Jinxter13 Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 While doing some research for one of my more favored NavAir Squadrons; I found a very interesting tidbit of data which I am in disagreement with somewhat. Not being a Navy vet, I have to ask those who are. This tidbit of data is stating that "VF-92 SilverKings" after giving up their F-4 mounts transitioned to the F-14. This is the first time I've heard anything that comes close; if M.A.T.S has info I missed it. Is this a fact!!! or is this someones second hand info from a scatologic session in a bar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Clif, VF-92 & VF-96 never transitioned into the F-14 Tomcat ... They were both decommissioned before doing so ... HTH ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sunliner Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 As far as I've ever heard, Gregg is correct. Check this site: http://www.vf-92.com/ It appears to be run by VF-92 Veterans...like anything on the 'net, I'd approach with a grain of salt, but there are some names with contact info you could try if you needed to. -Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reddog Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 VF-92 and 96 never got Tomcats. They "may" have been scheduled to transtion but never did, they where decomm'ed instead. Reddog Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted January 11, 2010 Author Share Posted January 11, 2010 (edited) You three are good enough for me.....When I saw that, a few thoughts came to mind, (1) This is a typo (2) The move was planned, but never happened (3) This guy is smokin' or drinkin' some really good stuff, so much so he saw Tomcats with "SilverKing" markings (Probably at 29 stumps or El Centro on a good night after a session with some bad Cactus juice . Edited January 11, 2010 by Angels49 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andre Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Well, both VF-92 and VF-96 markings on a Tomcat would make good What-If's... but that is all they would be. Cheers, Andre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST21 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Funny, i was thinking about a Tomcat in VF-96 markings the other day... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I would GUESS the establishment of VF-1 and 2 left the navy with 2 more fighter squadrons then they knew what to do with. VF-24 and VF-211 were probably just lucky they got to transition from F-8s to F-14s instead of going the way of VF-92 and 96. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spongebob Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 It was beyond that. Huge amount of downsizing in Carrier based Naval Aviation with the retirement of the Essex class carriers in the early-mid '70's. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom ordie Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Vf-92 and 96 deservedly needed to be decommisioned. Thier record of mishap and just bad luck was sad. The Enterprise mishap and an F-8 crashing into a hanger at Miramar were among the most prominent episodes along with other misfortunes. I lost good friends and fellow ordies in both the Enterprise and hanger crash happenings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sig Saur & Son Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 While doing some research for one of my more favored NavAir Squadrons; I found a very interesting tidbit of data which I am in disagreement with somewhat. Not being a Navy vet, I have to ask those who are. This tidbit of data is stating that "VF-92 SilverKings" after giving up their F-4 mounts transitioned to the F-14. This is the first time I've heard anything that comes close; if M.A.T.S has info I missed it. Is this a fact!!! or is this someones second hand info from a scatologic session in a bar. Sounds like a story from Wikipedia. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rex Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 sorry for your loss, Ordie,,,,,,but, it would be pretty hard to blame VF-92 or VF-96 for crashing that F-8,,,,,what squadron crashed into -92 or -96? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 What about VF-213, they seemed to of had a run of bad luck in the 80s and 90s ..? :P Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doupnik Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Sounds like a story from Wikipedia. Unfortunately the WAP "McDonnell F-4 Phantom - Spirit in the Skies" has this under the squadron histories, at least the first edition does... They do not have the same error for VF-96. I don't know if that's where Clif got his info. I was hoping this was a simple typo and not a sign of deeper issues with a book I've found helpful. BTW, does anyone else have this book? Looking at the cover pic, it looks like the boarding ladder is down on the 111 F-4 dropping it's load. Nice tidbit for a inflight build to annoy contest judges. :P mason Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Yep, in that photo the ladder is indeed down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rex Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 well, Mason, as for "things" in the Spirit book,,,,,you don't want to follow their lead and build VF-32 F-4J's either at least they mention that VF-142 became VF-96 in the squadron history pages,,,and the test bird having 22 500 # (not 24) in that famous pic,,,,they also got the other famous pic captioned right, with the Centerline Nuke,,,I've seen that called a drop tank in other books Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom ordie Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 sorry for your loss, Ordie,,,,,,but, it would be pretty hard to blame VF-92 or VF-96 for crashing that F-8,,,,,what squadron crashed into -92 or -96? Not putting the blame on anyone,I know stuff happens. Its just sometimes mishap after mishap causes alot of down spirit in an organization. I believe it was a Marine squadron F-8 that crashed into the hanger. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spongebob Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 What about VF-213, they seemed to of had a run of bad luck in the 80s and 90s .. The whole wing (CVW-11) was stood down, leadership changed (even at the squadron level) and they started work-ups anew after a spate mishaps in the mid-90's. The Hultgreen fiasco was near the start and I believe the final straw was the clown routine into the house in TN. However, there had been mishaps across the whole wing, not just VF-213. Spongebob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
xv107 Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 I know this isn't very helpful because I can't think where I saw this, but ISTR reading somethere that VF-92 and VF-96 were suggested as the F-14 squadrons for the 15th carrier air wing (excluding the reserve air wings) which was planned to form when John Lehman was SECNAV, but never did (and there were only 14 for a relatively short time). In essence, if the source was correct and if my vague recollection is right - two fairly big 'ifs' - VF-92 and VF-96 would have been/were in line to be the next F-14 squadrons to form after VF-191 and VF-194; of course what actually happened was that VF-191 and VF-194 (and CVW-10) disestablished after only a couple of years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jinxter13 Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 (edited) Unfortunately the WAP "McDonnell F-4 Phantom - Spirit in the Skies" has this under the squadron histories, at least the first edition does... They do not have the same error for VF-96. I don't know if that's where Clif got his info.mason After going to about 10-15 different sites on Google refs that day I can't remember the precise site, but that does seem to ring a bell; as far as the site with the info. Danged CRS is getting worse, I s'pose it's time to get summa dem 1aday memry vitaminz :) . Edited January 14, 2010 by Angels49 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fred Tannenbaum Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 If you haven't done so already, I'd check with the good folks at The Hook magazine (Tailhook Association). They know everything or can find it out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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