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SQUADRON SIXTY-ONE VAP-61 "WORLD FAMOUS" Tracing its ancestry to Photographic Squadron Five (VD-5), which had been commissioned June, 1944, and to Composite Squadron (VC-61), which had been organized in January, 1949, this unit was first designated Heavy Photographic Squadron 61 (VAP-61) on July 2, 1956. Homeported at NAS Agana, Guam, VAP-61 was redesignated Composite Photographic Squadron 61 (VCP-61) on July 1,1959 in preparation for its transition from the AJ-2P to a mix of F8U-1Ps and A3D-2Ps. Two years later, the Crusaders were transferred out and the squadron was once again designated VAP-61. During the Southeast Asia War, VAP-61 sent RA-3B detachments to DaNang AS, South Vietnam, and aboard CTF-77 carriers for operations over North Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Other operational detachments operated at one time or another from locations throughout the Pacific as well as on the Asian mainland, CONUS and Bermuda. VAP-61 was decommissioned on July 1, 1971. |
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SQUADRON SIXTY-TWO VAP-62 "TIGERS" Commissioned as Photographic Squadron 62 (VJ-62) on April 10, 1952, this squadron was redesignated VAP-62 on Julv 2. 1956 while home ported at NAS Norfolk, Virginia. It moved to NAS Jacksonville, Florida, in August, 1957 and soon thereafter evaluated the YA3D-1 P prototype. After transitioning from the AJ-2P in late 1959, VAP-62 retained its A3D-2P/RA-3Bs until its inactivation on October 15,1969. During this ten-year period, in addition to performing its normal duties from shore bases and carriers, the squadron undertook several special assignments (e.g., photographing the launch of early manned satellites, cartographic survey of the Great Lakes region, photographic survey of flood damage, and tracking and seeding of hurricanes). Moreover, beginning in the fall of 1966, VAP-62 sent RA-3B detachments to Southeast Asia to operate under the control of VAP-61. |