance was repeated on 21 July 1967 when LCDR Marion (Red) Isaacks and LCDR Robert Kirkwood each downed a MiG-17 and LTJG Phil Dempewoif was credited with a probable.
LCDR s isaacks and Kirkwood received Silver Star Medals in De¬cember 1967 for the air actions that resulted in the downing of the two MiGs.

LCDR lsaack's citation described his action as flight leader of four F-8s protecting a strike group attacked by eight MiG-17s while on a mission against the Ta Xa oil storage area 20 miles from Haiphong.
In the ensuing battle, LCDR Isaacks fired two Sidewinder missiles at one MiG-17, which caused them to cease their attack on the strike group and turn to meet the F-8s. Outmaneu¬vering two MiGs, he shot one down with a Sidewinder while under fire from two other enemy aircraft within gun range. His plane was hit several times but he outmaneuvered his ad¬versaries and, although his Crusader
was on fire, reversed his turn to reen¬gage the remaining MiGs, whose pilots were then running for home. He then rejoined the strike group, which had reached its targets, dropped its bombs with good results, and was headed back to the coast. Although his aircraft was on fire during the en¬tire 30 minute flight over hostile enemy territory and 40 minutes flight over water to the ship, LCDR lsaacks elected to remain with the aircraft and was able to land aboard in spite of imminent danger of control loss or explosion.
LCDR Kirkwood, the second sec¬tion leader, while providing TARCAP for 15 A-4s also fired Sidewinders at the eight attacking MiGs, including the one downed by Isaacks. Then he at¬tacked another MiG by maneuvering into position for the kill. He fired a Sidewinder which exploded alongside the MiG causing it to turn right with LCDR Kirkwood close behind. He then charged his guns, closed to 600 feet, and began firing while steadily closing the range on the MiG. This resulted in the MiG catching fire, pitching up, and the pilot ejecting as LCDR Kirkwood passed close aboard.

VF-24 F-8C 147011 landing at NAS At¬sugi on 30 March 1964, with CVW-2's

"NE" tail code. (T. Matsuzaki)

VF-24 F-8C 146960 at Miramar on 8-7-65 after completion of the 1964-65

cruise. There were eleven Zuni ground attack mission hash marks and the

name CDR J. Post under the canopy. (Swisher)

VF-24 F-8Cs 146997 (#451), 146990 (#447), 146960 (#446), and 147009

(#441) each loaded with eight Zunis over the Tonkin Gulf in 1966.

(Bowers via Pace)

After completing this sucessful cruise, VF-24 started re-equipping with updated F-8H aircraft. The F-8H was used on the next two cruises aboard CVA-19, the "Fighting Nana". These were from 7-18-68 until 3-3-69 and from 8-2-69 until 4-15-70.

After returning to COWS in April 1970, the F-8Hs were traded in for F-BJs. Three F-8J cruises aboard the Hancock would be conducted. These were from 1-7-72 until 10-3-72, from 5-8-73 until 1-8-74 and in 1975. VF-24 returned from its last F-8 cruise in October 1975 and started converting to the Grumman F-14A Tomcats. Re¬named the Fighting Renegades in 1979, VF-24 continues to fly the F-14.

VF-24 F-8C 146996 while landing at HAS Atsugi On 2-1-66. The

checkerboard tall stripe was red and white and the check-mark on the

tail was red. (T. Matsu Zak)

VF-24 F-8C 147029 from CVA-31 in 1967 in the South China Sea. (Candid

Aero-Files) VF-24 F-8C 146919 on CVA-31 in the Tonkin Gulf during 1967.

(G. Bragg via Jim Burridge)

VF-24 F-8C 146996 on 8-26-67 with new lower checkerboard stripe, four

and a half MiG-17 silhouettes on the ventral fin and LT Chip Harris

painted below the canopy. (Swisher)

VF-24 MiG Killer F-8C 146992 on 8-26-67. LCDR Bobby Lee and one Russian

star denoting the MiG-17 Kill of 19 May were painted below the canopy.

(Clay Jansson)

VF-24 F-8H 148648 on 3-19-68 with four MiG-17s on the ventral fin and

LCDR BOB KIRKWOOD and one Russian star under the canopy. (Clay Jansson)

F-8H 147055 with unusual yellow checkmark on the tail on7-31-69.

(Swisher)

VF-24 F-8J 150883 at NAS Cubi Point in December 1970. LT Chris Clausen

is painted under the canopy. (Barry Miller)

VF-24 F-8J 150302 escorts the FLYING SQUIRL, an RF-BG of VFP-63 in

1970. (USN)

VF-24 150302 after the 1971 cruise. (Fred Roos)

VF-24 F-8J 149201 with new markings for the 1972 cruise. (Jansson)

VF-24 F-8Js in flight, 149201 is the CO's air¬craft and carries

complete mark¬ings; 150932 is in the fore-ground. The tail markings

con¬sist of the VF-24 insignia in red and white with the handle of the

sword being yellow. (USN via Barry Mi[Ier)
CO lands F-8J 149201 at NAS Atsugi on 8-8-72 A sword was painted below

the canopy with the pilot's name, also a drawing of Foghorn Leg¬horn is

aft of the nose number (T. Matsuzaki)

VF-24 F-8J de¬parts the angle deck of the Han¬cock in Sept. 72. (Barry

Miller)

VF-24 F-8J land ing on board the Hancock in 1972

VF-24 F-8J 150340 in flight with the black and red tail markings. LCDR

Taco Bell (later CO of VFP-63) is painted below the
canopy and the coveted "E" is painted aft of the nose number. (USN via

Barry Miller)

VF-24 F-8.1 150323 at NAS Miramar on 3.16-73 with CDR John Nichols

painted below the canopy. Tail markings were a black and red

checkerboard stripe with a black rudder with red stars and a red

checkmark bordered by black. (Swisher)
VF-24 F-8.] 150898 at NelHs AFB in October 1974 with the CO's name, CDR

PAUL STEPHENSON, painted below the canopy. Radome was barbered striped

black and red and the red stars on the rudder were outlined in white.

(Barry Miller)

VF-24 had seven combat loses from 1966 to 1972. The aircraft lost were:

F-8Cs 146919, 147027, 146915, 147021, and 147002; F-8H 148648; F-8J

150311. Most were lost to AAA fire. In addition, eight Crusad¬ers were

lost to operational accidents from 1965 to 1972. These were: F-8Os

147011, 147012, and 147031; F-8Hs 147924, 147897, and 147919; F-8,1s

150336, and 150229.

F-8.1 149139 on 9-15-74 in the red and black tall markings used on VF-

24s last cruise. LT GARY GARLAND is painted below the canopy. (Fred

Roos)