VC-10

VC-10

Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu.

VC-10
Crusader's Cross - 1961
from Anna Vanderpool
VC-10 Black Celtic Fighting Lion
Black Celtic Fighting Lion - 1983
Courtesy of Christopher Weisse

Patch

From 1943 through 1961, VU-16 and VU-10's patch displayed a Proud Pelican pulling a target sleeve symbolic of the

From 1961 through 1969, VU-10 and VC-10's patch displayed a Crusader's Cross on a shield.

From 1969 through 1993, VC-10's patch displayed a Black Celtic Fighting Lion superimposed on a red, white and blue background.

Sources

David Weber

Harry S. Gann.

LCDR Lumpy Sudbeck.

Frank J. Mirande.

Christopher Weisse

Jim Harvey

PH3 Logan

R.E. Kling

Gary Verver

Handle

1943 - Mallards. Official name is Mallards but when assigned the F-8 Crusader, Squadron pilots unofficially took the name "Challengers".

1961 - 1993, Challengers.

Heritage

October 26, 1943, Utility Squadron SIXTEEN (VU-16) was established in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

August 16, 1946, VU-16 was re-designated as Utility Squadron TEN (VU-10) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

July 1, 1965, VU-10 was re-designated as Fleet Composite Squadron TEN (VC-10) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

July 1, 1993, Fleet Composite Squadron TEN (VC-10) disestablished at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Home Ports

Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:

Oct 1943 - - - - - - San Juan, Puerto Rico

May 1944 - - - - - - Miami, Florida

Apr 1945 - - - - - - Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Air Wings

No info yet.

Aircraft

Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:

Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:

1943 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Martin JM-1 (B-26) Marauder.

1947 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - F-8F Grumman Bearcat.

1954 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - F-9F Grumman Cougar.

1958 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FJ-3 North American Fury.

1961 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - F-8 Chance Vought Crusader.

1966 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Grumman US-2 Tracker.

29 March 1975- - - - - - - - - - Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk.

13 July 1975 - - - - - - - - - - Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk.

*There is some disagreement on the dates that the Skyhawk Models arrived at VC-10.
From Jim Harvey, AD-1, USN (Ret): 'VC-10 was my first duty assignment from May of 1974 to May of 1975 and we had no A-4's during that time period.'
From Gary Verver: Elward says the first TA-4J delivery was in June of 1969 and the first TA-4F delivery was in May of 1966. The earliest date for a VC-10 TA-4 photo in my archives is 1975.

For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page:

Deployments

No info yet

Commanding Officers

1943 - - - - - - - LCDR V. C. Wright

1945 - - - - - - - LCDR W. D. Wilder

1946 - - - - - - - LCDR C. G. Strum

1947 - - - - - - - CDR T. L. Conroy

1949 - - - - - - - CDR G. R. Egbert

1950 - - - - - - - LCDR R. J. Sutherlin

1951 - - - - - - - CDR S. Sterling, Jr.

1952 - - - - - - - CDR T. B. Wolfe

1954 - - - - - - - CDR D. E. McCoy

1955 - - - - - - - CDR S. R. Stanul

1957 - - - - - - - CDR A. L. Lane

1958 - - - - - - - CDR M. E. Hrischi

1959 - - - - - - - CDR R. H. Bookhamer

1959 - - - - - - - CDR H. R. Poorman

1960 - - - - - - - CDR F. C. Nugent

1962 - - - - - - - CDR G. E. Buker

1962 - - - - - - - CDR W. B. Moore

1963 - - - - - - - CDR E. W. Keegan, Jr.

1964 - - - - - - - CDR H. E. Lang

1965 - - - - - - - CDR H. W. Kiker

1965 - - - - - - - CDR T. D. Brown

1966 - - - - - - - CDR R. C. James

1967 - - - - - - - CDR D. F. Cross

1968 - - - - - - - CDR P. Goslow

1969 - - - - - - - CDR B. H. Ashley

1970 - - - - - - - CDR T. D. Barrett

1971 - - - - - - - CDR L. P. Walsh

1972 - - - - - - - CDR E. W. Oehlbeck

1973 - - - - - - - CDR S. L. Zwick

1974 - - - - - - - CDR W. W. Miller

1976 - - - - - - - CDR K. A. MacGillivary

1977 - - - - - - - CDR K. J. Jaskolski

1978 - - - - - - - CDR D. M. Snyder

1979 - - - - - - - CDR J. J. Drew

1981 - - - - - - - CDR F. P. Riordan

1982 - - - - - - - CDR J. L. Unrau

1983 - - - - - - - CDR C. E. Jones III

1985 - - - - - - - CDR W. E. Mahew

1986 - - - - - - - CDR J. E. Hilburn

1988 - - - - - - - CDR E. D. Ulrich

1989 - - - - - - - CDR G. G. Evens

1991 - - - - - - - CDR J. W. Bean

1993 - - - - - - - CDR K. C. Naumann

Awards

1983 & 1989

Battle E

1979, 1982, & 1987.

CNO Safety Award

Awards continued

1991

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Events

October 26, 1943: Utility Squadron SIXTEEN (VU-16) was established in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Mallards were assigned the JM-1 Martin Marauder.
Nicknamed the "3 a day in Tampa Bay" and "Martin Murder"
Photo by Harry S. Gann.

1943 through 1945: VU-16 participated in World War II (Caribbean).

August 16, 1946: VU-16 was re-designated as Utility Squadron TEN (VU-10) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

1947: VU-16 was assigned the Grumman F-8F Bearcat.

1954: VU-16 was assigned the Grumman F-9F Cougar.

1958: VU-16 was assigned the North American FJ-3 Fury.

1961: VU-16 was assigned the Chance Vought F-8 Crusader.

October 1962: Participated in Cuban Missile Crisis.

July 1, 1965: VU-10 was re-designated as Fleet Composite Squadron TEN (VC-10) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

1966: VC-10 was assigned the US-2 Grumman Tracker.

While working night shift as a young strapping ADRAN and reading the squadron Plan of the Day, I noticed an announcement that the skipper was holding a contest to design the paint scheme for the new squadron A-4s that we were to transition to. The winner was to receive the first back seat checkout in the TA-4J after transition. Just for my own entertainment, I tore off the thin white paper wrapping from a tube of paper coffee cups, picked up an "Approach" magazine and found a picture of an A-4F. I traced the picture onto the torn off paper wrap and colored a design incorporating red, white and blue stripes in the aircraft wings and across the saddle area along with the red, white and blue vertical stab colors and JH squadron identifier already adorning the current F-8s assigned to the squadron. After completing the design I looked it over and decided that it didn't look all that bad. I put my name on the paper and put it in CDR Miller's suggestion box. A while later I was notified that I had won the contest! I unfortunately never did collect on the prize as I rotated out of the squadron prior to the receipt of even our first aircraft. It would have been a great treat to fly in the TA-4J as I was already qualified and flying as a Utility Aircrewman in the US-2B & US-2C aircraft as a tow reel operator.
Jim Harvey AD-1, USN (Ret)

1975??: VC-10 was assigned the Douglas A-4F Skyhawk and Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk.

April 30, 1976: LCdr. Roger Reff successfully ejected from TA-4J BuNo 152854 following a mid-air collision with Lt. Robert (Vess) Vessely. I reported aboard VC 10 shortly after the incident, to fly the A-4. I was briefed on the incident by one of the pilots, Lcdr. Roger Reff, who was flying the aircraft that was lost and had to eject. The other pilot involved, Lt Robert (Vess) Vessely had just transferred out. Roger and Vess were flying a two plane mission in support of a ship and had just gone feet wet heading south of GTMO. They were not in close formation and Roger lost sight of Vess, who was in the lead. As a result of the loss of sight, Roger gradually climbed and impacted the bottom of Vess'. The impact caused Roger's aircraft to break apart and as he passed into view of Vess, Vess called for Roger to eject, which he did. Vess' aircraft was badly damaged, but flyable, and Vess was able to safely get his aircraft back to Gtmo. This all took place in the late afternoon. Roger was picked up a short time later by the station helicopter. He suffered no serious injuries. As a footnote, Vess was involved in another midair in 1983, flying the A-7. He was killed when his A-7 and another A-7 collided at Roosevelt Roads. From John Waas USN -Ret, VC 10 1976-1978.

December 29, 1980: Cdr. Frank Riordan who is assigned to a squadron at Guantanamo Bay ejected from his A-4 (BuNo 154626) when it caught fire and then spent 36 hours bobbing in the Caribbean Sea in his life jacket before being rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter from Puerto Rico. European Stars and Stripes, Saturday, January 3, 1981. A U.S. Navy pilot ejects from stricken Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, BuNo. 154626, 'JH', of VC-10, on flight from NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, after engine failure and fire, spends 30 hours in the water before rescue shortly after midnight on Wednesday, 31 December, from the Atlantic ~ 45 miles S. of Bahamian island of Mayaguana by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. Two Skyhawks departed Gitmo on routine training mission at 1500 hrs. on Monday, second pilot sees pilot Cmdr. Frank Riordan successfully eject from burning fighter with a good canopy ~240 miles NE of Guantanamo. Observer aboard U.S. Navy P-3 Orion out of NAS Jacksonville, Florida, spots strobe light on pilot's life jacket on Tuesday night, 28 December. Riordan recovered in good condition "except for a slight case of exposure", said a Coast Guard spokesman in Miami, Florida. The Greenville News, Thursday, 0 1 January 1981, page 16A. VC-10 TA-4J BuNo 154626 was destroyed at Bahama Islands after aircraft crashed into sea after engine failure, 29 December 1980. Pilot ejected, in water 38 hours. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester.

1983: Participated in Grenada Invasion.

February 15, 1984: Lt. James M. Merrill, 25, from Fleet Composite Squadron 10 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was killed when his A-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 153528) crashed into the sea between Vieques Island off of Puerto Rico's east coast, and St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Capital, Saturday, February 18, 1984. The Navy suspended its search for the A4 Skyhawk piloted by Lt. James M. Merrill, 25, crashed into the sea off Puerto Rico between the islands of Vieques and St. Croix. No trace of the aircraft or its pilot has been found. Lt. Merrill was returning to NAS Roosevelt Roads after doing practice landings and take offs on one of the carriers (Saratoga and America) participating in the Navy's month long training exercises. The crash was reported by the pilot of a 2nd A4 Skyhawk flying with Merrill. The Newark Advocate, Saturday, 18 February 1984. VC-10 TA-4J BuNo 153528 was destroyed at Caribbean Sea when aircraft crashed into water while flying night approach under radar control. 15 February 1984. 1 fatality. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester.

1991: Participated in Haiti Crisis.

July 1, 1993: Fleet Composite Squadron TEN (VC-10) dis-established at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Unit Photos

1975-76: BuNo 152854, JH-6, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection.

1976: BuNo 154626, JH-2, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection.

MAY 1978: BuNo 153525 parked on the ramp. Bill Curry.

BuNo 153525, TA-4J, JH-04 about to land. Gary Verver Collection.

VC-10 Skyhawks in formation.

AUG78: BuNo 153528, JH-8, assigned to LTJG Eckhart, parked on the flight-line. Rob Mignard.

1978: BuNo 154315, JH-9, assigned to ENS Pat 'Spud' Richards parked on the flight line. Unknown photographer via W. Mutza.

JUN 1982: BuNo 153526, JH-5, assigned to LTJG "Low Rider" Lockley, parked on the flightline. Lionel Paul.

05 Feb 1983: Proud Pelicans Skyhawk BuNo 153528, JH-2, parked on the flight line. Photo by T. Paskowski, Gary Verver Collection.

15 Sept 1983: AO2 Robert McGill, left, AO2 John Zacko, and AOAN Lewis Ryan arm Proud Pelicans Skyhawk BuNo 153528, JH-2 prior to a training flight. US Navy Photo, JO1 Gary Hopkins.

09 JAN 1987: A member of Fleet Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10) checks the cockpit of a TA-4J Skyhawk, JH-5, aircraft parked on the flight line during a daily turnaround inspection.
Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Angel Manseau of Fleet Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10) tapes exposed ordnance and disarms the 20 mm gun of a TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft (TA-4J BuNo 153526, JH-5). The procedure is part of a regular aircraft preservation routine and helps prepare it for a run through the wash rack.
Members of Fleet Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10) check the cockpit of a TA-4J Skyhawk (TA-4J BuNo 153526, JH-5) aircraft parked on the flight line during a daily turnaround inspection.
A member of Fleet Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10) inspects the inside of a TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft (TA-4J BuNo 153526, JH-5) air intake during a daily turnaround inspection.
Photos by PH1 Gary Rice, from Gary Verver.

26 Sept 1987: Proud Pelicans Skyhawk BuNo 153526, JH-5, parked on the flight line. Photo by D. Brown, Gary Verver Collection.

01 Jan 1988: BuNo 152863 Pic1, JH-3, in-flight over GITMO. Right side view of Proud Pelicans Skyhawk BuNo 152863, JH-3, in-flight over GITMO. The aircraft carries an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile on each outboard wing pylon and five Mark 20 Rockeye 500-pound cluster bombs. US Navy photo, PH3 Logan. BuNo 152863 Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic6, Pic 7, Pic8, Pic9, Pic 10.

FEB89: Feb 1989 BuNo 153526, JH-5, parked on the ramp. Left rear view of VC-10 Proud Pelicans TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 153526, JH-5, parked on the NAS Cecil ramp configured with a pair of drop tanks, February 1989. At right is VC-10 TA-4J BuNo 153486. Photo by R.E. Kling, G. Verver collection.

1989: BuNo 153486, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection.

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba : A MD-3A tow tractor tows a Fleet Composite Squadron 10 (VC-10) TA-4J Skyhawk (BuNo 154312, JH-9) from a hangar. Photo by PH1 Gary Rice.

1993: BuNo 153525, TA-4J JH-9, parked. Gary  Verver Collection.

JUN 2009: BuNo 153481 rots away at NAS Guantanamo Bay.
"I was driving around NAS Guantanamo Bay and found this TA-4F fading away in the sun. The paint is very faded and I could not find a aircraft data plate to get the full BUNO. I could only find out that it was a TA-4J because of some part data plates inside the wheel well. But on one side of the tail you can make out the last 3 or 4 painted digits which should be the last numbers of the BUNO. They are 3481 with a possible 2 infront of the 3 making it a possible 23481. The aircraft was painted navy light gray. Also the modex is 00 on the nose. The pictures make it look like it is in better shape. But it is in the worst enviroment for a aircraft humidity and salt air. I was wondering if you might be able to locate a full BUNO and maybe a owning unit for this aircraft." Greg Kalwa. Pic 2.


Off-Duty Photos

"This is the VC-10 Barracks. They were open-bay type barracks with individual "cubes" partitioned off with 2 or 3 men to a cube. The extensions to the first and second decks were added by the squadron sailors with the first deck being the Acey-Deucy suite and the 2nd deck being a squadron recreation room with a snack bar known at that time as the "Dew Drop Inn" because the E-4 that ran the place was John Dew." Jim Harvey.

A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit:

  • Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk
    • 152854 C/N 13500
      • 31 May 1973 - H&MS-32 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 26 Mar 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 30 Apr 1976 - Stricken - 1SO
    • 152863 C/N 13509
      • 08 Feb 1971 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 26 Apr 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 23 Jun 1993 - NASC FSO, MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 153461 c/n 13527
      • 23 Sep 1971 - VA-45 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 26 Feb 1984 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 25 May 1993 - VF-45 - NAS Key West, FL
    • 153462 c/n 13528
      • 28 Aug 1970 - VT-21 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 05 Dec 1991 VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • Stricken - After 31 Dec 1991 and before 31 Mar 1992
    • 153481 c/n 13547
      • 09 Oct 1970 - VAQ-33 - Convert to EA-4F
      • 17 Mar 1988 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • Stricken - After 30 Sep 1990 and before 31 Dec 1990
    • 153482 c/n 13548
      • 04 Sep 1970 VT-21 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 16 Dec 1991 VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 01 Jul 1992 - NASC FSO, MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 153486 c/n 13552
      • 29 Feb 1972 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 06 May 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 17 Jun 1993 NASC FSO, MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 153525 c/n 13591
      • 09 Mar 1972 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 26 Apr 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 12 May 1993 NASC FSO, MASDC - DMAFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 153526 c/n 13592
      • 23 Aug 1972 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 29 Mar 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 28 Jun 1993 - VC-8 - NS Roosevelt Roads, PR
  • Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk (Continued)
    • 153528 c/n 13594
      • 24 May 1972 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 29 May 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 15 Feb 1984 - Stricken - 1SO
    • 153530 c/n 13596
      • 06 Jun 1972 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 01 Jun 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • Stricken - After 30 Apr 1988 and before 30 May 1988
    • 154312 c/n 13700
      • 01 Dec 1972 - VMAT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 06 Nov 1983 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 17 Jun 1993 - NASC FSO, MASDC - DMAFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 154315 c/n 13703
      • 18 Apr 1973 - VA-45 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 24 Jul 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 23 Jun 1993 - NASC FSO, MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 154342 c/n 13730
      • 24 Sep 1970 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 19 May 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 31 May 1993 - NASC FSO, MASDC - Davis-Mothan AFB, Tucson, AZ
    • 154626 c/n 13744
      • 06 Nov 1970 - VMT-203 - Convert to TA-4J
      • 11 Jun 1976 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 29 Dec 1980 - Stricken - 1SO
  • Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk
    • 155074 c/n 13890
      • 15 Jul 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo, Cuba
      • 27 Apr 1976 - MARTD - NAS Jacksonville, FL
    • 155082 c/n 13898
      • 13 Jul 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 27 Apr 1976 - MARTD - NAS Jacksonville, FL
    • 155088 c/n 13904
      • 16 Aug 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 26 Aug 1976 - NARF - NAS Norfolk, VA
    • 155089 c/n 13905
      • 23 Jul 1975 - VC-10 - NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
      • 25 Jul 1976 - MARTD - NAS Memphis, TN

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