The Flickr Lightphotoron Image Generatr

This Crusader from Light Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 63 (VFP-63) Detachment 5 was photographed aboard the USS America (CV-66) in May 1977.

If you note the very low F-8 bureau number, this aircraft was the F8U-1P/RF-8 prototype and, unfortunately, was lost two months after this photo was taken on 18 July 1977.

VFP-63's nickname was "The Eyes of the Fllet" and was home based at NAS Miramar. The squadron provided RF-8 detachments to both the Atlantic and Pacific fleet carriers from the squadron's establishment on 01 July 1961 until it's disestablishment on 30 June 1982.

This bicentennially marked photo Crusader was photographed at its home base, NAS Miramar, on 05 October 1975. I particularly liked VFP-63's b/c markings as they're tastefully "just enough"...smart and not gaudy.

This bicentennially painted RF-8G Crusader from VFP-63 was photographed at its home base, NAS Miramar, in January 1976. VFP-63 provided three-plane detachments to deploying aircraft carriers in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets.

1976, our bicentennial year, brought many interesting and colorful paint schemes to U.S. military aircraft of all our services. This one is no exception and, in my opinion, is one of the sharpest and classiest of those schemes...not too little, not over the top...just right!

It is currently preserved at Edwards Air Force Base Flight Test.

This Crusader was photographed on VFP-63's flight line at NAS Miramar in July 1975. This was the commanding officer's aircraft and note the "00" on the tail in the shape of nuts (as in nuts and bolts). NAS Miramar was a very exciting place to be in those days.