Talyn
SAINT
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps RF-8A Crusaders played an important, often forgotten, high-speed low-level and dangerous recon role during a time the world was on the brink.
Originally designated the Vought F8U-1P and later re-designated the RF-8A, the photo-reconnaissance Crusader made its initial flight on Dec. 17, 1956. Similar to the basic F-8 fighter version of the aircraft, modifications included the lower fuselage area forward of the main landing gear wells being adapted for the installation of cameras in place of guns. The bottom and sides of the fuselage were flattened and camera windows added. The nose of the aircraft had an attack camera installed, and four more cameras were placed aft of the pilot on both sides, with windows on the sides of the aircraft and the bottom, some cameras could be rotated from vertical to other angles.
theaviationist.com
A Vought RF-8A on approach for a carrier landing. Note the camera windows that appear as black squares in the photo just below the
national insignia on the lower fuselage and also on the underside of the fuselage behind the front landing gear as well as the underside of the nose.
On Oct. 23, RF-8A Crusaders from Navy reconnaissance squadron VFP-62 (Navy Light Photographic Squadron) began overflights of Cuba under the codename of “Blue Moon”. Operating in pairs, twice a day the aircraft would leave Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, Florida, and fly low level high-speed photo-reconnaissance missions over Cuba. Flying at 480 knots (552 mph) the pilots would shoot from an altitude of 200 ft to 1000 ft above their targets, engage the cameras and once the overflight was complete, descend back down to 200 ft and escape the area.
No RF-8As were lost to enemy fire during the operation in spite of encountering anti-aircraft fire at times.
The overflights lasted for about six weeks with a total of 160,000 negatives returned from the missions. All twelve Navy and all four Marine pilots were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and VFP-62 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation.
Originally designated the Vought F8U-1P and later re-designated the RF-8A, the photo-reconnaissance Crusader made its initial flight on Dec. 17, 1956. Similar to the basic F-8 fighter version of the aircraft, modifications included the lower fuselage area forward of the main landing gear wells being adapted for the installation of cameras in place of guns. The bottom and sides of the fuselage were flattened and camera windows added. The nose of the aircraft had an attack camera installed, and four more cameras were placed aft of the pilot on both sides, with windows on the sides of the aircraft and the bottom, some cameras could be rotated from vertical to other angles.
The Overlooked Role of the Vought RF-8A and VFP-62 in the Cuban Missile Crisis
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps RF-8A Crusaders played an important, often forgotten, high-speed low-level and dangerous recon role during a time the world was
theaviationist.com
A Vought RF-8A on approach for a carrier landing. Note the camera windows that appear as black squares in the photo just below the
national insignia on the lower fuselage and also on the underside of the fuselage behind the front landing gear as well as the underside of the nose.
On Oct. 23, RF-8A Crusaders from Navy reconnaissance squadron VFP-62 (Navy Light Photographic Squadron) began overflights of Cuba under the codename of “Blue Moon”. Operating in pairs, twice a day the aircraft would leave Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West, Florida, and fly low level high-speed photo-reconnaissance missions over Cuba. Flying at 480 knots (552 mph) the pilots would shoot from an altitude of 200 ft to 1000 ft above their targets, engage the cameras and once the overflight was complete, descend back down to 200 ft and escape the area.
No RF-8As were lost to enemy fire during the operation in spite of encountering anti-aircraft fire at times.
The overflights lasted for about six weeks with a total of 160,000 negatives returned from the missions. All twelve Navy and all four Marine pilots were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and VFP-62 was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation.