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VF-14 Tophatters Land Onboard Yorktown!

Waring Hills Mar 30, 2010

VF-14 Tophatters squadron patch

Today a group of former VF-14 pilots from the 1950’s arrived at Patriots Point for a reunion on the USS Yorktown (CV-10). VF-14 is the Navy’s oldest active duty fighter squadron and is still in existence today as VFA-15. Most of this group of Tophatters had flown with the squadron during the 1950 to 1957 time frame (junior officer squadron tours are normally 3 years). VF-14 was flying the F-4U Corsair in the early 1950’s and transitioned to the F-3D Skynight in 1954.

F4U-5 of VF-14 flying from the USS Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) CV-42

Douglas F3D-2 Skynight

In 1956 the squadron transitioned to the F-3D Demon fighter jet.

F3D Demon in afterburner.

F3D Demon in afterburner.

From left to right, former VF-14 fighter pilots - Don Ross, Randy Moore, Gordon Flynn, Joe Conlan, Butch Hills (not VF-14 pilot), Rich Corbet, Clingen Peel, Jerry Benton and Russ Stearns. (not in picture - Harry Milner and Chuck Allen)

These gentlemen had alot of history and stories behind them and were still sharp ( Several commented to me that the Corsair in the picture above has the wrong size prop on it…True, but very few people know it).  Just a few examples, several of the pilots had served in VF-14 while it was part of the air wing on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) CVA-42. The commanding officer of FDR while they were onboard was no less a fighter pilot than Captain Jimmy Thatch U.S.N., the originator or the “Thatch weave” in World War II and Butch O’Hare’s skipper in VF-3.

Tophatter  Chuck Allen ‘s son, Andrew Allen,  is an astronaut and has flown on three shuttle missions STS-46, STS-62 and STS-75.

Don Ross was the A-6 Intruder project officer and later commanded VA-35. I didn’t get a chance to talk with Don, but I suspect he was one of the members of VF-14 when they flew A3D’s which look very similar to the A-6 Intruder…

Pilots Joe Conlan and Jerry Benton were involved in the first testing of the steam catapult system in the early 1950’s. One morning Jerry was launched off the starboard catapult and his aircraft decelerated on the cat track as one of his engines flamed out. There was evidently alot of white smoke (steam?) coming out of his starboard engine on takeoff. He was able to continue flying…get the engine restarted and landed back aboard. Joe Conlan was not so lucky when later in the day he launched off the port catapult and losing both engines made a water landing 250 yards in front of the ship (F3D’s had no ejection seats!!!). Luckily he was able to climb out and was quickly picked up by the duty helicopter as he stood on his sinking aircraft canopy (only his legs below his knees got wet!). The engineers involved in the catapult design quickly came to the conclusion that the steam was condensing in the catapult track below the deck…as jets accelerated down the deck the catapult injected massive quantities of water into the jet’s engines and instead of water injection the jet turbines would unwind and bog down…flaming out! The engineers quickly modified the catapult system by drilling lots of holes in the bottom of the cat track to allow condensation to go elsewhere! Wow, what a way to earn a living…

Butch Hills and Harry Milner, squadron mates in VRF-31.

Butch Hills and Harry Milner, squadron mates in VRF-31.

When I was asking the Tophatters for their names in earlier introductions, one gentlemen who looked familiar said, “My name is Harry Milner!” Of course, I exclaimed, “Harry Milner!” (Not quite Harry Potter, but close). Harry and I had served together in VRF-31 back in the mid 1980’s when I was a young Lieutenant and Harry was a crusty old Lieutenant Commander. I was born in 1957 and Harry had carrier qualified on a straight deck carrier in 1957. I thoroughly enjoyed Harry’s educating stories as a young naval officer and flyer and I have known few aviators to have the plethora of stories or the style in which Harry could tell them (Harry you should write a book!). He worked for a short time in Isfahan, Iran, training Iranians to fly the F-14 Tomcat and what an amazing time he had in Iran… Perhaps another day, if Harry will let me, we’ll tell some of those stories…

Patriots Point salutes the service and legacy of VF-14, one of our nation’s oldest and premier fighter squadrons! Where do we get such men…

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6 thoughts on “VF-14 Tophatters Land Onboard Yorktown!

  1. Betsy Hills says:

    What fascinating stories! I thank God for these men and others like them who have given so much……especially since I personally benefited from their brave tests of the catapults which insured their safely when a special young Naval Officer served aboard the USS John F Kennedy.

    1. That’s my “poopsie” (Harry Milner). When you can get him to talk he does have a number of great stories and my mom, Eleta, has been telling him for years to write a book. He has provided facts, photos and patches on someone elses book though. Yes we are very proud of him and love him very much!!!

  2. m.v. muoio says:

    Way to go, Harry!

  3. Gordon Hofstra says:

    Always great to hear or see stories about the Tophatters. I was lucky enough to be a member of the squadron as a young LT. joining the squadron in September of 1962 just before leaving for the Med on the old “Rosie” boat flying Demons. We lost 2 Demons and 2 Tophatter pilots. Upon return from the Med the squadron transistioned into F4 Phantoms.
    I am always proud of the fact that the Tophatters are the longest continous opoerating squadron in Naval history. I have attended the the 75th, 80th & 90th squadron reunions and loo9king forward to the big 100th (& the 95th next year). Met a lot of former Tophatters and current members at those reunions. The Tophatters will always be number “1”.

  4. The Top-Hatters are great!

  5. Went to memorial service for Jerry Benton VF-14 Pilot (Ret) at Jacksonville National Cemetary this morning. Jerry passed in November 2017 at the age of 89. His children and grand children were in attendence as was his ex Mary Ann Grimes Benton. A nice military service was held with a gun salute and taps was played on a bugle.

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