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Author
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Topic: Roger Chaffee, reconnaissance pilot
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Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 10-15-2010 03:10 PM
   
Has it ever been determined what Roger Chaffee's true role as a recon pilot was during the Cuban Missile Crisis?I have read stuff about him flying U-2s, but I am not aware of too many U-2 flights by the Navy. The more accurate account is perhaps that he flew Navy RA3Ds. I found it interesting that even the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s website lists him as a U-2 pilot over Cuba. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-15-2010 03:50 PM
He flew an RF8A Crusader. Similar to the one John Glenn flew super sonic coast to coast... Crusader In Action:The twelve Navy and four Marine pilots who flew the missions all received Distinguished Flying Crosses, while VFP-62 received the prestigious Navy Unit Commendation. One of the pilots, Roger Chaffee of the US Navy, would become an astronaut, to be killed in the infamous "Apollo 1" launchpad fire in early 1967. |
Hangar Cat
New Member Posts: 4
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 10-15-2010 06:43 PM
I think the correct squadron was VAP-62, which flew the A3D (later designated A-3) Skywarrior (n1ckname: The Whale) manufactured by Douglas Aircraft. Roger Chaffee (who was one of the youngest designated Naval Aviators (pilot) in type aircraft) is listed in the squadron memoriam.Also check Squadron History: 1960-1965. VFP-62 flew RF-8 Crusaders out of NAS Cecil Field about 14 miles west of NAS Jacksonville, where VAP-62 was station. Originally with a a crew of three, the A3D went through various modifications & mission requirements during its career, bomber(attack aircraft), tanker, Photo Recon & electronic recon. Sadly flying on/off an aircraft carrier is very dangerous, it NEVER had ejection seats like it's Air Force equilant, the B-66 Destroyer. With the loss of an A3D during carrier ops, rate of survival wasn't that good, leading some flight deck personnel stating that A3D meant All-3-DEAD. It seems that most people think of only the U-2 as the primary Recon aircraft during the Cuban Missile Crisis, but as stated the RF-8 Crusader, A3D(RA-3D) Skywarrior and RF-101 Voodoo also preformed those duties. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 10-15-2010 08:11 PM
I personally witnessed an A3D go off the end of the flight deck and right into the water directly ahead of the carrier. Somehow all the steam had been released from the cat and the A3D lumbered down the deck at about 20 Kts. We were steaming at 35 kts and hit it dead on. I ran to the starboard cat walk and all I saw was pieces of airplane go by.Indeed...All 3 Dead... |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 10-15-2010 08:30 PM
This very detailed NASA biography of Chaffee seconds Chaffee's role as part of VAP-62 -- as does, I believe, the mini biography in French and Burgess' "In The Shadow Of The Moon," the first place I can recall reading the correct version of his role during the Cuban crisis. I was likewise confused in my younger days by stories of Chaffee flying U-2s or RF-8s, so it was a relief to finally get the story straight. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 10-15-2010 08:59 PM
I don't know if this is true or not, but the U-2 on display in NASM is the very same one flown by Chaffee over Cuba. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 10-16-2010 12:06 AM
I'm going to quote myself from a biography of Roger Chaffee in my book "Fallen Astronauts" (with Kate Doolan): One of his later involvements was an assignment to VAP 62, a heavy photographic squadron known as the 'Tigers.' This meant working with the RA-3B twin-engine jet photoreconnaisance aircraft, and he became one of the youngest pilots ever permitted to fly this particular steed. Early in 1961, with increased concern over events in Cuba, Chaffee was detailed to make dozens of routine reconnaissance flights over the island, sometimes as many as three times a day. Several later biographies would credit him with making U2 spy plane flights over Cuba, but this was just a fanciful misinterpretation. Besides, the U2 was an air force program, and the young naval officer could not have strapped himself into one of its most secret aircraft. This mistake probably came about when Chaffee was later credited with taking some extremely detailed photos that showed the beginning of the Soviet missile buildup in Cuba, which would result in brinksmanship between the two superpowers the following year. Hope that helps. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 10-16-2010 04:40 AM
Sorry Colin, I must have misread the sign. It was in the jet aviation section at least 25 years ago. It was not the usual black, but silver in color. I'm going by a failing memory, but I think they said it was production #7.My apologizes to Jodie also. |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 10-16-2010 03:42 PM
I would be very surprised to hear he had flown the U-2. Talking to Marty Knutson, one of the first sheep dipped from the USAF to the CIA to fly the U-2 (along w/Francis Gary Powers) and later U-2 pilot for NASA and Dryden director, he said no Navy pilots ever flew it. He also dissuaded the rumor Gordon Cooper flew it also.I believe Paul Weitz flew the A3D in Viet Nam, off the top of my head. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 10-16-2010 05:47 PM
Hi Lou, no apologies needed at all, and I can probably point out at least a dozen factual errors in my book, so my track record is not all that great either.  |
ea757grrl
Member Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 10-16-2010 11:11 PM
Lou: As Colin said, no apologies needed! If I remember correctly, another A-3 pilot who became an astronaut was Ken Mattingly. |
ColinBurgess
Member Posts: 2031
From: Sydney, Australia
Registered: Sep 2003
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posted 10-16-2010 11:25 PM
Edgar Mitchell flew the A3D with Heavy Attack Squadron 2 (VAH-2). |
kr4mula
Member Posts: 642
From: Cinci, OH
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 10-18-2010 11:15 AM
There was a relatively recent movie out about the Cuban Missile Crisis (I think it was "Thirteen Days," but may have been something else around that time) that had a scene with an RF-8 flying over Cuba doing recon and getting shot at. I remember being impressed that they didn't just do the standard U-2 stuff. |
Aztecdoug
Member Posts: 1405
From: Huntington Beach
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 10-18-2010 12:05 PM
Thank you Colin. That was a terrific answer. Thank you for setting the record straight. Now if only the rest of the world could find the truth!Al, I fear I go off topic here... I swear I saw a picture of a U-2 on an aircraft carrier once for trials of some sort. Maybe it was photoshopped though... |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 10-18-2010 03:03 PM
You didn't imagine it...I was lucky enough to see one of the last flights of the (French) Crusader in '99 at RAF Fairford. What a noise! It's still a place to see classic planes still in service like the F-4, A-7 and F-5. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 10-18-2010 03:27 PM
quote:
Originally posted by kr4mula:
There was a relatively recent movie out about the Cuban Missile Crisis...
That movie came out in 2000, starring Kevin Costner as an aide to JFK, and featured two computer-generated RF-8s - because no more were flying anywhere in the world at the time. In fact, the only 'real' F-8s were some non-flying airframes from the Phillippine AF painted up in USN colors and lined-up or towed around for the cameras. |
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