FLEET UTILITY SQUADRON EIGHT, VU-8 RED TAILS

Originally designated GMSRON-2 (Guided Missile Squadron Two), Fleet Utility Squadron Eight (VU-8) was established on 1 July 1958 at NAS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. The squadron's first F-8 Crusader came aboard on 15 November 1963. VU-8 used the F-8 primarily as a drone control aircraft. Eight DF-8Fs were on hand on 8 January 1965, when VU-8 installed the first Delmar Tow Sys-tems. On 18 June 1965 VU-8 was redesignated Fleet Composite Squad¬ron Eight (VC-8).