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Vol. 25 January – March 2020 No. 1
President’s Message Larry Skinner
You’re most likely in novel coronavirus overload by now, but how
do I not talk about it? I sincerely hope that none of you, your
family members or any of your friends has been infected by the
COVID-19 virus - the likes of which none of us have seen during our
lifetimes. How many of you really felt threatened by SARS, MERS, or
Swine Flu? Yeah, me neither. Also like you, I feel blessed to be
living in America with, undoubtedly, the best healthcare in the
entire world. I’m also thankful for our healthcare workers, first
responders and military personnel who risk their own health every
day to care for those stricken by this microscopic demon. Came from
China, but who even knew “wet markets” even existed? Yuck! Now they
think it might have been developed in a lab in Wuhan? Lousy
Commies.
My wife, Brenda, and I have been hunkered down for over a month
and are prepared to stay at home for however long it takes to feel
safe, but I sure hope the younger folks can start returning to work
real soon (May 1st?) and get our economy moving again (even if they
have to practice social distancing and wear masks for several
months). Let’s all pray they find a remedy and that a vaccine is
developed in record time! And while you’re praying, say a few for
Triumph!
Like most everything else, both the Retiree Club and the VHF
Restoration project have basically been shut down for the past
several weeks. Since all of us fall in the “high risk” category for
age, if not for underlying conditions, I’m not sure when we’ll be
back in full operation, but I’m hoping it’s at least by June.
Social distancing, masks and no gatherings over ten people pretty
well prevent most of what we would normally be doing this time of
year (I’d also normally be watching at least forty hours of sports
on TV every week, going out to eat,
to the gym and going to one or two movies – not a bad life and I
miss it). BTW, if you want to see people with total disregard for
your safety, go sit in the Wal-Mart parking lot (which is
completely full!) for a few minutes and watch all the entire
families going in and out, elbow to elbow. Not sure what it looks
like inside as I’m just sitting there waiting for my curbside order
to be brought out, which, I must say, has been extremely efficient
and they have a killer app.
Sad to hear about the passing of Dick Atkins. A wonderful man
who devoted a tremendous amount of his time in retirement to
preserving the history of Chance Vought, LTV Aerospace &
Defense, and Vought Aircraft. As the saying goes, he truly bled
“Corsair blue” and will be sorely missed.
We are also saddened at the passing of two of our dedicated and
talented aircraft restoration volunteers -- Pat O’Hara and Larry
Dennis.
Our thoughts and prayers also go out to Rusty Branum, one of the
wonderful folks who volunteer on the VHF restoration project, while
he’s on the DL for medical treatments. Hey Rusty, hope to see you
back in form by the time this is over with.
At this point, the June 2020 Annual Meeting and BBQ has been
cancelled.
We will let you know when it is rescheduled.
Until next time, stay safe, wash your hands, and watch out for
all the scammers that will undoubtedly try to take advantage of you
during these uncertain times.
Larry
Renew your membership for 2020, and continue to get your
Vought Retiree Club News!
Call the Club at (817) 478-1885 or Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
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In Memoriam by Ann Christmas
The Retiree Club has been notified since our last newsletter of
the following deceased members.
Our sincere sympathy goes out to the families of those listed.
Each will be missed.
Frances Lochner Stoll – 11-22-2012 Evelyn Virginia Johnston –
2-15-2017 Edwin Clinton Odette, Sr. – 11-17-2019 Harry J. Stoll –
11-17-2019 George Duane Smith – 12-2-2019 Don Arthur Walters –
12-13-2019 Billy H. Kilgore – 1-1-2020 Don Richard McCoy – 1-3-2020
Kenneth (Ken) Wade Bristow – 1-12-2020 Billy Lee Perry – 1-13-2020
Bobby L. Koonce – 1-14-2020 Mary Nell (Mickey) Smith – 1-25-2020
James Oval (Jimmy) Hale – 2-17-2020 Alva (Don) Floyd – 3-2-2020
Melvin Spencer Houk – 3-7-2020 Tommy L. Nanney – 3-15-2020 William
Laurence (Larry) Dennis – 3-24-2020 Charles R. Hickox, Jr. –
3-28-2020 Thomas R. (Tommy) Tubbs, Jr. – 3-28-2020 Everett Richard
(Dick) Atkins – 4-1-2020 Patric (Pat) O’Hara – 4-5-2020 Wilbur
Dwane Cummings – 4-8-2020 Melvin Ruel (Mel) Gilbert – 4-9-2020
2020 Dues ! by Gaye Kortegast
It’s time to send in your 2020 membership dues!
(If you’re not sure whether or not you’ve renewed, you may check
the mailing label on this newsletter for
status of your membership.)
If you would like to renew for 2020, please send your dues as
soon as you can !
The cost is still only $5.00 per person per year. You may renew
for as many years as you desire.
Or, Lifetime memberships are only $50 per person.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you !
Volunteer Events by Johnnie Johnson
MISSION ARLINGTON
210 W. South Street Arlington, Texas 76010
All volunteer events have been postponed due to the coronavirus
pandemic.
Hopefully, when things return to normal, we can reschedule the
volunteer opportunity with Mission Arlington!
Mission Arlington is a wonderful organization that runs on the
help of volunteers. By volunteering, it connects you with the
community to serve others for the good. Volunteer events give us
all an opportunity to make a positive impact in our communities by
helping those who are in need. Retirees, family, and friends are
invited to participate in these events. Give me a call and let me
know if you would like to join us. For more information, call
Johnnie Johnson at 817-845-7576, or the Retiree Club at
817-478-1885.
Thanks for your help! Johnnie Johnson
NEW T-shirt – O3U-3 Corsair I
The new blue shirts featuring the O3U-3 Corsair I are available
for a donation of $15. Shipping charges (if mailed, instead of
being picked up at the Vought Retiree Club office) are $7 for one
shirt, $8 for two, or actual shipping cost for over two shirts.
Pick one up at, or order one from, the Retiree Club office
([email protected] or 817-478-1885).
The new blue O3U-3 Corsair I T-shirt –
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The 100th Anniversary of Chance Vought T-shirt is available for
$12 for the restocked 2XL and 3XL sizes, still $10 for the other
sizes.
The 100th Anniversary of Chance Vought T-shirt --
The back of the T-shirt is shown here --
The close-up of the graphic on the back of the T-shirt is shown
here --
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Executive Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month
The Executive Committee of the Vought Retiree Club meets at 9:15
a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the office suite
generously provided by Texas Trust Credit Union in the Texas Trust
Business Park at 5840 W. I-20 in southwest Arlington.
The April Executive Committee meeting was cancelled due to the
coronavirus pandemic,
and the May meeting may be as well.
The Vought Heritage Foundation Restoration volunteer crew is
working in the new facility provided by the Grand Prairie
Independent School District. They currently meet every Tuesday and
Thursday -- from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Restoration News
Updates from Rusty Branum
In this issue of the Vought Retiree Club News, the activities of
the Restoration Group are detailed for the period December 17
through March.
December was a short month due to the holidays. The Restoration
Volunteers started up again beginning Thursday, January 2, and are
working on the O3U-3 fuselage.
Anyone who wants to help restore the company’s old aircraft,
come join the Restoration Volunteers ! December 17, 2019 I
located some new heaters for the slip roller and got them installed
today; she runs like a top. More work on the mill, Jerry Fischer
doing his magic. Out on the airplane (O3U-3 Corsair I), more work
was done installing ribs and stringers. Today was our annual
Christmas lunch; we had a large turnout. A lot of these guys we
only see once a year. I counted 33 enjoying some great food and
fellowship, and cake and pie and cookies....oh my. We all gathered
outside the building for our group picture. Today is the last day
we are working this year, to return on January 2nd. So till we meet
again, this will be the last post this year, Merry Christmas to
all, and Happy New Year. January 2, 2020 First day back from the
Christmas break, and most of us made it without issue. We learned
that Joyce Ross took a tumble and ended up in the ER and a few days
in the hospital, not the way to spend your Christmas. We had a
smaller crew on hand today. I expect most of them will be back next
week. We are still working on beams for the overhead crane. Bill
Condon and Cathie Barrington were caught pretending to be working
on the O3U-3 engine heat shields -- good job guys and gals, keep up
the good work. January 8, 2020 Sebastian Marconi, an Aircraft
Maintenance Technician based in Cleveland, Ohio, posted these
photos of the O3U-3 on the Vought Heritage Foundation Facebook
page, and commented – “…keep up the outstanding work! Is there
anywhere donations can be made to the project?”
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O3U-3 model on display at Naval Aviation Museum
January 9, 2020 We have been working on building stringers for
the O3U-3. The series of photos show the process for turning
mahogany planks into the finished product.
Bob Szabados and Jerry Fischer worked on some special set-ups on
the table saw and a custom built router fixture to mold the
radius.
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After the sticks are scarf cut, they are bonded together using
more fixtures.
The finished stringer is thirteen feet long, and trimmed upon
installation on the fuselage.
Dick Guthrie and Richard Sheaner are reviewing drawings to
determine how the last ribs are located.
Jim Ross was caught under the club truck, trying to install some
new wiring for a trailer mounted winch.
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February 4, 2020
It’s been a few weeks since my last post, so we have some
catching up to do.
Starting off with building stringers, Bob Szabados gave Mickey
Arms Branum some on-the-job training.
I think Mickey is turning into Rosie the Riveter.
Dick Guthrie is busy fitting some stringers on the aft
fuselage.
Jerry Fischer was busy building some holding fixtures on the
Bridgeport.
Bill Condon is still working on engine heat shields.
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We moved a drill press and work stands out to the high bay area
and set up the overhead I-beam for drilling. We have over 50 holes
to be drilled.
We were gifted a utility trailer by member Harold Lindsey.
Bob Szabados and Jerry Fischer were busy again turning planks
into stringers, using another custom fixture they built for the
table saw.
Earl Hastings was putting a coat of paint on our oscillating
sander stand – looking good, Earl !
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Jerry Fischer was busy with some Bridgeport maintenance.
Wat Watkins and Don Branton took a break from O3U-3 fuselage
underbelly work.
We got our forklift propane tank recertified this week, and we
bought a new tank -- no more running out of gas.
Finally, today we had some visitors -- Jim Hill and his son, and
Huey Barrilleaux.
February 9, 2020 We had a nice visit from Bob Bardo and his
fiancee Jeanette Farmer this week -- they brought us 20 brand new
padded folding chairs for our media room.
They also donated a much needed carpet sweeper. Paula Hastings
couldn’t wait to try it out.
Many thanks to Bob and Jeanette for the donations.
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February 11, 2020 Earl Hastings did a great job on painting the
oscillating sander work stand.
We have been working on a man cage, to be used along with the
forklift, when we install part of the overhead crane beam. A couple
of shelves will be added and then a coat of paint.
I was able to get two of the air conditioning window unit remote
controls to work today; they have heat and cooling in one unit.
Jim Ross and Mickey Arms Branum were busy building more
stringers for the OU3-3 airplane.
We had the forklift repair guy in today; we are waiting on a
written estimate before we do the repair. And finally, look at this
listing of Chance Vought names and logos over the years.
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Photos with Adam Galan working with the A7 on an aircraft
carrier, from 1981 --
Adam Galan with an A7,
on the way to the Indian Ocean, October 11, 1981.
February 12, 2020 Going through some old papers this morning
with my wife, we came across this check stub from the work period
ending October 3, 1954. This was my mother-in-law, from TEMCO
Aircraft. Imagine bringing home $48 after taxes for a 40-hour work
week; times have changed.
From AVGEEKERY.COM –
“The 1975 Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV)-produced promotional film “The
A-7 Attack Fighter” features both the Navy’s A-7E and the Air
Force’s A-7D Corsair II tactical jets. The Short Little Ugly F***er
(SLUF) was developed from the Navy’s supersonic F-8 Crusader
fighter. A-7s replaced some of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawks and A-1
Skyraiders in Navy Service as well as A-1 Skyraiders and North
American F-100 Super Sabres in Air Force Service. Produced in five
basic models and several more mission-specific variants, 1,569
Corsair IIs were built by LTV at their plant in Dallas, Texas. The
first flight of the prototype YA-7A took place on September 27th
1965.”
https://www.avgeekery.com/behold-the-corsair-ii-the-undisputed-rodney-dangerfield-of-vietnam-era-attack-jets/?fbclid=IwAR1f2ZCN4Ju-HtE4F40eGda2x8HW_ngQYPI2YR75z01leZJKBvVGYat_sHo
The Vought A7 Attack Fighter video is at:
https://youtu.be/GJ5v8SvOdA0 February 16, 2020 In October 2018, Wat
Watkins and Adam Galan went to Montana to help the Lewiston, Maine
Veterans Memorial Park volunteers disassemble an A-7 that was being
sent to Maine. We recently received an update from Maine. -- “Yes
it is the plane you helped with, thank you very much, we will paint
it when spring gets here. Thank you to Wat and Adam. They taught me
a crash course when we took it apart so I could put it back
together here in Maine. See attached photo. We will unveil it the
Saturday before Memorial Day. The city is building a
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pedestal, I hope by November. The plane fits well in our
Veterans Memorial Park. I learned my lesson, I’ll never do that
again. J FYI, in the picture, we had Wreaths Across America come by
the Park and put wreaths on all the monuments.”
February 18, 2020 It was cold and rainy as we celebrated our 1st
Quarter birthdays today, with a pretty good turnout for cake and
coffee. January birthdays were Frank Laubenthal, Peggy Hoover
(December) and Don Branton; missing was Martin Galaviz.
February birthdays were Earl Hastings, Bill Condon,
A special achievement for Huey Barrileaux, as he achieved
90-year old volunteer status!
March birthdays were Richard Roberson and Bob Brown.
Happy Birthday to all our awesome volunteers!
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Out in the high bay area, drilling on the steel I-beam has
begun. 53 holes were required. Then we get to do it on the overhead
I-beam.
We are still waiting on a repair estimate for our ailing
forklift. February 25, 2020 The forklift repair guy was on site
early this morning, and in no time had the leaking hydraulic
cylinder removed and back to his shop for teardown and repair.
Hopefully, he will be back on Thursday to reinstall and test the
system -- fingers crossed.
Jerry Fischer was busy on the Bridgeport machine today, working
on some tooling, drilling holes.
Tim Sanford came by and donated some beautiful black and white
framed prints of Vought aircraft. Thanks, Tim, for saving these
from being tossed. We will have them up on our walls shortly.
Tim Sanford donated framed photo of A7 Corsair II
Tim Sanford donated framed photo of F4U Corsair
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Tim Sanford donated photo of O3U-3 taking off
February 28, 2020 Welcome to new members of our Facebook Group
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/1482266625152469/), the Vought
Heritage Foundation. There are now 177 members. I try to put
something new each week on the page, feel free to add your
comments.
1. Donny Anderson 2. Sandra Jordan Bass 3. Jim Batten 4. David
Bennett 5. Sammy T. Blay 6. Lynn Boswell 7. Brent Branum 8.
Charlotte Brening 9. Joy Brenckman 10. Tommy Dale Brooks 11. John
Bukaty 12. John Call 13. Maria Charney 14. Bruce Clark 15. Dave T.
Clayton 16. Michael Flanery 17. Jim Flores 18. Ron Genzer 19. Caryn
Wild Elliott Harrison 20. Angie Herman 21. Mike Herman 22. Sandra
Hughes Hooks 23. Denise Galvani Hurst 24. Sharon Smith Jackson 25.
Kelly Johnson 26. Neal Justice 27. Karl Keeton 28. Tom Kiefer 29.
Joe Kolb 30. Debra Saenz Marroquin
31. Michael McPherson 32. Michael McQuatters 33. Myra Mead 34.
Patrick Meek 35. Priscilla Montgomery 36. Kandy Jones Moss 37. Jay
“Fuzz” Palmer 38. Jimmie Perkins 39. Bill Phelps 40. William
Phillips 41. P Ann Phillips Poindexter 42. Janice Jordan Pribble
43. Larry Reznicek 44. Tim Rowlette 45. Timothy Lee Sanford 46.
Linda Wusterhausen Scott 47. Kim McClaskey Sheeley 48. James
Stegman 49. Judy Stephens 50. Haward Stone 51. Joe Tarrant 52.
Charles VanBerg 53. David Vestal 54. Michael Vinson 55. Brett White
56. David Whitney 57. Mike Williams 58. John Wilson
I also extend an invitation to join the Vought Retiree Club, if
you aren’t already a member. Some of you may not have worked for
Vought or LTV, but I know you from our days at Loral and Lockheed
Martin -- we all have a connection with the Vought heritage. I want
you to come see what we are doing to preserve the Vought heritage.
We always have coffee and donuts on hand. We only work on Tuesdays
and Thursdays – from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Our location is on the
west side of South Carrier Parkway in Grand Prairie, about ½ mile
south of I-20, just behind the Charles England State Farm Insurance
office building [between 4210 S. Carrier Parkway (Dry Clean Super
Center) and 4242 S. Carrier Parkway (Charles England State Farm
Insurance)]. Also, visit our website for more Vought history – at
www.vought.org.
March 3, 2020 Check out the newly painted man lift, complete
with work shelves, Earl Hastings put the battleship grey finish on
last week, and now she is ready to work.
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Stringer fabrication is in full swing. We have 8 fixtures, and
all of them being put to work, Mickey Arms Branum and Jim Ross have
taken over the conference room table, and are cranking them out as
fast as the glue dries.
Stringer fitment out in the assembly area is taking place, up on
the top of the fuselage.
Wing strong backs are now completed, and just waiting on a coat
of paint.
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Work on the bottom of the O3U-3 fuselage is underway. Wat
Watkins is making some good headway.
We got our forklift repaired today, and are glad to have it back
in service. March 7, 2020 We finally got around to filling a large
hole in the North end of the high bay, the original door only
covered the bottom half of the opening. We used a couple of old
cattle panels welded together to form a frame and then strapped a
tarp over the frame. We used a couple of J hooks outside the door
frame to hold it in place. Then we lifted it up with the fork lift,
and then secured the top and edges with Adel clamps. This should
keep the rain and wind out, when we start assembly of the fuselage
and wings.
Inside view of the High Bay door cover,
with Earl Hastings standing by
Outside view of the High Bay door cover
March 8, 2020 Victoria Vought posted this video on the Vought
Heritage website about the passing of Rosalind Walter, the original
inspiration for Rosie the Riveter, who worked on the F4 Corsair.
Rosalind Palmer Walter died in New York City on Wednesday, March 4,
2020, at the age of 95. At the age of 19 after high school, she
passed up college during World War II to take a night shift at the
Chance Vought Aircraft plant in Stratford, CT to work on the F4U
Corsair. She drove rivets into the metal bodies of Corsair fighter
planes, a job previously reserved for men. Sources have noted that
she "broke records for speed on the production line, advocating for
equal pay for her female co-workers.”
https://www.facebook.com/tori.vought/videos/10219559591354883/
Rosalind was affectionately called "Roz" by friends. A newspaper
column about her inspired a morale-boosting 1942 song that turned
her into the legendary Rosie the Riveter. "She's a part of the
assembly line. She's making history, working for victory," the
famous song lyrics say in part. "Rosie, brrrrrr, the Riveter."
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Other women went on to become Rosie the Riveter models for
posters and magazine covers for the War Production Board. The
iconic "We Can Do It!" poster, which became a feminist symbol, was
modeled after Naomi Parker Fraley, who died in 2018 at the age of
96.
Rosalind Walter was born in Brooklyn on June 24, 1924. She
married Henry S. Thompson, a lieutenant with the Naval Reserve and
a graduate of Stanford University, and the two had a son, named
Henry, before divorcing in the 1950s. Beyond inspiring the wartime
heroine, Walter was a major philanthropist who supported public
television with several programs on PBS and was the largest
supporter of WNET in New York, financing 67 shows or series
starting in 1978. Along with her second husband, Henry Glendon
Walter Jr., who was president and later chairman and CEO of
International Flavors and Fragrances, she gave to the American
Museum of Natural History, the Pierpont Morgan Library, Long Island
University, the college scholarship program of the U.S. Tennis
Association and the North Shore Wildlife Sanctuary on Long Island.
Rosalind Walter is survived by her son, Henry S. Thompson; two
grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and several
step-great-grandchildren.
March 11, 2020
V-173B: The Time Has Come
The Chance Vought Survivors, in conjunction with the Vought
Heritage Foundation, hosted at the Ruthe Jackson Center in Grand
Prairie on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, Sean Jeralds, associate
professor in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University, Prescott, Arizona. Sean gave a brief history of the
Circular wing and the latest research on that concept. He presented
an overview of his V-173B Project -- including Aerodynamics,
Weights, Propulsion, Structure, Crashworthiness, Maintainability,
Payload, Performance, and Cost. He pointed out why the features of
this modern day pancake-like airplane makes it a very attractive
configuration for today’s aircraft market. March 17, 2020 COVID-19
was the topic around the lunch table today, seems you can’t get
away from it these days. Since we usually don’t have a large crowd
on hand (only 10 today), we discussed terminating the work for a
period of time, we discussed continuing on a limited/reduced
schedule, and we discussed trying to keep the same schedule. In the
end, we decided to keep with the established schedule, and use
common sense, practice social distancing, and above all, if we
aren’t feeling well, to stay home. Let’s just hope this stuff is
resolved soon, and we all can get back to business as usual. Stay
safe out there. March 22, 2020
Vought Heritage Foundation operations suspended due to Covid-19
order
by Dallas County
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Dallas County has issued a shelter-in-place order for all
non-essential businesses and residents, effective at 11:59 p.m. on
March 23, 2020. The Vought Heritage Foundation volunteers will
cease operations until county officials deem it safe. This could be
up to several weeks or longer. We will be in touch with all our
volunteers via E-mail and social media...stay tuned...and stay
safe.
Portuguese Air Force A-7P These two photos were taken by Dave
Ruddlesden while on an Aeroprints AT1806 tour, on May 16, 2018, at
Base Aerea number 1, Manobra de Maceda, Ovar, Portugal.
LTV A-7P 15504 of the Portuguese Air Force
at Base Aerea number 1, Manobra de Maceda, Ovar, Portugal
History – The Crusader: the Last Gunfighter Was One Impressive
Engineering Triumph Donny Anderson posted this article and film on
the Vought Heritage website –
The article is at:
https://www.avgeekery.com/the-crusader-the-last-gunfighter-was-one-impressive-engineering-triumph/?fbclid=IwAR26aleEbaBQ1WDJikqjuFxGildZg21vWAGVTjVnQyeDlD3txalnVv6qfAY
The video is at: https://youtu.be/4AgbRWT31L0 Over 5000 U.S.
Naval aviators flew the F8 Crusader. The F8 Crusader was known
among the naval aviators as the MiG Master – its pilots shot down
19 MiGs during the Vietnam War, while losing only 3. In the summer
of 1952, the U.S. Navy issued an RFP for a new fighter, to be
operational with the fleet in 1956. LTV, then known as Chance
Vought Aircraft, entered and won the competition. Chance Vought
designed the smallest and lightest airframe around the most
powerful engine available – the Pratt & Whitney J57, with
16,000 pounds of thrust. The XF8U-1 began to take shape in late
1953. For the first time, titanium and magnesium were extensively
used. Its “Coke bottle” fuselage shape was tested in the wind
tunnel to reduce supersonic drag. The plane had a variable
incidence wing that when in a high position allowed excellent
forward visibility for the pilot landing on aircraft carriers and a
desirable angle of attack. After 22 months of development, the
plane was disassembled and loaded onto a C-124 transport plane and
carried to Edwards Air Force Base for reassembly and testing.
There, on March 24, 1955, Vought Chief Test Pilot John Konrad flew
the first taxi tests.
The next day, March 25, 1955, one week ahead of schedule, the
first flight test was executed, again by John Konrad. It exceeded
Mach 1 on its first flight.
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In 1956, a production F8 set the first national speed record
over 1,000 MPH (piloted by USN pilot CDR Duke Windsor) won the Navy
its first Thompson Trophy.
In 1957, the F8 made 2 record-breaking transcontinental flights
–
1. An ocean-to-ocean flight from an aircraft carrier in the
Pacific to one in the Atlantic in less than 3 ½ hours.
2. U.S. Marine Corps Major John Glenn made the first supersonic
flight from Los Angeles to New York, in only 202 minutes.
The F8 also set a milestone by joining the operational fleet
within 2 years of its first flight.
After 1987, the F8 Crusader, the first supersonic day fighter,
was retired as part of the active inventory of the U.S. Navy and
Marine Corps.
From avgeekery.com – Vought’s F8U-1 and F8U-2 Crusaders equipped
Navy and Marine Corps fighter squadrons between 1957 and 1976. The
photo-recon RF-8 version served even longer. In the film, the
XF8U-3 gets quite a bit of screen time, even though there were only
five of them built. It is a bit surprising that the Crusader III,
bigger and faster and meant to serve in the fleet interceptor role,
was actually developed in parallel with the other Crusaders. The
XF8U-3 was first flown in June of 1958, and reached operational
speeds of Mach 2.32 soon thereafter, with Mach 2 attained in level
flight. Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney J75-P-5A engine
capable of 29,500 pounds of thrust with afterburner, the Crusader
III’s thrust-to-weight ratio was an impressive .97:1. Easily
identified by its distinctive forward canted scoop intake,
prominent retractable ventral strakes, and fatter aft fuselage
necessary to accommodate the larger J75 engine, the Crusader III
was, in the words of Vought test pilots, fully capable of “flying
circles around” the F-4 Phantom. But like the other Crusaders, the
XF8U-3 was planned to be equipped with four 20-millimeter cannons
(though they were not installed) -- which at the time were thought
to be obsolete. We all know that turned out differently too. Task
saturation while operating the radar and fire control systems for
the single pilot of the Crusader III was also a problem, but the
final straw was the larger payload and fighter-bomber capability of
the F-4. The XF8U-3 just wasn’t a multi-role aircraft. And it never
would be. The F8U-3 program was cancelled. The five airframes built
by Vought were transferred to the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) and used for testing. Of course, the F-4 went
on to become the Phabulous Phantom, famous in song and story. The
Crusader went down in history as one of the most memorable jets its
pilots ever flew, and taglines like, “when you’re out of F-8s,
you’re out of fighters” became the stuff of legends. And the
Crusader III ? NASA pilots flying the cast-off XF8U-3s out of
Patuxent River routinely waxed the sixes of Navy pilots flying F-4s
over the Chesapeake until the practice was outlawed…by the Navy. Or
so the story goes!
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In Memory of Dick Atkins (December 11, 1926 – April 1, 2020)
The Vought company family has lost another great man who did so
much to preserve the history and legacy of Chance Vought Aircraft
and LTV Aerospace & Defense – Dick Atkins. Dick will be greatly
missed. (A Memorial Service will be held at a later date, after the
coronavirus threat has subsided.) Everett Richard (Dick) Atkins
(December 11, 1926 – April 1, 2020)
Dick Atkins at the Frontiers of Flight Museum,
Dallas, Texas, 2015
Dick and his wife, Marian
Dick Atkins and wife Marian on their Wedding Day,
September 22, 1945
Dick Atkins in uniform with his wife, Marian
Dick Atkins with his wife, Marian -- December 2014
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Dick Atkins with his team working on the Vought Archives
Photo below – Dick Atkins with Sol Love (on right) at the F4U
Roll-Out at Vought Aircraft, on 1-24-2009. Dick also gave the
opening speech that day (see other 2 photos) --
A7 winning Proposal Team, August 1963 – front row, L-R: Charlie
King, Dick Atkins, Sol Love, Jesse Santamaria, Joe Tackas, Phil
Watenpaugh, Bill Yarnall, Carl Welgehausen --
Dick Atkins was Director of Archives for the Vought Heritage
Foundation, overseeing and working side-by-side with a dedicated
and hard-working team who gathered and catalogued historical
documents, photographs, films, and other memorabilia of the Chance
Vought Aircraft company and its successor LTV Aerospace &
Defense Corporation. The collection was donated to the University
of Dallas, where it resides today.
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Larry Skinner, President of the Vought Retiree Club, said, "Dick
was such a great man and the biggest fan CVA/LTV/Vought ever had.
He will be missed." Cathie Barrington, the President of the Vought
Heritage Foundation, said, "Dick was a faithful volunteer,
struggling in the end to continue his efforts to preserve the
Vought Heritage even as cancer was ravaging his body."
Everett Richard (Dick) Atkins passed on Wednesday, April 1,
2020.
Dick was born on Saturday, December 11, 1926. Dick grew up in
St. Petersburg, Florida. He served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air
Force as an air crewman and a member of the Command & Logistics
organization. Dick was Lt. Col. USAF Retired.
Dick started working at Chance Vought Aircraft in 1953. His
career experience included: crew and escape system design for the
F7U-3, F8 series, and XC-142 Flying Pancake; A7 series from
proposal through final design of YA-7F; Chief of A7 Crew Systems
Design; Advanced Systems Design; Technical Project Manager for
Research and Development; and Technical Project Manager for
Pilot/Vehicle Integration. Dick retired in 1990, after 37 years of
service to the company. Dick’s hobbies were researching aviation
history and authoring a World War II aviation book about the Eighth
Air Force.
On April 22, 1942, Dick met Marian Burkhart, beginning a 75-year
Love Story that will never end. Their marriage began their
adventures of life in the Air Force. They had three children. After
Marian retired in 2009, she and Dick enjoyed travel adventures.
After retirement, Dick also volunteered with the Vought Heritage
Foundation, preserving the history of the Chance Vought Aircraft
company and its successor, LTV Aerospace & Defense. Dick served
as Director of Archives and founded the Vought Archives. Dick was
also the co-leader of the www.vought.com website and a member of
the Vought Heritage Board of Directors.
Dick was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marian, his
parents and son, Rick Atkins.
SURVIVORS: daughters Terry Craddock and husband Phil, and Carol
Wampler and husband John; grandchildren -- Phil Craddock Jr.,
Tammy
Craddock, Kim Wampler, Skye Hasan, and Johnny Wampler. The rest
of the herd includes 20 great-grandchildren and two
great-great-grandchildren, all very loveable. Dick Atkins at the
December 2019 Birthdays celebrated at the Vought Heritage
Foundation Restoration building -- Paula Hastings, Dick Atkins, Wat
Watkins, and Stan Bullard:
The following photo was taken at the July-August-September
birthday celebration. All the attendees were happy to see Dick
Atkins, who was recovering from his broken hip.
Dick Atkins
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In Memory of Larry Dennis (August 26, 1939 - March 24, 2020)
Sadly, Vought Retiree volunteer Larry Dennis has passed, on
Tuesday, March 24, 2020, from lung cancer and a heart infection.
Larry was one of our Vought Heritage Foundation volunteers who
worked diligently on preserving our Vought company history and
restoring Vought aircraft.
No obituary will be published.
William Laurence (Larry) Dennis was born in Randolph County,
North Carolina, on Saturday, August 26, 1939.
Larry Dennis worked at Amcel Corporation in Ashville, NC in the
spring of 1966. He and others at Amcel tested some warheads that we
(LTV) designed for the Maverick missile. We did not win the
Maverick missile contract, but, we were ranked number 1 on our
warhead design and testing results and analysis. Larry was a very
friendly and likeable person.
Both Larry and his wife, Ann, then worked on Lance for LTV,
first in Michigan, and then coming to Texas. After coming to Texas,
they also worked on GSRS (General Support Rocket System) which
became MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System).
Ann was a sweet, kind, and friendly lady, always with a great
smile. Ann worked in Quality Assurance and retired from Lockheed
Martin on October 31, 1999.
Larry’s wife, Ann Davis Dennis, passed from pancreatic cancer on
January 13, 2011.
Larry said that Annie was "cremated and after both memorial
services, the ashes will be buried in Michigan, next to her Mother
and Father (in White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy,
Michigan). When I pass on, my ashes are to be buried in the same
grave."
Attached is a beautiful photo of Ann and Larry in a field of
bluebonnets, from their April 2007 visit to
the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails. The photo was displayed at Annie’s
Memorial Mass.
Lloyd Farris, Cathie Barrington, and Larry Dennis at the
December 2019 Birthdays celebrated at the Vought Heritage
Foundation Restoration building -- the Quarter Century Club event
on May 5, 2012 –
Larry Dennis at the Quarter Century Club event, on April 23,
2011 --
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In Memory of Pat O’Hara
Cathie Barrington, President of the Vought Heritage Foundation,
said, “We lost another of our devoted Vought Heritage Foundation
volunteers, Patric O'Hara, to cancer this week. Pat was a dedicated
and skilled craftsman. One of the ‘Greatest Generation’. He will be
missed.”
Patric (Pat) O’Hara (August 19, 1928 – April 5, 2020)
Patric (Pat) O’Hara, 91, a resident of Irving for most of his
life, died on Sunday, April 5, 2020 at Baylor, Scott and White
Medical Center in Irving. Born on August 19, 1928 in Little Rock,
Arkansas, he was the son of the late Patric O’Hara and Lucile
Finley O’Hara. He was brought to Irving, Texas at a very young age.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He married
Bonnie Neal Farris. For many years, he worked for LTV Aerospace
& Defense in Grand Prairie in aircraft construction. Survivors
include his wife, Bonnie of Irving; daughter, Rhonda McCarthy of
Florida; daughter, Karen Parks of Irving; and two sons -- Patric
O’Hara and Gary O’Hara; nine grandchildren -- Sean McCarthy, Meghan
Snyder, Thomas Parks, Kari Downs, Jeffrey Parks, Jeremy Parks, Gary
O’Hara, Jr., Cristina O’Hara, and Misty O’Hara; and a sister, Mary
Ruth Parker of Irving. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private
family service will be live-streamed at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday,
April 9, 2020. The link for the live-stream is:
https://youtu.be/4joyZRL6ar8. A recording of the service was also
taken and is available here: https://youtu.be/ZsD4TSxFzEE. Burial
will be at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Donnelly’s Colonial Funeral Home 606 West Airport Freeway;
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 579-1313
Pat O'Hara working on restoration
and relaxing in the VHF Restoration lunchroom
August 2019 birthdays -- Rusty Branum, Pat
O’Hara (91), and Cathie Barrington
Rusty Branum: “Pat and I started building all the engine cowling
parts for the O3U-3 a few years ago. We started with a sheet of
.032 aluminum, and some really old drawings. He showed me how to
build some stamping dies, we used to form all the louvers; it was
time consuming, but turned out really great. The man had some great
skills, he taught me a lot. I miss him.”
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December 17, 2019 -- Vought Heritage Foundation Restoration
Volunteers
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Vought Retiree Club 5840 W I-20, Suite #280 Arlington, TX
76017-1098 Officers: Directors: President – Larry Skinner
Activities – Pat Patterson 1st Vice President – Karen Sauls Annual
Meeting – Karen Sauls 2nd Vice President – Gaye Kortegast Support
Assistant – Sue Nutt Treasurer – Madie Vernon Support Assistant –
Leroy Buchanan Secretary – Vynita Hutson Mailing – Bob Snegon
Sergeant-at-Arms – Wat Watkins Newsletter and Publicity – Bob
Bardo
Newsletter Editor Emeritus – Connie Singleton Veterans’ Advocate
– Gene Cates Volunteer Programs – Johnnie Johnson Technical Support
and Website* – Roger Stites V.P. - Membership Assistant – Ann
Christmas
Call the Club at (817) 478-1885 President, Vought Heritage
Foundation – Cathie Barrington
Email: [email protected]
[email protected] *Vought Heritage Website: www.vought.org
Retirees, call the “Benefits Center” toll free 1-800-577-2145 with
questions on retiree benefits.
Printing services provided by Texas Trust Credit Union.
First Class US Postage Paid Arlington, TX Permit No. 295