Vol. 25 January – March 2020 No. 1

President’s Message Larry Skinner

You’re most likely in novel coronavirus overload by now, but how do I not talk about it? I sincerely hope that none of you, your family members or any of your friends has been infected by the COVID-19 virus - the likes of which none of us have seen during our lifetimes. How many of you really felt threatened by SARS, MERS, or Swine Flu? Yeah, me neither. Also like you, I feel blessed to be living in America with, undoubtedly, the best healthcare in the entire world. I’m also thankful for our healthcare workers, first responders and military personnel who risk their own health every day to care for those stricken by this microscopic demon. Came from China, but who even knew “wet markets” even existed? Yuck! Now they think it might have been developed in a lab in Wuhan? Lousy Commies.

My wife, Brenda, and I have been hunkered down for over a month and are prepared to stay at home for however long it takes to feel safe, but I sure hope the younger folks can start returning to work real soon (May 1st?) and get our economy moving again (even if they have to practice social distancing and wear masks for several months). Let’s all pray they find a remedy and that a vaccine is developed in record time! And while you’re praying, say a few for Triumph!

Like most everything else, both the Retiree Club and the VHF Restoration project have basically been shut down for the past several weeks. Since all of us fall in the “high risk” category for age, if not for underlying conditions, I’m not sure when we’ll be back in full operation, but I’m hoping it’s at least by June. Social distancing, masks and no gatherings over ten people pretty well prevent most of what we would normally be doing this time of year (I’d also normally be watching at least forty hours of sports on TV every week, going out to eat,

to the gym and going to one or two movies – not a bad life and I miss it). BTW, if you want to see people with total disregard for your safety, go sit in the Wal-Mart parking lot (which is completely full!) for a few minutes and watch all the entire families going in and out, elbow to elbow. Not sure what it looks like inside as I’m just sitting there waiting for my curbside order to be brought out, which, I must say, has been extremely efficient and they have a killer app.

Sad to hear about the passing of Dick Atkins. A wonderful man who devoted a tremendous amount of his time in retirement to preserving the history of Chance Vought, LTV Aerospace & Defense, and Vought Aircraft. As the saying goes, he truly bled “Corsair blue” and will be sorely missed.

We are also saddened at the passing of two of our dedicated and talented aircraft restoration volunteers -- Pat O’Hara and Larry Dennis.

Our thoughts and prayers also go out to Rusty Branum, one of the wonderful folks who volunteer on the VHF restoration project, while he’s on the DL for medical treatments. Hey Rusty, hope to see you back in form by the time this is over with.

At this point, the June 2020 Annual Meeting and BBQ has been cancelled.

We will let you know when it is rescheduled.

Until next time, stay safe, wash your hands, and watch out for all the scammers that will undoubtedly try to take advantage of you during these uncertain times.

Larry

Renew your membership for 2020, and continue to get your

Vought Retiree Club News!

Call the Club at (817) 478-1885 or Email: retireeclub@vought.org membershiprc@vought.org

In Memoriam by Ann Christmas

The Retiree Club has been notified since our last newsletter of the following deceased members.

Our sincere sympathy goes out to the families of those listed. Each will be missed.

Frances Lochner Stoll – 11-22-2012 Evelyn Virginia Johnston – 2-15-2017 Edwin Clinton Odette, Sr. – 11-17-2019 Harry J. Stoll – 11-17-2019 George Duane Smith – 12-2-2019 Don Arthur Walters – 12-13-2019 Billy H. Kilgore – 1-1-2020 Don Richard McCoy – 1-3-2020 Kenneth (Ken) Wade Bristow – 1-12-2020 Billy Lee Perry – 1-13-2020 Bobby L. Koonce – 1-14-2020 Mary Nell (Mickey) Smith – 1-25-2020 James Oval (Jimmy) Hale – 2-17-2020 Alva (Don) Floyd – 3-2-2020 Melvin Spencer Houk – 3-7-2020 Tommy L. Nanney – 3-15-2020 William Laurence (Larry) Dennis – 3-24-2020 Charles R. Hickox, Jr. – 3-28-2020 Thomas R. (Tommy) Tubbs, Jr. – 3-28-2020 Everett Richard (Dick) Atkins – 4-1-2020 Patric (Pat) O’Hara – 4-5-2020 Wilbur Dwane Cummings – 4-8-2020 Melvin Ruel (Mel) Gilbert – 4-9-2020

2020 Dues ! by Gaye Kortegast

It’s time to send in your 2020 membership dues!

(If you’re not sure whether or not you’ve renewed, you may check the mailing label on this newsletter for

status of your membership.)

If you would like to renew for 2020, please send your dues as soon as you can !

The cost is still only $5.00 per person per year. You may renew for as many years as you desire.

Or, Lifetime memberships are only $50 per person.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Thank you !

Volunteer Events by Johnnie Johnson

MISSION ARLINGTON

210 W. South Street Arlington, Texas 76010

All volunteer events have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Hopefully, when things return to normal, we can reschedule the volunteer opportunity with Mission Arlington!

Mission Arlington is a wonderful organization that runs on the help of volunteers. By volunteering, it connects you with the community to serve others for the good. Volunteer events give us all an opportunity to make a positive impact in our communities by helping those who are in need. Retirees, family, and friends are invited to participate in these events. Give me a call and let me know if you would like to join us. For more information, call Johnnie Johnson at 817-845-7576, or the Retiree Club at 817-478-1885.

Thanks for your help! Johnnie Johnson

NEW T-shirt – O3U-3 Corsair I

The new blue shirts featuring the O3U-3 Corsair I are available for a donation of $15. Shipping charges (if mailed, instead of being picked up at the Vought Retiree Club office) are $7 for one shirt, $8 for two, or actual shipping cost for over two shirts. Pick one up at, or order one from, the Retiree Club office (retireeclub@vought.org or 817-478-1885).

The new blue O3U-3 Corsair I T-shirt –

The 100th Anniversary of Chance Vought T-shirt is available for $12 for the restocked 2XL and 3XL sizes, still $10 for the other sizes.

The 100th Anniversary of Chance Vought T-shirt --

The back of the T-shirt is shown here --

The close-up of the graphic on the back of the T-shirt is shown here --

Executive Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month

The Executive Committee of the Vought Retiree Club meets at 9:15 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the office suite generously provided by Texas Trust Credit Union in the Texas Trust Business Park at 5840 W. I-20 in southwest Arlington.

The April Executive Committee meeting was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic,

and the May meeting may be as well.

The Vought Heritage Foundation Restoration volunteer crew is working in the new facility provided by the Grand Prairie Independent School District. They currently meet every Tuesday and Thursday -- from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Restoration News

Updates from Rusty Branum

In this issue of the Vought Retiree Club News, the activities of the Restoration Group are detailed for the period December 17 through March.

December was a short month due to the holidays. The Restoration Volunteers started up again beginning Thursday, January 2, and are working on the O3U-3 fuselage.

Anyone who wants to help restore the company’s old aircraft,

come join the Restoration Volunteers ! December 17, 2019 I located some new heaters for the slip roller and got them installed today; she runs like a top. More work on the mill, Jerry Fischer doing his magic. Out on the airplane (O3U-3 Corsair I), more work was done installing ribs and stringers. Today was our annual Christmas lunch; we had a large turnout. A lot of these guys we only see once a year. I counted 33 enjoying some great food and fellowship, and cake and pie and cookies....oh my. We all gathered outside the building for our group picture. Today is the last day we are working this year, to return on January 2nd. So till we meet again, this will be the last post this year, Merry Christmas to all, and Happy New Year. January 2, 2020 First day back from the Christmas break, and most of us made it without issue. We learned that Joyce Ross took a tumble and ended up in the ER and a few days in the hospital, not the way to spend your Christmas. We had a smaller crew on hand today. I expect most of them will be back next week. We are still working on beams for the overhead crane. Bill Condon and Cathie Barrington were caught pretending to be working on the O3U-3 engine heat shields -- good job guys and gals, keep up the good work. January 8, 2020 Sebastian Marconi, an Aircraft Maintenance Technician based in Cleveland, Ohio, posted these photos of the O3U-3 on the Vought Heritage Foundation Facebook page, and commented – “…keep up the outstanding work! Is there anywhere donations can be made to the project?”

O3U-3 model on display at Naval Aviation Museum

January 9, 2020 We have been working on building stringers for the O3U-3. The series of photos show the process for turning mahogany planks into the finished product.

Bob Szabados and Jerry Fischer worked on some special set-ups on the table saw and a custom built router fixture to mold the radius.

After the sticks are scarf cut, they are bonded together using more fixtures.

The finished stringer is thirteen feet long, and trimmed upon installation on the fuselage.

Dick Guthrie and Richard Sheaner are reviewing drawings to determine how the last ribs are located.

Jim Ross was caught under the club truck, trying to install some new wiring for a trailer mounted winch.

February 4, 2020

It’s been a few weeks since my last post, so we have some catching up to do.

Starting off with building stringers, Bob Szabados gave Mickey Arms Branum some on-the-job training.

I think Mickey is turning into Rosie the Riveter.

Dick Guthrie is busy fitting some stringers on the aft fuselage.

Jerry Fischer was busy building some holding fixtures on the Bridgeport.

Bill Condon is still working on engine heat shields.

We moved a drill press and work stands out to the high bay area and set up the overhead I-beam for drilling. We have over 50 holes to be drilled.

We were gifted a utility trailer by member Harold Lindsey.

Bob Szabados and Jerry Fischer were busy again turning planks into stringers, using another custom fixture they built for the table saw.

Earl Hastings was putting a coat of paint on our oscillating sander stand – looking good, Earl !

Jerry Fischer was busy with some Bridgeport maintenance.

Wat Watkins and Don Branton took a break from O3U-3 fuselage underbelly work.

We got our forklift propane tank recertified this week, and we bought a new tank -- no more running out of gas.

Finally, today we had some visitors -- Jim Hill and his son, and Huey Barrilleaux.

February 9, 2020 We had a nice visit from Bob Bardo and his fiancee Jeanette Farmer this week -- they brought us 20 brand new padded folding chairs for our media room.

They also donated a much needed carpet sweeper. Paula Hastings couldn’t wait to try it out.

Many thanks to Bob and Jeanette for the donations.

February 11, 2020 Earl Hastings did a great job on painting the oscillating sander work stand.

We have been working on a man cage, to be used along with the forklift, when we install part of the overhead crane beam. A couple of shelves will be added and then a coat of paint.

I was able to get two of the air conditioning window unit remote controls to work today; they have heat and cooling in one unit.

Jim Ross and Mickey Arms Branum were busy building more stringers for the OU3-3 airplane.

We had the forklift repair guy in today; we are waiting on a written estimate before we do the repair. And finally, look at this listing of Chance Vought names and logos over the years.

Photos with Adam Galan working with the A7 on an aircraft carrier, from 1981 --

Adam Galan with an A7,

on the way to the Indian Ocean, October 11, 1981.

February 12, 2020 Going through some old papers this morning with my wife, we came across this check stub from the work period ending October 3, 1954. This was my mother-in-law, from TEMCO Aircraft. Imagine bringing home $48 after taxes for a 40-hour work week; times have changed.

From AVGEEKERY.COM –

“The 1975 Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV)-produced promotional film “The A-7 Attack Fighter” features both the Navy’s A-7E and the Air Force’s A-7D Corsair II tactical jets. The Short Little Ugly F***er (SLUF) was developed from the Navy’s supersonic F-8 Crusader fighter. A-7s replaced some of the Douglas A-4 Skyhawks and A-1 Skyraiders in Navy Service as well as A-1 Skyraiders and North American F-100 Super Sabres in Air Force Service. Produced in five basic models and several more mission-specific variants, 1,569 Corsair IIs were built by LTV at their plant in Dallas, Texas. The first flight of the prototype YA-7A took place on September 27th 1965.” https://www.avgeekery.com/behold-the-corsair-ii-the-undisputed-rodney-dangerfield-of-vietnam-era-attack-jets/?fbclid=IwAR1f2ZCN4Ju-HtE4F40eGda2x8HW_ngQYPI2YR75z01leZJKBvVGYat_sHo The Vought A7 Attack Fighter video is at: https://youtu.be/GJ5v8SvOdA0 February 16, 2020 In October 2018, Wat Watkins and Adam Galan went to Montana to help the Lewiston, Maine Veterans Memorial Park volunteers disassemble an A-7 that was being sent to Maine. We recently received an update from Maine. -- “Yes it is the plane you helped with, thank you very much, we will paint it when spring gets here. Thank you to Wat and Adam. They taught me a crash course when we took it apart so I could put it back together here in Maine. See attached photo. We will unveil it the Saturday before Memorial Day. The city is building a

pedestal, I hope by November. The plane fits well in our Veterans Memorial Park. I learned my lesson, I’ll never do that again. J FYI, in the picture, we had Wreaths Across America come by the Park and put wreaths on all the monuments.”

February 18, 2020 It was cold and rainy as we celebrated our 1st Quarter birthdays today, with a pretty good turnout for cake and coffee. January birthdays were Frank Laubenthal, Peggy Hoover (December) and Don Branton; missing was Martin Galaviz.

February birthdays were Earl Hastings, Bill Condon,

A special achievement for Huey Barrileaux, as he achieved 90-year old volunteer status!

March birthdays were Richard Roberson and Bob Brown.

Happy Birthday to all our awesome volunteers!

Out in the high bay area, drilling on the steel I-beam has begun. 53 holes were required. Then we get to do it on the overhead I-beam.

We are still waiting on a repair estimate for our ailing forklift. February 25, 2020 The forklift repair guy was on site early this morning, and in no time had the leaking hydraulic cylinder removed and back to his shop for teardown and repair. Hopefully, he will be back on Thursday to reinstall and test the system -- fingers crossed.

Jerry Fischer was busy on the Bridgeport machine today, working on some tooling, drilling holes.

Tim Sanford came by and donated some beautiful black and white framed prints of Vought aircraft. Thanks, Tim, for saving these from being tossed. We will have them up on our walls shortly.

Tim Sanford donated framed photo of A7 Corsair II

Tim Sanford donated framed photo of F4U Corsair

Tim Sanford donated photo of O3U-3 taking off

February 28, 2020 Welcome to new members of our Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1482266625152469/), the Vought Heritage Foundation. There are now 177 members. I try to put something new each week on the page, feel free to add your comments.

1. Donny Anderson 2. Sandra Jordan Bass 3. Jim Batten 4. David Bennett 5. Sammy T. Blay 6. Lynn Boswell 7. Brent Branum 8. Charlotte Brening 9. Joy Brenckman 10. Tommy Dale Brooks 11. John Bukaty 12. John Call 13. Maria Charney 14. Bruce Clark 15. Dave T. Clayton 16. Michael Flanery 17. Jim Flores 18. Ron Genzer 19. Caryn Wild Elliott Harrison 20. Angie Herman 21. Mike Herman 22. Sandra Hughes Hooks 23. Denise Galvani Hurst 24. Sharon Smith Jackson 25. Kelly Johnson 26. Neal Justice 27. Karl Keeton 28. Tom Kiefer 29. Joe Kolb 30. Debra Saenz Marroquin

31. Michael McPherson 32. Michael McQuatters 33. Myra Mead 34. Patrick Meek 35. Priscilla Montgomery 36. Kandy Jones Moss 37. Jay “Fuzz” Palmer 38. Jimmie Perkins 39. Bill Phelps 40. William Phillips 41. P Ann Phillips Poindexter 42. Janice Jordan Pribble 43. Larry Reznicek 44. Tim Rowlette 45. Timothy Lee Sanford 46. Linda Wusterhausen Scott 47. Kim McClaskey Sheeley 48. James Stegman 49. Judy Stephens 50. Haward Stone 51. Joe Tarrant 52. Charles VanBerg 53. David Vestal 54. Michael Vinson 55. Brett White 56. David Whitney 57. Mike Williams 58. John Wilson

I also extend an invitation to join the Vought Retiree Club, if you aren’t already a member. Some of you may not have worked for Vought or LTV, but I know you from our days at Loral and Lockheed Martin -- we all have a connection with the Vought heritage. I want you to come see what we are doing to preserve the Vought heritage. We always have coffee and donuts on hand. We only work on Tuesdays and Thursdays – from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Our location is on the west side of South Carrier Parkway in Grand Prairie, about ½ mile south of I-20, just behind the Charles England State Farm Insurance office building [between 4210 S. Carrier Parkway (Dry Clean Super Center) and 4242 S. Carrier Parkway (Charles England State Farm Insurance)]. Also, visit our website for more Vought history – at www.vought.org.

March 3, 2020 Check out the newly painted man lift, complete with work shelves, Earl Hastings put the battleship grey finish on last week, and now she is ready to work.

Stringer fabrication is in full swing. We have 8 fixtures, and all of them being put to work, Mickey Arms Branum and Jim Ross have taken over the conference room table, and are cranking them out as fast as the glue dries.

Stringer fitment out in the assembly area is taking place, up on the top of the fuselage.

Wing strong backs are now completed, and just waiting on a coat of paint.

Work on the bottom of the O3U-3 fuselage is underway. Wat Watkins is making some good headway.

We got our forklift repaired today, and are glad to have it back in service. March 7, 2020 We finally got around to filling a large hole in the North end of the high bay, the original door only covered the bottom half of the opening. We used a couple of old cattle panels welded together to form a frame and then strapped a tarp over the frame. We used a couple of J hooks outside the door frame to hold it in place. Then we lifted it up with the fork lift, and then secured the top and edges with Adel clamps. This should keep the rain and wind out, when we start assembly of the fuselage and wings.

Inside view of the High Bay door cover,

with Earl Hastings standing by

Outside view of the High Bay door cover

March 8, 2020 Victoria Vought posted this video on the Vought Heritage website about the passing of Rosalind Walter, the original inspiration for Rosie the Riveter, who worked on the F4 Corsair. Rosalind Palmer Walter died in New York City on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the age of 95. At the age of 19 after high school, she passed up college during World War II to take a night shift at the Chance Vought Aircraft plant in Stratford, CT to work on the F4U Corsair. She drove rivets into the metal bodies of Corsair fighter planes, a job previously reserved for men. Sources have noted that she "broke records for speed on the production line, advocating for equal pay for her female co-workers.”

https://www.facebook.com/tori.vought/videos/10219559591354883/ Rosalind was affectionately called "Roz" by friends. A newspaper column about her inspired a morale-boosting 1942 song that turned her into the legendary Rosie the Riveter. "She's a part of the assembly line. She's making history, working for victory," the famous song lyrics say in part. "Rosie, brrrrrr, the Riveter."

Other women went on to become Rosie the Riveter models for posters and magazine covers for the War Production Board. The iconic "We Can Do It!" poster, which became a feminist symbol, was modeled after Naomi Parker Fraley, who died in 2018 at the age of 96.

Rosalind Walter was born in Brooklyn on June 24, 1924. She married Henry S. Thompson, a lieutenant with the Naval Reserve and a graduate of Stanford University, and the two had a son, named Henry, before divorcing in the 1950s. Beyond inspiring the wartime heroine, Walter was a major philanthropist who supported public television with several programs on PBS and was the largest supporter of WNET in New York, financing 67 shows or series starting in 1978. Along with her second husband, Henry Glendon Walter Jr., who was president and later chairman and CEO of International Flavors and Fragrances, she gave to the American Museum of Natural History, the Pierpont Morgan Library, Long Island University, the college scholarship program of the U.S. Tennis Association and the North Shore Wildlife Sanctuary on Long Island. Rosalind Walter is survived by her son, Henry S. Thompson; two grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and several step-great-grandchildren.

March 11, 2020

V-173B: The Time Has Come

The Chance Vought Survivors, in conjunction with the Vought Heritage Foundation, hosted at the Ruthe Jackson Center in Grand Prairie on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, Sean Jeralds, associate professor in the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona. Sean gave a brief history of the Circular wing and the latest research on that concept. He presented an overview of his V-173B Project -- including Aerodynamics, Weights, Propulsion, Structure, Crashworthiness, Maintainability, Payload, Performance, and Cost. He pointed out why the features of this modern day pancake-like airplane makes it a very attractive configuration for today’s aircraft market. March 17, 2020 COVID-19 was the topic around the lunch table today, seems you can’t get away from it these days. Since we usually don’t have a large crowd on hand (only 10 today), we discussed terminating the work for a period of time, we discussed continuing on a limited/reduced schedule, and we discussed trying to keep the same schedule. In the end, we decided to keep with the established schedule, and use common sense, practice social distancing, and above all, if we aren’t feeling well, to stay home. Let’s just hope this stuff is resolved soon, and we all can get back to business as usual. Stay safe out there. March 22, 2020

Vought Heritage Foundation operations suspended due to Covid-19 order

by Dallas County

Dallas County has issued a shelter-in-place order for all non-essential businesses and residents, effective at 11:59 p.m. on March 23, 2020. The Vought Heritage Foundation volunteers will cease operations until county officials deem it safe. This could be up to several weeks or longer. We will be in touch with all our volunteers via E-mail and social media...stay tuned...and stay safe.

Portuguese Air Force A-7P These two photos were taken by Dave Ruddlesden while on an Aeroprints AT1806 tour, on May 16, 2018, at Base Aerea number 1, Manobra de Maceda, Ovar, Portugal.

LTV A-7P 15504 of the Portuguese Air Force

at Base Aerea number 1, Manobra de Maceda, Ovar, Portugal

History – The Crusader: the Last Gunfighter Was One Impressive Engineering Triumph Donny Anderson posted this article and film on the Vought Heritage website –

The article is at:

https://www.avgeekery.com/the-crusader-the-last-gunfighter-was-one-impressive-engineering-triumph/?fbclid=IwAR26aleEbaBQ1WDJikqjuFxGildZg21vWAGVTjVnQyeDlD3txalnVv6qfAY

The video is at: https://youtu.be/4AgbRWT31L0 Over 5000 U.S. Naval aviators flew the F8 Crusader. The F8 Crusader was known among the naval aviators as the MiG Master – its pilots shot down 19 MiGs during the Vietnam War, while losing only 3. In the summer of 1952, the U.S. Navy issued an RFP for a new fighter, to be operational with the fleet in 1956. LTV, then known as Chance Vought Aircraft, entered and won the competition. Chance Vought designed the smallest and lightest airframe around the most powerful engine available – the Pratt & Whitney J57, with 16,000 pounds of thrust. The XF8U-1 began to take shape in late 1953. For the first time, titanium and magnesium were extensively used. Its “Coke bottle” fuselage shape was tested in the wind tunnel to reduce supersonic drag. The plane had a variable incidence wing that when in a high position allowed excellent forward visibility for the pilot landing on aircraft carriers and a desirable angle of attack. After 22 months of development, the plane was disassembled and loaded onto a C-124 transport plane and carried to Edwards Air Force Base for reassembly and testing. There, on March 24, 1955, Vought Chief Test Pilot John Konrad flew the first taxi tests.

The next day, March 25, 1955, one week ahead of schedule, the first flight test was executed, again by John Konrad. It exceeded Mach 1 on its first flight.

In 1956, a production F8 set the first national speed record over 1,000 MPH (piloted by USN pilot CDR Duke Windsor) won the Navy its first Thompson Trophy.

In 1957, the F8 made 2 record-breaking transcontinental flights –

1. An ocean-to-ocean flight from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific to one in the Atlantic in less than 3 ½ hours.

2. U.S. Marine Corps Major John Glenn made the first supersonic flight from Los Angeles to New York, in only 202 minutes.

The F8 also set a milestone by joining the operational fleet within 2 years of its first flight.

After 1987, the F8 Crusader, the first supersonic day fighter, was retired as part of the active inventory of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

From avgeekery.com – Vought’s F8U-1 and F8U-2 Crusaders equipped Navy and Marine Corps fighter squadrons between 1957 and 1976. The photo-recon RF-8 version served even longer. In the film, the XF8U-3 gets quite a bit of screen time, even though there were only five of them built. It is a bit surprising that the Crusader III, bigger and faster and meant to serve in the fleet interceptor role, was actually developed in parallel with the other Crusaders. The XF8U-3 was first flown in June of 1958, and reached operational speeds of Mach 2.32 soon thereafter, with Mach 2 attained in level flight. Powered by a single Pratt & Whitney J75-P-5A engine capable of 29,500 pounds of thrust with afterburner, the Crusader III’s thrust-to-weight ratio was an impressive .97:1. Easily identified by its distinctive forward canted scoop intake, prominent retractable ventral strakes, and fatter aft fuselage necessary to accommodate the larger J75 engine, the Crusader III was, in the words of Vought test pilots, fully capable of “flying circles around” the F-4 Phantom. But like the other Crusaders, the XF8U-3 was planned to be equipped with four 20-millimeter cannons (though they were not installed) -- which at the time were thought to be obsolete. We all know that turned out differently too. Task saturation while operating the radar and fire control systems for the single pilot of the Crusader III was also a problem, but the final straw was the larger payload and fighter-bomber capability of the F-4. The XF8U-3 just wasn’t a multi-role aircraft. And it never would be. The F8U-3 program was cancelled. The five airframes built by Vought were transferred to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and used for testing. Of course, the F-4 went on to become the Phabulous Phantom, famous in song and story. The Crusader went down in history as one of the most memorable jets its pilots ever flew, and taglines like, “when you’re out of F-8s, you’re out of fighters” became the stuff of legends. And the Crusader III ? NASA pilots flying the cast-off XF8U-3s out of Patuxent River routinely waxed the sixes of Navy pilots flying F-4s over the Chesapeake until the practice was outlawed…by the Navy. Or so the story goes!

In Memory of Dick Atkins (December 11, 1926 – April 1, 2020)

The Vought company family has lost another great man who did so much to preserve the history and legacy of Chance Vought Aircraft and LTV Aerospace & Defense – Dick Atkins. Dick will be greatly missed. (A Memorial Service will be held at a later date, after the coronavirus threat has subsided.) Everett Richard (Dick) Atkins

(December 11, 1926 – April 1, 2020)

Dick Atkins at the Frontiers of Flight Museum,

Dallas, Texas, 2015

Dick and his wife, Marian

Dick Atkins and wife Marian on their Wedding Day,

September 22, 1945

Dick Atkins in uniform with his wife, Marian

Dick Atkins with his wife, Marian -- December 2014

Dick Atkins with his team working on the Vought Archives

Photo below – Dick Atkins with Sol Love (on right) at the F4U Roll-Out at Vought Aircraft, on 1-24-2009. Dick also gave the opening speech that day (see other 2 photos) --

A7 winning Proposal Team, August 1963 – front row, L-R: Charlie King, Dick Atkins, Sol Love, Jesse Santamaria, Joe Tackas, Phil Watenpaugh, Bill Yarnall, Carl Welgehausen --

Dick Atkins was Director of Archives for the Vought Heritage Foundation, overseeing and working side-by-side with a dedicated and hard-working team who gathered and catalogued historical documents, photographs, films, and other memorabilia of the Chance Vought Aircraft company and its successor LTV Aerospace & Defense Corporation. The collection was donated to the University of Dallas, where it resides today.

Larry Skinner, President of the Vought Retiree Club, said, "Dick was such a great man and the biggest fan CVA/LTV/Vought ever had. He will be missed." Cathie Barrington, the President of the Vought Heritage Foundation, said, "Dick was a faithful volunteer, struggling in the end to continue his efforts to preserve the Vought Heritage even as cancer was ravaging his body."

Everett Richard (Dick) Atkins passed on Wednesday, April 1, 2020.

Dick was born on Saturday, December 11, 1926. Dick grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida. He served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force as an air crewman and a member of the Command & Logistics organization. Dick was Lt. Col. USAF Retired.

Dick started working at Chance Vought Aircraft in 1953. His career experience included: crew and escape system design for the F7U-3, F8 series, and XC-142 Flying Pancake; A7 series from proposal through final design of YA-7F; Chief of A7 Crew Systems Design; Advanced Systems Design; Technical Project Manager for Research and Development; and Technical Project Manager for Pilot/Vehicle Integration. Dick retired in 1990, after 37 years of service to the company. Dick’s hobbies were researching aviation history and authoring a World War II aviation book about the Eighth Air Force.

On April 22, 1942, Dick met Marian Burkhart, beginning a 75-year Love Story that will never end. Their marriage began their adventures of life in the Air Force. They had three children. After Marian retired in 2009, she and Dick enjoyed travel adventures.

After retirement, Dick also volunteered with the Vought Heritage Foundation, preserving the history of the Chance Vought Aircraft company and its successor, LTV Aerospace & Defense. Dick served as Director of Archives and founded the Vought Archives. Dick was also the co-leader of the www.vought.com website and a member of the Vought Heritage Board of Directors.

Dick was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marian, his parents and son, Rick Atkins.

SURVIVORS: daughters Terry Craddock and husband Phil, and Carol Wampler and husband John; grandchildren -- Phil Craddock Jr., Tammy

Craddock, Kim Wampler, Skye Hasan, and Johnny Wampler. The rest of the herd includes 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, all very loveable. Dick Atkins at the December 2019 Birthdays celebrated at the Vought Heritage Foundation Restoration building -- Paula Hastings, Dick Atkins, Wat Watkins, and Stan Bullard:

The following photo was taken at the July-August-September birthday celebration. All the attendees were happy to see Dick Atkins, who was recovering from his broken hip.

Dick Atkins

In Memory of Larry Dennis (August 26, 1939 - March 24, 2020)

Sadly, Vought Retiree volunteer Larry Dennis has passed, on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, from lung cancer and a heart infection. Larry was one of our Vought Heritage Foundation volunteers who worked diligently on preserving our Vought company history and restoring Vought aircraft.

No obituary will be published.

William Laurence (Larry) Dennis was born in Randolph County, North Carolina, on Saturday, August 26, 1939.

Larry Dennis worked at Amcel Corporation in Ashville, NC in the spring of 1966. He and others at Amcel tested some warheads that we (LTV) designed for the Maverick missile. We did not win the Maverick missile contract, but, we were ranked number 1 on our warhead design and testing results and analysis. Larry was a very friendly and likeable person.

Both Larry and his wife, Ann, then worked on Lance for LTV, first in Michigan, and then coming to Texas. After coming to Texas, they also worked on GSRS (General Support Rocket System) which became MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System).

Ann was a sweet, kind, and friendly lady, always with a great smile. Ann worked in Quality Assurance and retired from Lockheed Martin on October 31, 1999.

Larry’s wife, Ann Davis Dennis, passed from pancreatic cancer on January 13, 2011.

Larry said that Annie was "cremated and after both memorial services, the ashes will be buried in Michigan, next to her Mother and Father (in White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy, Michigan). When I pass on, my ashes are to be buried in the same grave."

Attached is a beautiful photo of Ann and Larry in a field of bluebonnets, from their April 2007 visit to

the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails. The photo was displayed at Annie’s Memorial Mass.

Lloyd Farris, Cathie Barrington, and Larry Dennis at the December 2019 Birthdays celebrated at the Vought Heritage Foundation Restoration building -- the Quarter Century Club event on May 5, 2012 –

Larry Dennis at the Quarter Century Club event, on April 23, 2011 --

In Memory of Pat O’Hara

Cathie Barrington, President of the Vought Heritage Foundation, said, “We lost another of our devoted Vought Heritage Foundation volunteers, Patric O'Hara, to cancer this week. Pat was a dedicated and skilled craftsman. One of the ‘Greatest Generation’. He will be missed.”

Patric (Pat) O’Hara (August 19, 1928 – April 5, 2020)

Patric (Pat) O’Hara, 91, a resident of Irving for most of his life, died on Sunday, April 5, 2020 at Baylor, Scott and White Medical Center in Irving. Born on August 19, 1928 in Little Rock, Arkansas, he was the son of the late Patric O’Hara and Lucile Finley O’Hara. He was brought to Irving, Texas at a very young age. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Bonnie Neal Farris. For many years, he worked for LTV Aerospace & Defense in Grand Prairie in aircraft construction. Survivors include his wife, Bonnie of Irving; daughter, Rhonda McCarthy of Florida; daughter, Karen Parks of Irving; and two sons -- Patric O’Hara and Gary O’Hara; nine grandchildren -- Sean McCarthy, Meghan Snyder, Thomas Parks, Kari Downs, Jeffrey Parks, Jeremy Parks, Gary O’Hara, Jr., Cristina O’Hara, and Misty O’Hara; and a sister, Mary Ruth Parker of Irving. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private family service will be live-streamed at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2020. The link for the live-stream is: https://youtu.be/4joyZRL6ar8. A recording of the service was also taken and is available here: https://youtu.be/ZsD4TSxFzEE. Burial will be at the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Donnelly’s Colonial Funeral Home 606 West Airport Freeway; Irving, TX 75062

(972) 579-1313

Pat O'Hara working on restoration

and relaxing in the VHF Restoration lunchroom

August 2019 birthdays -- Rusty Branum, Pat

O’Hara (91), and Cathie Barrington

Rusty Branum: “Pat and I started building all the engine cowling parts for the O3U-3 a few years ago. We started with a sheet of .032 aluminum, and some really old drawings. He showed me how to build some stamping dies, we used to form all the louvers; it was time consuming, but turned out really great. The man had some great skills, he taught me a lot. I miss him.”

December 17, 2019 -- Vought Heritage Foundation Restoration Volunteers

Vought Retiree Club 5840 W I-20, Suite #280 Arlington, TX 76017-1098 Officers: Directors: President – Larry Skinner Activities – Pat Patterson 1st Vice President – Karen Sauls Annual Meeting – Karen Sauls 2nd Vice President – Gaye Kortegast Support Assistant – Sue Nutt Treasurer – Madie Vernon Support Assistant – Leroy Buchanan Secretary – Vynita Hutson Mailing – Bob Snegon Sergeant-at-Arms – Wat Watkins Newsletter and Publicity – Bob Bardo

Newsletter Editor Emeritus – Connie Singleton Veterans’ Advocate – Gene Cates Volunteer Programs – Johnnie Johnson Technical Support and Website* – Roger Stites V.P. - Membership Assistant – Ann Christmas

Call the Club at (817) 478-1885 President, Vought Heritage Foundation – Cathie Barrington

Email: retireeclub@vought.org

membershiprc@vought.org *Vought Heritage Website: www.vought.org Retirees, call the “Benefits Center” toll free 1-800-577-2145 with questions on retiree benefits.

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