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VC-2 Falcons

VC-2 Falcons



Provided by Cliff Jones

Patch
  • The patch was designed in early 1965 in a Squadron contest. Big deal prize was 30 days of no SDO duty.
    LT. Stephen E. Marshall (Steve) in VC-2 1963-1966

Handle
  • No data to date

Heritage
  • Before 1952 Utility Squadron FOUR (VU-4) Detachment Quonset Point, Rhode Island.
  • January 18, 1952, VU-4 Detachment Quonset Point, Rhode Island redesignated Utility Squadron TWO (VU-2).
  • July 1, 1965, VU-2 was redesignated Navy Fleet Support Squadron TWO (VC-2).
  • September 30, 1980, Navy Fleet Support Squadron TWO, Blue Falcons, were disestablished.

Home Ports
  • Date - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • 1952 - - - - - Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island.
  • 1960 - - - - - Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Air Wings
    Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • - - - - - - - - - JE

Deployments
    Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • None


Aircraft
Commanding Officers
  • Date Assumed Command - - - - - - - Commanding Officer
  • 1952 - - - - - - Lcdr. Carlton Soderholm, USN
  • 1960 - - - - - - Cdr. Kirk Hershey
  • 1961 - - - - - - Cdr. P. O. Harwell
  • 1962 - - - - - - Cdr. R. J. Mattus
  • 1964 - - - - - - Cdr. W. F. Tobin
  • 1965 - - - - - - Cdr. D. E. Cummings
  • 1965 - - - - - - Cdr. W. E. McLuckie
  • 1966 - - - - - - Cdr. R. I. McFarland
  • 1967 - - - - - - Cdr. R. N. Andresen
  • 1968 - - - - - - Cdr. W. C. Larry
  • 1969 - - - - - - Cdr. H. C. Wyhelchel Jr.
  • 1970 - - - - - - Cdr. R. Clifton Jones, USN
  • 1971 - - - - - - Cdr. Larry Renner, USN
  • 1976-1977- - - - CDR Whittiker
  • 1977-1978- - - - CDR P.R. Black
  • 1977-1978- - - - CDR P.R. Black
  • 1978-1979- - - - CDR Wallace T. LeSeur(sp?) (Affectionally known as "Uncle Wally")
  • 1979-1980- - - - CDR M. B. Brooks

Events
  • 1952:
    FLECOMPRON TWO (VU-2) was originally a Utility Squadron FOUR Detachment stationed at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. On January 8, 1952 demand for utility services had grown to the point where VU-4's Quonset Point detachment was redesignated Utility Squadron TWO (VU-2). Lcdr. Carlton Soderholm, USN was the first Blue Falcon Commanding Officer.

  • VU-2's mission was to train aircraft controllers and ship gun crews; provide flights to assist in the completion of functional radar tests for Atlantic Fleet and NATO naval units; conduct of transition training in the FS aircraft for newly designated aviators; and aerial combat maneuvering flights in conjunction with fleet fighter squadron combat readiness training.

  • The newly commissioned squadron had a complement of 30 officers and 185 enlisted men operating the Douglas JD-1 "Invader" and Grumman F9F "Cougar." VU-2 pilots towed bright red and white targets past firing batteries of U. S. ships from Maine to Puerto Rico. Cougars flew high-speed intercepts for stations and ships in the Atlantic Fleet.

  • 1959:
    VU-2 acquired the KD2R5 and the KDBI target systems to provide experience for Atlantic Fleet gunners. When launched from the fantail of ships, KD's presented small, fast moving, recoverable targets for radar and gunfire tracking.

  • June 1960:
    VU-2 moved to the Naval Air Station Oceana at Virginia Beach, Virginia, leaving VU-2 Detachment Quonset Point, Rhode Island with the squadron's Douglas JD Invaders. The move enabled the Blue Falcons to increase service to the Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center at Dam Neck, Virginia and the fleet in the Norfolk area. Utility Squadron TWO pilots stowed their tow-targets and became "BOGIES" flying the North American FJ-3 "Fury" North American FJ-3 "Fury" for radar tracking exercises and air-to-air intercepts.

  • July 1961:
    Utility Squadron TWO became the first supersonic utility squadron on the Atlantic coast when VU-2 received the Vought F-8U "Crusader." The Crusader's increased performance enabled the Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center to accomplish the complexities of high speed aircraft intercepts.

  • May 1962:
    Utility Squadron TWO was tasked to provide DELMAR tow targets to the fleet. The DELMAR tow profile provided realistic air-to-air and sea-to-air missile firing training for the Atlantic Fleet.

  • 1963:
    UTRON TWO flew 4,539 accident free hours during fiscal 1963, receiving a COMNAVAIRLANT citation for the outstanding achievement. In August VU-2 was chosen to "pilot" the Navy Maintenance Data Collection System, a counterpart of the Air Force 66-1 Program.

  • 1964:
    Utility Squadron TWO established UC-2 Detachment 33 Jacksonville, Florida and VU-2 Detachment Key West, Florida. The VU-2 Jacksonville Detachment serviced ships from Charleston, South Carolina and Mayport, Florida as well as air units from Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida. The VU-2 Key West Detachment towed DELMAR targets providing air-to-air missile firing training for fleet squadrons.

  • January 1965:
    UTRON TWO flew an all time record 570 "Crusader" hours. The record was achieved using the F-8C Crusader which had been assigned in April 1964. The hour accumulated as UC-2 trained Blue Falcon pilots for all-weather high-speed intercepts in the enhanced radar ability F-8C Crusader. Meanwhile the Blue Falcons performed high-speed intercepts to train and evaluate sea and land based student air controllers.

  • July 1, 1965:
    UTRON TWO (VU-2)was redesignated Fleet Composite Squadron TWO (VC-2).

  • December 1965:
    Fleet Composite Squadron TWO increased emphasis on Crusader squadron pilot weapon platform training. VC-2 became the first Composite Squadron to fire live Sidewinder missiles. All squadron pilots participated in live Sidewinder firing exercises with a 76% kill record. Sidewinder training was accomplished while the squadron perfected techniques to tow a new supersonic Hayes target. These two demanding tasks did not hinder the squadron's busy aircraft service mission.

  • 1967:
    VC-2 transitioned from F-8C Crusaders to F-8A Crusaders while the squadron provided its traditional Atlantic Fleet service. The Blue Falcons also flew service missions for the German Navy ships "Z-2" and "Z-3" and the Spanish ship DEDALO.

  • August 1968:
    VC-2 Blue Falcons received a COMNAVAIRLANT aviation safety citation for flying 3240 accident-free hours.

  • July 1969:
    The Blue Falcons transitioned from the F-8A Crusader to a modernized F-8K Crusader.

  • 1969:
    VC-2 Detachment Quonset Point, Rhode Island completed its 10th year of accident free operation.

  • December 1969:
    Even with austere funding which limited Blue Falcon potential the squadron operated accident free, transitioned eight pilots to the F-8K Crusader and was often commended for its outstanding services.

  • 1970:
    Commanding Officer Cdr. R. C. Jones guided the Blue Falcons through a series of major evolutions, including transitioning from the F-8K Crusader to the Douglas A-4E & A-4C "Skyhawks" and US-2C "Tracker."

  • VC-2 formed a new permanent VC-2 Detachment at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida.

  • VC-2 Detachment Quonset Point received a COMNAVAIRLANT aviation safety citation for its 1970 accident-free operations.

  • May 1971:
    FLECOMPRON TWO became the only East Coast utility squadron when sister squadron, VC-4, was disestablished. VC-2 met increased tasking for the Atlantic Fleet and NATO units spread along the United States coast from Maine to Mexico.

  • July 1971:
    While transitioning to new aircraft types and meeting increased mission tasking, VC-2 continued operating accident free for a second consecutive year.

  • VC-2 Detachment Quonset Point completed its 11th year of accident free operation, having flown more than 16,000 hours since forming July 1960.

  • 1971:
    Fleet Composite Squadron Two Officer Roster:
    • CDR R. C. Jones, JR. - Commanding Officer
    • CDR L. E. Renner - Executive Officer
    • LCDR S. T. Clinton
    • LCDR R. G. Snow
    • LT R. L. Carter
    • LT R. L. Corper
    • LT J. B. Flaherty
    • LT J. C. Larson
    • LT W. J. Neville, JR.
    • LT D. J. Nielsen
    • LT R. L. Sanborn
    • LTJG M. A. Akin
    • LTJG J. R. Altemus
    • LTJG S. F. Buck
    • LTJG M. Cheikin
    • LTJG M. D. Fowler
    • LTJG H. W. Jones, JR.
    • LTJG K. J. Reed
    • LTJG M. R. Willis
    • CW02 G. H. Baron
    • CWO2 F. E. Roach, JR.

  • June 23, 1972:
    Unidentified pilot flew his damaged A-4C BuNo 148609 to NAS Cecil Field after a mid-air collision with another Navy aircraft off St. Augustine, FL, but was unable to land because of control problems and ejected. The pilot of the other aircraft was killed.
    Petersburg, VA(?), Petersburg Times, Saturday, June 24, 1972.

  • 1974:
    Ed Jennings tells us about the "FIGAT".

  • May 27, 1974:
    Lt. Robert E. Rhode, ejected safely, was rescued and taken aboard USS Independence, after his TA-4J BuNo 158114 was accidently shot down off Jacksonville, FL. Rhode was flying a safety plane, near another craft towing an eight-foot long target device, when the unarmed Sidewinder missile fired from an A7 Corsair attack jet went astray and hit his plane.
    The Lowell Sun, Tuesday, May 28, 1974.

  • December 10, 1976:
    Lt. Jerome L. Petykowski ejected safely when his A-4E BuNo 139983 was accidentally struck by an unarmed AIM-9 missile fired from a Marine F-4J during a training mission and crashed into the Atlantic ocean off North Carolina.
    Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, VA The Progress-Index article
    Portsmouth, NH The Portsmouth Herald article
    Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, MI The Herald-Palladium article

  • September 30, 1980:
    Navy Fleet Support Squadron TWO the Blue Falcons, was disestablished. The unit had 5,000 plus accident free flight hours.

Awards

Photographs


VC-2 US-2C Aircraft
Photo from Ted Synnott.

VC-2 F8s in Air Progress Magazine.
Photo from Ted Synnott.

VC-2 BuNo.145575
Photo from Ted Synnott.

VC-2 BuNo.145562
Photo from Ted Synnott.

VC-2 BuNo.145601, 145558 and 146979
Photo from Ted Synnott.

VC-2 over their hanger.
Photo from Ted Synnott.

VC-2 BLUE FALCON CRUSADER TRANSITION PILOTS - 1970
Blue Falcon Crusader pilots transitioning to the Skyhawk - December 1970.
United States Navy Photograph from Cliff Jones

Douglas A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 150095, side number JE 1 - 1971 was the first Skyhawk assigned VC-2 in April 1971. Events of 150095's first Blue Falcon acceptance flight were published in the April 29, 1971 Naval Air Station Virginia Beach "Jet Observer."
After his acceptance flight Blue Falcon Skipper Commander Clifford Jones was pictured in 150095's cockpit. Later, Cdr. Jones was pictured with 150095 and Captain John Ford, Naval Air Station Oceana Commanding Officer and a former Scooter pilot.

In 1964, Skyhawk A-4E BuNo. 150095 - 1964 was assigned to VMA-331. This is Bob Herrman's photographic study of a November 4, 1964, section tactics flight off United States Ship Forrestal CVA 59. The pilot of A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 150095 was Marine Lt. Donald E. Gough (later a TWA Captain) who, along with his wife were lost on TWA Flight 800.
VC-2 USN photographs were taken by JO3 Dennis D'Andrea, USN and provided by Cliff Jones.
The VMA-331 photograph was taken by the late Bob Herrman, killed performing in a 1998 airshow.

Three Plane Blue Falcon Formation
Blue Falcon echelon right formation. A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 147754 side number JE 5 leads Blue Falcon Two A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 149497 side number JE 7 and Blue Falcon Three in A-4C Skyhawk BuNo. 145114 side number JE 11.
United States Navy Photograph from Al Heinz

Another verison of the VC-2 3plane Formation.
Lead Aircraft BuNo 147754, JE-05
BuNo 149497, JE-07
BuNo 145114, JE-11
All aircraft are A-4L models, upgraded from A-4C.
United States Navy Photo from James W. Perrine with help from John Gabbard

VC-2 T-Bird on the line with some Trackers.
James W. Perrine

AUG 1973: BuNo 151066, JE-3, as she taxies by the photographer.
R. Picciani via W. Mutza

JUN 1974: VC-2 A-4C BuNo 148576, JE-10, at NAS Jacksonville ramp.
Gary Verver Collection

03 AUG 1974: BuNo 158083, JE-03, parked on the ramp.
T. Hildreath

NOV 1974: VC-2 Skyhawk BuNo 147841, JE-19, parked on the Oceana ramp.
Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy

JAN 1975: VC-2 Skyhawk BuNo 148469, JE-2, parked on the ramp.
Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy

Jan 1977 BuNo 155110, JE-01, parked on the flight line.
Gary Verver Collection

A-4L Skyhawk BuNo 149497, JE-07.
Tailhook Association.

VC-2 BLUE FALCON PILOTS - 1975 posing with BuNo.158083.
United States Navy photograph from Ed Jennings with input from James Perrine.

BuNo. 158083 (JE-03) at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton OH in Dec. 1974. Photo courtesy of James W. Perrine and also Terrance Synnott.

BuNo. 149497 - Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. An A-4L Skyhawk Attack Aircraft of Fleet Composite Squadron 2 - VC-2 in flight on June 25, 1975.
Official U.S. Navy photo By PH1 Pointer from Gary Verver Collection.

12 AUG 1975:
BuNo 147836 on the ramp at NAS Oceana.
R. Ray Leader

May 1979 BuNo 154305, JE-03, rolling out with open speed breaks & flaps.
Photo by A. Molton, G. Verver collection.

MAY 1979: BuNo 151118, JE-12, assigned to LT Steve Courtney parked on the ramp.
Rob Mignard

MAY 1979: BuNo 154305, JE-03, assigned to LTJG Bob Sweet, parked on the ramp.
Rob Mignard

May 1980 153477, JE-04, on the ramp.
Gary Verver Collection

May 1980 BuNo 154305, JE-03, parked on the ramp.
Gary Verver Collection

May 1980 BuNo 154327, JE-00, parked on the ramp.
Gary Verver Collection

May 1980 BuNo 155110, JE-01, parked on the flight line. Gary Verver Collection

May 1980 BuNo 156914, JE-10, parked on the flight line.
Gary Verver Collection

May 1980 BuNo 156920, JE-06, parked on the flight line.
Gary Verver Collection

May 1980 156924, JE-07, parked on the flight line.
Gary Verver Collection

03 MAY 1980:
VC-2 BuNo 155110 on the ramp at NAS Oceana.
Stephen Miller

BuNo.147754 takes on a new role.
VC-2 Blue Tails A-4L Skyhawk BuNo 147754 resting in the Arizona sunshine. 7754 has been purchased by Southwest Florida Defense Antiquities Museum Inc.
BuNo.147754 #2
BuNo.147754 #3
BuNo.147754 #4
Greg Shepard via Joe Turpen

VC-2 A-4L BuNo 145115, JE-11, spotted in front of the tower at NAS Oceana, VA with a F-14 Tomcat, F-4 Phantom II and a A-6 Intruder.


Information Sources:
  • Cliff Jones
  • Harry S. Gann.
  • Al Heinz
  • Bob Herrman
  • Ed Jennings
  • LCDR Lumpy Sudbeck.
  • Christopher Weisse
  • Steve Marshall
  • John Gabbard
  • James W. Perrine
  • Ted Synnott
  • John J. Kresse


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