FIGHTER SQUADRON EIGHT FOUR, VF-84 VAGABONDS / JOLLY ROGERS

VF-84 F8U-2 145559 at NAF Washington in May 1959. VF-84 was the first Navy squadron to receive the F811-2 (F-BC). (Crimmins) 146979 in full squadron markings.

F8U-2 145587 on 8-29-59; see color photo on inside cover. (R. T. O'Dell via Larkins)

VF-84 was commissioned at NAS Oceana, Virginia, on 1 July 1955. Originally nicknamed Vagabonds and flying the FJ-3 Fury, VF-84 was as¬signed to Air Task Group 182 (ATG-182). Flying a mixed bag of FJ-3s and FJ-3Ms, the Vagabonds made their first deployment as part of Carrier Air Group One (CVG-1) aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) from January through July 1957.

The Furys were replaced by F8U-2 Crusaders in early 1959. Then on 15 April, the Jolly Rogers of VF-61 were decommissioned with VF-84 be¬ing the recipient of most of VF-61's personnel. A vote was taken and the Vagabonds nickname was replaced by that of Jolly Rogers.
The squadron adjusted quickly to the hot new Crusaders by coming in first in the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Meet and by winning the Crusader Excellence Award in 1959 and the Ef¬ficiency "E" for 1960.

VF-84 deployed the Crusader as part of CVG-7 aboard the USS Inde¬pendence (CVA-62) from August 1960 through March 1961. VF-84 and its sister squadron VF-13 (F-3Bs) partici¬pated in the blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following this action, the Jolly Rogers deployed to the MED in 1963-64.

The F-8Cs were replaced by F-4 Phantoms in 1964, which in turn were replaced by F-14s in June 1976.

VF-84 F8U-2s 145572 (#206), 145585 (#212), and 145587 (#213) aboard Independence on 9 October 1959. (USN) F8U·2 145575 on 23 Apri I
1960 at NAS South Weymouth. (Jim Burridge)
F8U-2 146934. (C. T. Modlin via Larkins) Colorful trim
was yellow and black. Nose flames were yellow and red.

YF-84 F8U-2s 146957 (#202), 145554 (#210), 145575 (#207),
and (#212) over the Med on 5-22-62. (USN)

Two YF-84 F8U-2s in flight over the Mediterranean Sea on 5-14-62, while flying from the Independence. (USN via Miller)

YF-84 F8U-2 (F-8C) in outdoor storage, date and place unknown. The name "CO CDR A. J. NEMOFF" is below canopy. (Brown)

VF-84 F8U-2 145559 CAG BIRD with rud-der colors red, blue, yellow, green, white, orange, and black. (VOught)