VAP-62

VAP-62 was a Heavy Photographic Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Photographic Squadron Sixty-Two (VJ-62) on 10 April 1952, it was redesignated as Heavy Photographic Squadron (VAP-62) on 2 July 1956. The squadron was disestablished on 15 October 1969.^[1]

Heavy Photographic Squadron 62
VAP-62 squadron patch
Active	10 April 1952 – 15 October 1969
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Photo-reconnaissance
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Tigers
Engagements	Vietnam War

Operational history

VAP-62 PB4Y-1P Privateers in 1952

VAP-62 A3D-2P Skywarrior in the late 1950s

• 1 September–19 December 1952: A squadron detachment was deployed to Dhahran Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia.
• 29 July 1960: During a landing aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60), the squadron’s commanding officer, Commander C. T. Frohne, and two other squadron crewmembers, were lost when the tailhook of their A3D-2P Skywarrior separated and the aircraft plunged off the deck into the sea.
• October 1966: The squadron transferred a detachment of aircraft and personnel to VAP-61 to augment that squadron’s operations in Vietnam.
• 25 August 1967: A squadron RA-3B #144835 disappeared on a nighttime photo-reconnaissance mission, the 3 man crew were killed in action, body not recovered.^[1][2][3]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports, effective on the dates shown:^[1]

• NAS Jacksonville - 10 April 1952
• NAAS Sanford - 20 October 1952
• NAS Norfolk - July 1955
• NAS Jacksonville - 15 August 1957

Aircraft assignment

The squadron first received the following aircraft on the dates shown:^[1]: 315

• PB4Y-1P/P4Y-1P Privateer - May 1952
• AJ-2P Savage - September 1952
• F7F-4N Tigercat - May 1953
• A3D-1P/A3D-2P/RA-3B Skywarrior - 14 October 1957

See also

• Reconnaissance aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• History of the United States Navy