"John Carrier" wrote in message
...
SNIP

Hummmm. young whippersnappers. T2J-1 with VT-5 on the USS Antietam,
CVS-36.
The only time I was ever on the Lex was for quals in an F8U-2 (1961)
off San Clemente Island.

F8U-2 (AKA F-8C)? To borrow from Moon Vance, what we have here is a
memorial service that never happened.

R / John

Yes, the accident rate was a little high at times, about three times as
high as that of the Phantom when it came along.

High enough that airpac started putting out two mishap rates to look
somewhat competitive with airlant: Mishap rate and Mishap rate less F-8s.
The longest mishap free period in the aircraft's history for a squadron
was 21 months IIRC.

It didn't become the F-8C until Sept '62, just in time to confuse
everybody for the Cuban training exercise.

And the K with a rewing and hard points. Got a few hours in that one.

R / John
You know I always felt safe and in control in the F8, but I was young,
foolish, full of **** and vinegar, and thought I was bullet proof, bad
things only happened to other people. What the hell did I know? But I did
manage to log a landing for every takeoff, although it got close a few
times, I never lost confidence in the aircraft.