Eyes of the Fleet Over Vietnam: RF-8 Crusader Combat Photo-Reconnaissance Missions

by Kenneth V. Jack

Overview

This military study of the air war in Vietnam offers a vividly detailed examination of the critical role played by unarmed photo recon aircraft.

While photo reconnaissance was a critical factor in the Vietnam War, its methods and operations remained a classified secret for many years. In Eyes of the Fleet Over Vietnam, veteran and historian Kenneth V. Jack sheds light on the subject by examining the role of the unarmed supersonic RF-8A/G photo-Crusader throughout the war, as well as the part played by its F-8 and F-4 escort fighters. The historical narrative is brought to life through vivid first-hand details of dangerous missions over Laos and North Vietnam.

Jack pieces together a detailed chronology of photo recon in the Vietnam War between 1964 and 1972, describing all types of missions, including several Crusader vs. MiG dogfights and multiple RF-8 shootdowns with their associated, dramatic rescues. The narrative focuses on Navy Photo Squadron VFP-63, but also dedicates chapters to VFP-62 and Marine VMCJ-1.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781636240756
Publisher:	Casemate Publishers
Publication date:	01/04/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	22 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Kenneth V. Jack was a Navy photographer in photo squadron VFP-62 1959–63, he made two carrier detachments and carrier-tested the developmental camera that gave VFP-62 the lead role in the Cuban Missile Crisis missions. Upon discharge he obtained two college degrees, taught high school math for 13 years and worked at Westinghouse Electric company as a software engineer for 21 years. He taught mathematics at Penn State University New Kensington, PA. extension campus. He is the co-author of Blue Moon Over Cuba: Aerial Reconnaissance During the Cuban Missile Crisis (2012). He has also authored and co-authored a number of articles about naval aviation.

Table of Contents

Author's Notes
Introduction
Chapter 1: 1964–66: VMCJ-1 Photo-Reconnaissance and Electronic Counter Measures
Chapter 2: 1964: VFP-63 Photo-Reconnaissance Over Laos and First Prisoner of War
Chapter 3: 1965: VFP-63 Support of Operation Rolling Thunder Begins
Chapter 4: 1966—Operation Rolling Thunder Intensifies
Chapter 5: 1966–67: VFP-62 Enters the War
Chapter 6: 1967–68: Dangerous Skies Over Hanoi and Haiphong
Chapter 7: 1969–72: The Final Years
Chapter 8: Other Navy and Marine Corps Photo Reconnaissance Aircraft
Chapter 9: Summary and Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Terms and Acronyms
Source Notes
Appendix "Bombing as a Policy Tool in Vietnam: Effectiveness" (Senate Foreign Relations Committee)

Editorial Reviews

"The author combined imagery and words to give readers a sense of the realism of war. This book is for the patriot in each of us."

The Zebra Press

It’s unfortunate that photo-reconnaissance aircraft and pilots don’t get the same attention as their missile- and bomb-dispensing brothers. In his exciting and comprehensive new book Eyes of the Fleet Over Vietnam, author Kenneth Jack shows that photo pilots have every bit as much skill and commitment, and experience situations that are as exciting – maybe more, if you consider that they often fly over targets shortly after defenses were fully alerted by a recent attack....He deftly weaves declassified action reports and personal narratives into his account, explaining photo-reconnaissance cameras and processes, describing the harrowing missions flown daily by the pilots, and comparing the RF-8 to its contemporaries. He also includes touching tributes to the RF-8 pilots who were lost during the war, reason enough to buy this book. The selection of photographs does an excellent job of illustrating the story. If you enjoy military aviation and jet fighters, make room on your bookshelf for Eyes of the Fleet Over Vietnam.

CDR David Baranek

"From the RA-5C Vigilante, including a sketch diagram, to the RA-3B Skywarrior, the author commemorates these Vietnam-era photo-reconnaissance platforms with equal parts technical description and personal recollection of their unique features, capabilities, and even scuttlebutt reputations for accidents."

American Intelligence Journal

"The author, whose photo research was excellent, also covers the camera technology used by the Crusader and the three other Navy and Marine Corps photo-reconnaissance jets used in the war."

Seapower

"Well documented with notes, Eyes of the Fleet provides not only a close-up look at the RF-8 over Southeast Asia but useful appendices covering the broader aspects of the Vietnam air campaign."

Aviation History Magazine

"The book is well written and indexed. Jack uses photographs from Navy archives and those from squadron personnel to create the history of the aircraft and the men who flew and maintained them."

Naval History

"Jack has created a very detailed account that will be of interest to military and aviation historians. He has ensured that memories of the men lost in Vietnam will continue to be told. Eyes of the Fleet Over Vietnam is highly recommended and deserves to be on every 'brown shoes' bookshelf."

Naval Historical Foundation

"...uncovers a lesser-known area of operations that centers on heroic men with unarmed aircraft, going in harm’s way to enhance the safety and effectiveness of their fellow pilots."

Air Power History