. 
 Several aviation squadrons had previously been designated “VF-124” prior to the formal introduction of the F-8 crusader, but each had been dissolved, decommissioned, or stood down.

Then on April 11, 1958 at Moffett field VF-124 was again stood up and conducted initial training of F-8 Crusader pilots, preparing them so that they were ready to join a fleet fighter squadron (VF or VMF) or light photographic squadron (VFP).  VF-124 also conducted refresher training in the F-8 for aviators returning to sea duty assignments and maintained all of its instructor pilots in a combat ready status in case they were needed to deploy.
 
The squadron also provided maintenance training on the F-8 for enlisted ground personnel en route to operational fleet squadrons. This mission is often overlooked, but was a crucial part of the training provided by a Fleet Readiness Squadron.
 
After three years at NAS Moffett Field, VF-124 (a.k.a. Crusader College) moved to NAS Miramar for the rest of its existence.
 
In August 1972, with a dwindling number of F-8’s left (four fighter squadrons and several RF-8G photo detachments), the F-8 commitment at VF-124 ended and responsibility for training F-8 pilots and enlisted personnel was transferred to VFP-63.
 
In October 1972, VF-124 received their first F-14A and began training the first fleet squadrons, VF-1 and VF-2.
 
In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) initiative directed closure of MCAS El Toro and movement of resources to Miramar.  Consequently VF-124 was disestablished on 30 September 1994 and its F-14 FRS mission consolidated with VF-101 at NAS Oceana.

F-8 Commanding Officers

From	To	Commanding Officer
	Sept 1959	Cdr F. X. Timmes
Sept 1959	Aug 1960	Cdr W. D. (Bill) Houser
1960 est	1961est	Cdr William J. McVey
1962 est	1963 est	Cdr Vincent F. Kelley
1963 est	1964 est	Cdr Herbert R. (Herb) Poorman
1964 est	1965 est	Cdr Herbert E. Camp
1965 est	1966 est	Cdr Merle H. Gorder
1966 est	1967 est	Cdr William Lloyd (Bill) Woods
1967 est	1968 est	Cdr Robert S. (Bob) Chew
1968 est	1969 est	Cdr Harry Post
1969 est	6 July 1970	Cdr William. I. (Bill) Parrish
6 July 1970	21 May 1971	Cdr C. A. (Pete) Easterling
21 May 1971	1972	Cdr J. L. (Jack) Finney

F.X. Timmes	W.D. Houser	H.R. Poorman	H.E. Camp
M.H. Gorder	W.I. Parrish	C.A. Easterling	J. L. Finney

AIRCRAFT

Approx 1959 - Stationed at Moffett
Many Aircraft Photos Courtesy of Gary Williams











VF-124 also had an Instrument Training mission at Moffett with F9F-8T and T-33 Aircraft
Photo Courtesy of Nick Nickerson


Moved to Miramar around 1961 or 1962






1970


1971
CQ Det on USS Midway - Next two photos by F-8 FRP Lt Vern Larson
 



T-39 Saberliner Used For Radar Training and Logistics Missions


T-28 Used For Logistics and Bomb/Strafe Spotter
 F-8 FRP Lt Vern Larson taking VIP on spotting mission near Chocolate Mtns - El Centro


PEOPLE & EVENTS

1958 or 1959 - The beginnings of VF-124 Instructors as Air Task Group Three (ATG-3) was disestablished
 Photo Courtesy of Dick Murdock

Back Row: Lt Duane "Whitey" Varner, Ltjg Bob Burlingame, Lt "Dee" Butler, Lt Clyde Schindler, Lcdr Ted Quinn, Lt "Lefty" Schwartz, Lt Fred Winton, Ltjg Fred Blakeman, Lt Dick Cavicke, Lcdr "Smokey" Bennett
Front Row: Cdr Heffernan, Cdr Sands, Lt Charles Roberts, Lt Tom Wilson, Ltjg Dick Murdock, Ltjg Bud Tryon, Ltjg Bruce Morehouse


July 2, 1959 - Fleet Replacement Pilots (FRPs) and Instructors at Moffet Field
Please help Identify unknown people - Photo Courtesy of Bill Boardman

Back Row (The Instructors): Hedy Erman , Bill Russell, Fred Winton,  Cecil (Dusty) Rhodes, Fred Blakeman, Charles Roberts
Front Row: Bill McJunkin - Maint Officer (hat off), Ace Jewel (LSO), Bob Steelnack, Jack Miner, Jim Ellis, Jim Perkins (VF211 maint off), Bill Boardman, Jim Claire, D.Z. Skalla???, J.J. Diffendorfer

VF-124 F-8 FRP Class-early 60's
Please help identify unknown individuals


Summer 1967 - (Photo in Sept 1967 Crusader Fighter Report)
Photo Scan Courtesy of Donny Whitehead

1967 - (Estimated)
ID Courtesy of Mike (Red) Scott

Back Row (L to R): Mike Scecina, Bob Kiral, Mike Riddell and maybe Brian Foy
Front: Jim Rieger

1967-68 Yuma Gun Det
From Gatorgram #4140 - Same det as above - please help identify "UNK" individuals

 Back Row (L to R): John Hellman, #2 unk, Tom Tyler, Pat Walsh, Hook Miller, Jim Rieger, Dave "Snake" Morris, Steve "Sam" Marinshaw, #9, #10, Jimmie W. Taylor, Moose Myers, Bull Durham
Front Row: Andy (Zot) Hill, Tom Weinel, Mike Scecina, Bob Kiral, Mike Riddell, Don Wallis

VF-124 Instructor Pilots - May 1968
Courtesy of J. Mark (Organ) Morgan


VF-124 Change of Command - 1968
Photo Courtesy of J. Mark (Organ) Morgan - Please help correct names if found in error

Back Row: Lt Robert Copeland –Maint, Lt John D. Cully-Maint, Lt Edward Andrews, Lt Robert Geeding, Lt Bruce Johnson, Lt Ronald Ball, Lcdr Robert McDonough, Lcdr Richard Mudgett, Lcdr John McDonald, Lt Larry Myers, Lt John D. Sande, Ens David Swenson-Maint, Ens Paul Williams-Maint
Center Row: Lt Harold Williams-Maint, Lcdr Donald Dodd-Maint, CWO Martin L. Jung-Maint, Lcdr. Dave Morris, Lt Boyd Repsher, Lt Joe Phaneuf, Ltjg Susan Bowles-Admin, Lcdr Dick Schaffert, Lt Jerry Unruh, Lcdr John Hellman, Lcdr John Barlow, Lcdr Larry Miller, Lt J D Davis, Ltjg John H. Yocom-Admin, Ltjg Donald Agatep-Maint, Lt Henry White-Maint
Front Row: Cdr Dick Peters, Cdr Bruce Boland, Cdr J.Mark Morgan, Cdr Frank Hill, Cdr Don Paolucci, Cdr Bob Chew CO outgoing, Cdr Harry Post CO incoming, Cdr Bill Parish XO, Cdr Bill Rennie, Cdr Ed Hickey, Cdr Dave Perrault

Dec 1968 VF-124 FRP Class
Courtesy of Bill Hinson

Back Row (L to R) - Ltjg Apple, Ltjg Giles, Lt "Peanuts" Borich, Ens Vach, Lt J.J. "Bug" Roach
Front Row (L to R) - Ltjg Bill "Eagle" Hinson, Lcdr Dick "Brown Bear" Schaffert, Ltjg Burgess, Ltjg Doug "Barney" Oldfield


Spring 1970 VF-124 Officers
Please help Identify unknown people

Back Row (L to R):  Sue Evans, #2 unk, Ed Pryor, Jon Eastman, Vern Larson, John Hellman, Frank Bachman, Paul Lillebo, Scotty Bates, Boyd Repsher, Randy Marin, Joe Satrapa, #13, Don McKillip, Joe Thompson, Taco Bell, John Barlow, #18 unk, #19, #20, #21
Front Row (L to R):  Carl Orlob , Norm McCoy, Rick Parlett, Bob Gerhardt, Jack Musitano, Jim Cannon, Joe Phaneuf, Bill Parrish (C.O.), #9 unk Flight Surgeon, John Nichols, Roy Lester, James E. Taylor


1970-71 FRP Class

Back Row (L to R):  Richard Franklin, Jim Gifford, Carl Warner, Kevin Dwyer
Front Row (L to R):  Vern Larson, Roger Meek, John Altemus


Mid 1971-72 VF-124 Officers
Please help Identify unknown people

Back Row (L to R):  #1 unk, #2 Jack Shultz ??, #3 Ed Pryor, #4 unk, #5 Hot Dog Brown?, #6 Roger (B-12) Boennighausen, #7 unk, #8 Don McKillip, #9 unk (?Rattler), #10 (Jay Johnson?), #11 Pat Scott, #12 unk maint
Middle Row (L to R): #1 unk Lt, #2 unk Lt, #3 unk, #4 Jack Musitano, #5 Chris Wilson, #6 Drew Niedringhaus, #7 Jim W. Taylor, #8 unk, #9 unk maint, #10 Jim Alderink?, #11 unk Ens, #12 unk Ens
Front Row (L to R):  #1 unk, #2 Jack Finney (CO), #3 James E. Tayler, #4 Bill Evans



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