FIGHTER SQUADRON ONE NINE FOUR _ VF-194 RED LIGHTNINGS

F-8C 145579 on 4-3.65, after VF-194 convert¬ed to F-8Es for its 1965 cruise. (Swisher) F-8C 147001 on 4-3-65. (Jansson )

VF-194 was created when VF-91 (see VF-91) was redesignated VF-194 on 1 August 1963. Attached to CVW-19, the Red Lightnings' F-8C Crusaders were deployed aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) from 28 Jan¬uary 1964 through 21 November 1964. This goodwill tour to the Indian Ocean had a scheduled completion date of September 1964. On 28 August the USS Maddox (DD-731) and the USS Turner Joy (DD-951) were attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo gunboats and the "Bonnie Dick" was ordered to commence strike operations against North Vietnam. CVA-31 and VF-194 left Yankee Station for San Diego on 6 November 1964.


VF-194 arrived back at NAS Mira¬mar on 21 November 1964 and began to immediately re-equip with the much im¬proved F-8E in preparation for a Vietnam war cruise. The Red Lightnings found themselves an Yankee Station again as part of CVW-19 aboard CVA-31 on 26 May 1965. Combat operations were conducted until 2 October 1965 from both Yankee and Dixie Stations. On 9 October the squadron supported exercises Checkertail, Autumn Flower, and provided support for Operation Dagger Thrust. These operations concluded on 3 November and after a well de¬served R&R period in Hong Kong, the squadron returned to Yankee and Dix¬ie Stations from 14 November to 16 December 1965.


During this cruise VF-194 earned the dubious distinction of losing the first carrier-based aircraft over South Vietnam. LCDR R. E. Weedon was shot down during a strafing run against a VC position on 30 June 1965. Lucki¬ly, LCDR Weedon was rescued by an Army helicopter. Two other combat losses occurred on 17 and 28 Novem¬ber due to AAA fire , and two operational losses occurred on 24 and 25 Septem-ber respectively.


VF-194 returned to Miramar on 13 January 1966 and prepared for a re¬turn trip to Vietnam aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14). The Red Lightnings left Alameda for Vietnam on 15 October 1966 and returned on 29 May 1967. The on-line period lasted 126 days during which the squadron lost one F-8 E and pilot, LT M. T. New¬ell, to a North Vietnamese SAM on 14 December 1966.


The second Tico war cruise lasted from 27 December 1967 until 17 Au¬gust 1968, during which the squadron lost two more F-8Es, one to a SAM on 14 February 1968 over the North, in which LTJG R. C. McMahan became missing-in-action. The second loss was operational and occurred on 4 July 1968.

When the squadron returned to Miramar in August they set about con¬verting to F-8J Crusaders for a fifth war cruise aboard their third carrier, the USS Oriskany (CVA-34). The Oriskany and VF-194 left Alameda on 16 April 1969 and returned on 10 November 1969 with the loss of but one aircraft on 21 May.


The squadron was back at Mira¬mar in December when LT Cyrus Riddell ejected out of an F-8J on short final due to loss of engine oil and sub¬sequent seizure. The unpiloted F8 flew through hangar one killing thirteen and destroying Crusaders from VF-191 and F4s from VF-96 and VF-92.


Two other VF-194 Crusaders were lost in January 1970 off the San Diego coast. During a ACM training mission LT Gary Crowell and LT Cyrus Riddell had a midair from which both pilots ejected successfully.
The Red Lightnings again deployed to Vietnam on the Big "0" on 14 May 1970 and while off the coast of Hawaii during night-ops LT Dave Woltz had a ramp strike. LT Woltz was unhurt but his Crusader was a loss. This would be the only accident during the cruise and the only cruise in which VF-194 would not lose an aircraft in the war zone. In November the squadron supported the Son Tay POW camp raid by flying BARCAP off the coast of Haiphong.


The Squadron returned to Miramar on 10 December 1970 and again left for Vietnam in May 1971. This cruise lasted untill8 December 1971 and was marred with but one operational loss on 21 June 1971. VF-194's Executive Of¬ficer (X0) CDR Dave Metzler entered the break and flew into the water. The ensuing search was unable to find any evidence of the pilot or aircraft.


The last war cruise of VF-194 and the Oriskany took place from 5 June 1972 until 30 March 1973. Again, one Crusader was lost by the squadron. This operational loss took place on 27 September 1972. Prior to arriving state-side VF-194 and the Mighty "0" witnessed the end of the war.


Two more peace-time deployments in F-8s were conducted aboard the Oriskany prior to transitioning to the F-4J Phantom in late 1976. These two deployments were from 18 October 1973 until 5 June 1974 and from 16 September 1975 until 3 March 1976.


VF-194 and its sister squadron VF-191 had the distinction of being the last two Crusader squadrons to deploy aboard a 27 Charlie carrier.
In March 1976 VF-194 converted to McDonnell F-4J Phantoms prior to a USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) cruise which ended in October 1977. The Red Lightnings were decommissioned on 1 March1978 only to be recommission¬ed as an F-14 unit with CVW-10 on 1 December 1986. On 29 April 1988 VF-194 became a victim of budget cuts and was decommissioned.

F-8E 150344 at Miramar on 2.19-66 after VF-194's second cruise aboard the Bon Homme Richard. (Jansson) The most colorful F-8 CAG BIRD ever is seen on 8-16-66. Tail stripes from top to bottom are blue, yellow, green, orange, red, and the lightning bolt and nose numbers are red. (Jansson) For the 1966 cruise VF-194 was assigned to the Ticonderoga. (Swisher)

F-8E 150932 at Mir-amar on 9-17-66 with wing pylons and dual fuselage Zuni racks during weapons training for the 1966-67 de-ployment. (Jans-son)

F-8E 150353 land-ing at NAS Atsugi on 11-1-66. The tail markings remain-ed unchanged from the previous Bonnie Dick cruise but black cannon blast areas were added far the 1966¬67 cruise. Raised wing bulkhead is red with HUD'N¬HUD'N in white. (T. Matsuzaki)

CAG BIRD, 150909 landing at Atsugi on11-4-66 with the added black paint to the cannon blast area. (T. Matsuzaki)

F-8E 150311 on the USS Ticonderoga during the 1967-68 war cruise. Tail lightning bolt is red. (Candid Aero)

AT RIGHT
CAG BIRD, BIRD, F-8J 150683 at Miramar on 4-14-69. COM¬MANDER CVW-19 and the CVW-19 in¬signia was under the wing (Swisher)

VF-194 used F-8Js for its 1969 war cruise. 150882 is seen on 1-28-69 with USS Oriskany painted red. (Swisher)

F-8B 145533 was used for proficiency training while VF-194 transistioned to F-8Js. This 1-28-69 photo shows the enlarged red lightning bolt and lower location of the "NW tail code as used on the 1969 and 1970 Oriskany war cruises. (Jansson)

ORISKANY AIR-OPS 1970
At left, Don Priest launches in F-8J
149182 in 1970; note location of wing
codes. Bottom, F-8J 150307 touches
down on CVA-34 with two Sidewinders
on the fuselage racks. (Don Priest)

Deck scene aboard CVA-34 with a VF-194 Crusader taxing past VA-215 Corsairs to its parking space. (Dan Priest)

ORISKANY AIR-OPS 1971
At top, Red Lightning F-8J recovers
aboard the Oriskany off Vietnam in
1971. VF-194 F-8J 150882 shares eleva
tor with VF-191 F-8J 150871. (Don Priest)

Lt Don Priest waits his turn to launch off the port catapult of the USS Oriskany in 1970 while sitting behind the blast
shield in F-8J 150662. The tail lightning bolt is red outlined in white. Also note the double-droop wing used on the F-8J.
THE RED LIGHTNING ROSTER FOR THE 1970 ORISKANY WAR CRUISE
STANDING (Jett to right): LTJG DAVE CARPOWICH, ENS TOM TUDOR, LT GARY CROWELL, LT AL ERICKSON, LT ROD PARKER, LT DON PRIEST, LT FRED SAGE, LT JON JOHNSON, "P"919, LT MIKE BARTOL,
KNEELING: LT DON WALLIS, LT WAYNE DURHAM, LCDR JOE PHANEUF, LCDR LEROY ERMIS, CDR JOE VINT! (CO), CDR JAMES RYAN (X0, who became the CO), LCDR KERMIT JACKSON, LT JOHN ROCKWELL.

Well worn VF-194 F-8J over the Tonkin Gulf; note zinc chromate paint along the wing folds and above the Sidewinder missile. (Barry Miller)

Four VF-194 Crusaders; 149187 #214, 150678 #203, 150325 #207, and 150307 #205 fly into NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, in 1970. (Don Priest)

CAG BIRD, F-8J 150683 escorts RC-135M 24135 over the Tonkin Gulf in 1970 (D. Priest) 150683 landing at WAS Atsugi on 22 October 1970; lightning bolts on the rudder are red, yellow, blue, orange, green, and black (T. Matsuzaki) F-83 150680 was the CAG BIRD in 1971, as seen at Miramar on 4-9- 71. (Jansson)

F-8J 150562 in 1970. (Don Priest) Six Red Lightning F-8J Crusaders overfly NAS Miramar in 1971; 149182 #213 (LT Fred Sage), 149175 #204 (LT Al Erickson), 150347 #202 (CDR James Ryan), 150340 #211 (LT Rod Parker), 149177 #206(LT Don Priest), and 150868 #212 (LT Gary Crowell). (Don Priest)

For the 1972 cruise the Red Lightnings' tail codes were en¬larged with the light¬ning bolt passing through it-(USN via Barry Miller)

F-8Js 150324 #211 and 150328 #206 fly over Japan on 8 Au-gust 1972.(T. Mat-suzaki)

F-8Js 150324 #211 and 150328 #206 fly over Japan on 8 Au-gust 1972.(T. Mat-suzaki)

F-8J 150324 sits on the ramp at NAS Miramar on 31 March 1972; the red light-ning bolt is bordered by white.(Swisher)

F-8J 150660 in 1973 over Southern California . F-8J 149175 refuels from a VA-153 Corsair. (USN via Barry Miller)

F-8J 150328 on 13 March 1976. (Swisher) F-8J 150674, "THE SPIRIT OF 76", on 13 March 1976 after retirement. (Swisher)