VC-8 Redtails

Patch Handle Heritage Home Ports Air Wings Deployments Aircraft Unit C.O.s Events Awards

Squadron Photograph Album Squadron Off-Duty Album (empty)

The Squadron Duty Officer (SDO), is the unit's contact point. They maintain unit rosters, help old friends link up, coordinate with unit reunions, and gather unit information. The SDO List.
The Association is particularly interested in your Skyhawk related information and photos, but will gladly accept information about all eras of the unit. e-Mail the Association Webmaster.
AND we welcome "anyone with an interest" in the Skyhawk to JOIN The Skyhawk Association.



Patch
  • First patch is of a WWII unit, and not affiliated with the Redtails.
  • Second (GMS-2), third, fourth patches are from Scott "Scooter" Siedschlag
  • Fifth patch = 1965, courtesy of VC-8
  • Sixth patch = 1998 from Captain Steve Kornatz, former Redtail CO.
  • The Redtails wore this Skyhawk Patch below their Redtails Patch.
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Handle
Heritage
  • JUL 1958:
    Guided Missile Service Squadron TWO established at Naval Air Station Chincoteague, Virginia.

  • JAN 1959:
    Guided Missile Service Squadron TWO was transferred to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

  • 1960:
    Guided Missile Service Squadron TWO was re-designated Fleet Utility Squadron EIGHT (VU-8) at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

  • 1965:
    Fleet Utility Squadron EIGHT (VU-8) was re-designated Fleet Composite Squadron EIGHT (VC-8) at Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
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Home Ports
  • JUL 1958: Guided Missile Service Squadron TWO was based at Naval Air Station Chincoteague, Virginia.

  • JAN 1959: Guided Missile Service Squadron TWO was transferred to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

  • 1965: Fleet Utility Squadron EIGHT (VU-8) was re-designated Fleet Composite Squadron EIGHT (VC-8) at Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

  • 2001 to MAY 2003: Fleet Composite Squadron EIGHT (VC-8) was based at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
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Air Wings
Deployments
Aircraft
Commanding Officers
  • JUL 1958: CDR H.J Silbertstein (GMSRON-2)
  • JUL 1959 to FEB 1960: CDR J.E. Braun
  • FEB 1960 to JUL 1960: CDR S.N. May
  • JUL 1960 to FEB 1961: CDR S.N. May (VU-8)
  • FEB 1961 to FEB 1962: CDR W.G. Andrews
  • FEB 1962 to FEB 1963: CDR D.A. Kribs
  • FEB 1963 to JAN 1964: CDR T.J. Cross
  • JAN 1964 to APR 1965: CDR T.D. Fosdick
  • APR 1965 to JUL 1965: CDR J.R. Geer
  • JUL 1965 to FEB 1966: CDR J.R. Geer (VC-8)
  • FEB 1966 to APR 1967: CDR J.H. Foxgrover
  • APR 1967 to JUL 1968: CDR M.E. Smith
  • JUL 1968 to MAY 1969: CDR D.E. Lashbrook
  • MAY 1969 to MAY 1970: CDR M.L. Johnson
  • MAY 1970 to MAY 1971: CDR R.E. Zapalc
  • MAY 1971 to MAY 1972: CDR R.C. Nicholson
  • 01 JAN 1998 to 21 AUG 1998: CDR J. G. Speer
  • 21 AUG 1998: CDR S.D. Kornatz
  • MAR 2000: CDR B. Steele
  • MAR 2001: CDR V. Drouillard
  • 13 JUL 2002: CDR Thomas McDonough
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Events
  • JUL 1958:
    Guided Missile Service Squadron TWO established at Naval Air Station Chincoteague, Virginia.

  • JAN 1959:
    Guided Missile Service Squadron TWO was transferred to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

  • 1960:
    Guided Missile Service Squadron TWO was re-designated Fleet Utility Squadron EIGHT (VU-8) at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

  • 1965:
    Fleet Utility Squadron EIGHT (VU-8) was re-designated Fleet Composite Squadron EIGHT (VC-8) at Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

  • Circa 1990:
    VC-8 spelled out by the squadron members.

  • 1997:
    The VC-8 Redtails were assigned the Fleet Adversary mission. The Redtails send adversary detachments to Naval Air Stations to train local units. Some of the bases the Redhawks deploy to: Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Air Station Key West, Naval Air Station Fallon, and Naval Air Station Pensacola.

  • JUN 2000:
    The Redtail Fleet Replacement Detachment Training Facility better known as the Skyhawk Training Facility became fully operational. Training equipment such as wall-sized training panels, as well as other training aids and a flight simulator was brought from VT-7 at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi.

  • 2001:
    The Redhawk scooters are painted camouflage, mimicking potential adversary aircraft. Three Skyhawks painted desert brown camouflage and the remaining four Skyhawks painted sky blue camouflage. All VC-8 Skyhawks will be painted in the sky blue camouflage.

  • 13 JUL 2002:
    Change of Command occurred with CDR Thomas McDonough USN taking command of the Redtails.
    XO is CDR John Cosmos Peter Fristachi USN.


  • 03 MAY 2003:
    Last USN active duty Skyhawks are retired!
    Last A-4 pilots of active duty Skyhawks.
    The "Redtails" of Composite Squadron Eight (VC-8) were the last U.S. Navy active duty unit to operate the Skyhawk on a regular basis.
    Flying the TA-4J out of Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, equipped with special electronics gear, VC-8 Skyhawks provided utility missions in support of fleet operations, close air support training for Marine, Army, and Special Force units, and operated in an adversary role in support of the Tomcat and Hornet RAGs and fleet unit training.
    The VC-8 TA-4Js were retired from active service in May 2003.
    The active duty life of the venerable Skyhawk in U.S. Navy fleet service began in late September 1956 and spanned more that 47½ years.
    Check out the "The First and Last of it".

  • 23 AUG 2003:
    VC-8 Disestablished, and the last active Skyhawks are honored, at NAS Oceana

    Navy News: Last VC-8 Commanding Officer and Disestablishment Pennant

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Awards
  • AUG through NOV 1979 and 15 SEP through 31 OCt 1995: HUM Award

  • 15 JAN 1993 through 28 NOV 1994: SOS Award

  • 16 SEP 1994 through 29 OCT 1994: AFEM Award

  • 02 AUG 90 through 18 MAR 91 and 17 OCT 93 through 25 OCT 94 and 23 JAN 96 through 5 SEP 98: Meritorious Unit Commendation

  • 1992: Bronze Hammer Special Award

  • 1992, 1993, and 1994: SECNAV Energy Conservation Award

  • 1993 and 1998: Admiral's Cup

  • 1993: The Golden Anchor Award

  • 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998: Operational Readiness Command Battle Award

  • 15 JAN 1993 -- 28 NOV 1994 and 15 AUG -- 31 DEC 1996: U. S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Award

  • 1996, 1997, and 1998: Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award

  • 1997: Safety Achievement Award.
    VC-8 had accumulated 12 years and over 109,000 hours of mishap-free flying

  • 31 DEC 1996: Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation.

  • 1998: Captain's Cup
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Sources
  • LTJG Jared Allen, VC-8 PAO
  • Harry S. Gann
  • Frank J. Mirande
  • LTJG Tariq Rashid
  • John Tyner
  • LT Scott "Buster" Armstrong, VC-8 PAO
  • Captain Steve Kornatz, former Redtail CO.
  • Wynn "Captain Hook" Foster
  • Scott "Scooter" Siedschlag


VC-8 Flight Suit patch from Scott Siedschlag

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