LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHIC SQUADRON SIX THREE, VFP-63 EYES OF THE FLEET

Red trimmed F-8H 147916 with shark-mouth on 10-25-69. The words LT JERRY UNRUH were painted below the canopy rail. F-8J 150849 with red tail stripes and LCDR BILL EVANS painted below the canopy rail. (Jansson) Red trimmed F-8J 150906 belonging to CDR J. M. SCHULZE ON 10-28-72. (Swisher)

VFP-63 was established on 1 July 1961 when VCP-63 was redes¬ignated. VFP-63 flew the Crusader exclusively until the squadron was disestablished on 30 June 1982. (See Naval Fighters Number Seventeen, Navy and Marine RF-8 Photo-Recon Squadrons, for information and photos of the squadron's photo birds.)
Due to the dwindling number of F-8 fighter squadrons, VFP-63 took over F-8 replacement training from VF-124 in September 1972. For fight¬er pilot training the squadron acquired F-8J and F-8H Crusaders. Then in 1975 when the F-8 fighter squadrons were disbanded, VFP-63 discontinued F-8 replacement training.

VFP-63 was not only responsible for transitional flight training, but for gunnery and weapons training as seen here. F-8J 150317
launches 2.75" rockets from wing mounted launchers. (USN via Barry Miller) 150317 again while dropping bombs in company
with F-8J 149155. Tail stripes were red with white stars. (USN/Tailhook VF03726)

VFP-63 F-8J 149185 at Miramar on 10-6-74 with FIGHTERTOWN paint¬ed above NAVY on the rear fuselage. Tail and wing stripes were red with white stars and the double nuts on the tail was in red. The name CDR COLE HAINES CO was painted under the canopy rail. (Ginter)

F-8H 147050 at Miramar in 1974, mi-nus the usual red tail and wing stripes. (via Burger)

F-8J 150302 in overall grey with black trim and "CDR TACO BELL" (see page 55 for LCDR TACO BELL and his VF-24 F-8J 150340) painted under the canopy. Mini flames around gun ports were red. (Ginter, 1979)

VFP-63 F-8J 150904 in overall light grey color with dark grey markings, in 1980. (via Burger)