VC-2 |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO).
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 Provided by Cliff Jones |
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Patch The patch was designed in early 1965 in a Squadron contest. Big deal prize was 30 days of no SDO duty. |
Sources David Weber John J. Kresse |
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Handle No info yet. Heritage Before 1952 Utility Squadron FOUR (VU-4) Detachment Quonset Point, Rhode Island. January 18, 1952, VU-4 Detachment Quonset Point, Rhode Island re-designated 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. |
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Air Wings Tail Code- - - - - - - - - JE |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: 1952 - - - - - - - - - - - - Douglas JD-1 Invader Photo by Harry S. Gann. 1952 - - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman F9F Cougar. 1960 - - - - - - - - - - - - North American FJ-3 Fury. 1961 - - - - - - - - - - - - Vought F-8U Crusader. 18 March 1971- - - - - - - - Douglas A4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * 30 April 1971- - - - - - - - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawks * 1971 - - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman US2-A and US2-C Tracker. 23 February 1974 - - - - - - Douglas A-4L Skyhawk. 02 October 1973- - - - - - - Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk. 19?? - - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman S2-F Tracker. Starting in 1971, the "Blue Falcons" flew A-4, TA-4 Skyhawks and S2 Trackers from Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia. VC-2 in addition to providing towed targets and "service flights" for the Atlantic Fleet, also provided dissimilar ACM training for both VF-101 (RAG) and the Air Farce from Langley, Virginia. Photographs from Harry S. Gann; 3-view drawings from Harry S. Gann, redrawn by Bud Southworth. *November 30, 1962 The A4D-2N designation was changed to A-4C The A4D-5 designation was changed to A-4E For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
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Deployments None. |
Commanding Officers 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 |
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Awards 1975 Navy E: MAY 1977 Battle E: |
Awards continued 1980 decommissioning. Meritorious Unit Commendation: |
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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 re-designated 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 re-designated 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 June 23, 1972: One Navy pilot nursed his damaged jet (A-4C BuNo 148609) nearly back to base but another died after two planes, flying separate training missions collided over the Atlantic east of St. Augustine, FL. Friday. Lt. Kenneth J. Reed, 25, limped back to NAS Cecil but found that control problems prevented a safe landing. He ejected and ditched the A4 Skyhawk in an unpopulated swampy area. Thomasville Times Enterprise, Saturday, 24 June 1972, Thomasville, GA. Two Navy jets on separate missions collided over the Atlantic Ocean off St. Augustine, FL, Friday and one pilot was killed, the Navy reported. The other pilot flew his damaged A4 Skyhawk to NAS Cecil Field but was unable to land because of control problems. He ejected and the plane crashed in a swampy unpopulated area. The pilot, who was killed, managed to eject before his A7 Corsair II (VA-12 A-7E 158007) crashed into the sea. He was picked up by the German guided missile destroyer Rommel, visiting in this area, which reported the pilot was dead. Statesville Record And Landmark, Saturday, 24 June 1972, Statesville, NC. Lt. Kenneth J. Reed, 25, flew his damaged A-4 Skyhawk to NAS Cecil Field after a mid-air collision east of St. Augustine, FL, but was unable to land because of control problems and ejected. The pilot of the Navy A-7 Corsair II based at Cecil ejected but was dead when picked up by the German guided missile destroyer Rommel. Sarasota Herald Tribune, Sunday, June 25, 1972.
April 25, 1974: Ens. Brian M. Calhoun in A-4C BuNo 145097, Anthony 7, the 2nd airplane in a two-plane VC-2 launch from NAS Ocean was cleared for takeoff with a 10 second interval on runway 32R. After 1,000 to 1,500 feet of roll the engine exploded with fire coming through the aircraft fuselage. Tower: Second A-4 on runway, you have a fire back of cockpit --- underside on fire also --- aircraft rolling out 32R --- shut it down on runway. The pilot aborted takeoff, cleared runway 32R at the intersection runway 23R and jumped over the side. The MB5 crash truck standing runway alert was rolling after the aircraft and applied extinguishing agent as the aircraft came to a stop. AAR 1-74A 1974: Ed Jennings tells us about the "FIGAT". May 27, 1974: Lt. Robert E. Rhode, ejected safely and was rescued by a helicopter and taken aboard the aircraft carrier Independence after his TA-4 (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. Normal procedure was to spool out the target to 25,000 feet or so of cable. With a drop of 7% for the tow line the target would usually be 1,500 to 2,000 feet below the tow aircraft altitude. So, with the target 5 miles behind the tow plane, and the shooter 5-6 miles behind the target and higher in altitude, the missile would run for 8-9 miles under power, then lose thrust and drop into the ocean. No warhead, but I had heard that they used some electronics in the missile to give a measure of how close the missile came to the target. The missile was rated to run for 9 miles. When ready to shoot, the tow aircraft would switch to a special frequency and key the mike to start the heat source on the tow target. Then switch back to the operational frequency for the remainder of the mission. In this case if I remember correctly, the missile was fired before the heat source was activated, so that the missile tracked the towing A-4 and went up the tail pipe and took out the engine. Rob indicated that the aircraft lost electrical and hydraulics right away and rolled over into a dive. He said that while inverted and at the time of ejection he was floating in his seat. As a result he was off the seat when it fired. His knees were hurt, and he went into the water but couldn't get into the life raft due to the injuries (if I remember right). He was picked up in the rescue chopper in fifteen minutes. After the accident, research indicated that the missile manufacturer improved missile performance to allow for a range of 11 miles, enough to hit the A-4. From Dan Perrine. December 10, 1976: Lt. Jerome L. Petykowski, 30, ejected safely, when his A-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 149983) was "accidentally" struck by an unarmed AIM-9 missile fired from a Marine (VMFA-312) F-4J during a training mission and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina Friday. The Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, NH, Saturday, December 11, 1976. Lt. Jerome L. Petykowski, 30, stationed at Virginia Beach, ejected safely, when his A-4 Skyhawk was "accidentally" struck by an unarmed AIM-9 missile fired from a Marine (VMFA-312) F-4J. The accident occurred about 10:30 a.m. Friday about 40 miles SE of Cherry Point, NC. The F-4J was shooting at a target drone that was being towed by Petykowski. The Progress Index, Saturday, December 11, 1976. September 30, 1980: Navy Fleet Support Squadron TWO the Blue Falcons, was disestablished. The unit had 5,000 plus accident-free flight hours. |
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Unit Photos VC-2 US-2C Aircraft Photo from Ted Synnott. VC-2 F8s in Air Progress Magazine. 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. APR71 NAS Oceana: 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." Blue Tails first A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 150095, JE-1, as Capt. John Ford and CDR Cliff Jones admire the winning results of the "Paint the Tail" contest. 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. 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. 03AUG74: parked on the ramp. T. Hildreath. 03AUG74: Left side view of VC-2 Blue Falcons TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 158083, JE-03, on the ramp, NAS Brunswick. Copyright R.W. Harrison. 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. JAN77: BuNo 155110, JE-01, parked on the Offutt AFB flight line. Right front view of VC-2 Blue Tails TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 155110, JE-01, on the ramp with a pair of drop tanks and a centerline buddy store, January 1977. At right is VA-196 Main Battery A-6E Intruder BuNo 15957x, NK-504, from the USS Enterprise. Gary Verver Collection. A-4L Skyhawk BuNo 149497, JE-07. 1975: VC-2 BLUE FALCON PILOTS posing with BuNo.158083. United States Navy photograph from Ed Jennings with input from James Perrine. DEC74: BuNo. 158083 (JE-03) at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton OH in Dec. 1974. Photo courtesy of James W. Perrine and also Terrance Synnott. 25JUN75: 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. 25JUN75: VC-2 Blue Falcons A-4L Skyhawk BuNo 149497, JE-07, from NAS Oceana in-flight with what looks to be a target towing pod on the center line, 25 June 1975. Official U.S. Navy photo K109634. 12 AUG 1975: BuNo 147836 on the ramp at NAS Oceana. R. Ray Leader. 29JAN76: VC-2 Falcons LTJG Rosemary Conatser preflights her A-4L Skyhawk at NAS Oceana on 29 January 1976 becoming the first woman on the East Coast to solo in a single-set, military jet. U.S. Navy photo by PH3(SS) Kenneth Catlett, from the Amy Waters Yarsinkse collection. 29JAN76: VC-2 Falcons LTJG Rosemary Conatser became the first woman on the East Coast (NAS Oceana) to solo in a jet (A-4L Skyhawk) and is believed to be the first woman to do so in a single-seat, military jet aircraft. Here she is shown at a press conference on Jan. 29, 1976 following her landmark flight. U.S. Navy photo by PH3(SS) Kenneth Catlett, from the Amy Waters Yarsinkse collection. 1976: BuNo 154327, TA-4J, JE-00 parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 25 SEP 1976: VC-2 Blue Falcons TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 155110, JE-01, NAS Oceana. VC-2 A-4C BuNo 147783 on the ramp. 1977: BuNo 149972, VC-2 JE-06, on the ramp. 1977: BuNo 151988 A-4E JE-12 parkedon the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 1977: VC-2 Blue Tails TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 154327, JE-00, on the ramp, unknown location. Photographer unknown. 28 APR 1979: Right front view of VC-2 Falcons A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 151118, JE-12, on the line with VC-2 TA-4J BuNo 156920, JE-06, and A-4E BuNo 151186, NAS Oceana. Copyright R.W. Harrison. 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. JAN80: BuNo 151186, A-4E, JE-11 parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. May 1980 153477, JE-04, on the ramp in a tanker configuration. Gary Verver Collection. May 1980 JE-03, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. May 1980: Right front view of VC-2 Blue Tails TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 154305, JE-03, on the ramp being attended to by the maintainers, location unknown, May 1980. May 1980: 154327 JE-00, parked on the ramp. May 1980: BuNo 155110, JE-01, parked on the flight line with a pair of drop tanks next to VC-2 TA-4J BuNo 154327. 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, location unknown, May 1980. At right is VC-2 TA-4J BuNo 155113, JE-01.. Gary Verver Collection May 1980: 156924, JE-07, parked on the flight line. 03 MAY 1980: VC-2 BuNo 155110 on the ramp at NAS Oceana. Stephen Miller. 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. 2004 Marana NW Regional Airport: BuNo.147754 #4 Greg Shepard via Joe Turpen. engine plumbing detail of former 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. Greg Shepard via Joe Turpen Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
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A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit:
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