VMFP-3 80s Flashback

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VMFP-3 FlightLine and Hangar
By Marc E.Iseli / Updated Dec. 2025
Towards the end of March, it would be a pivotal time for me, when Det-C returned from their WestPac, bringing seasoned plane captains who would become the leaders of the flight line. Two of whom were Sgt Tim Francis and Sgt Tom Hotchkiss. I had the privilege to serve with them until my separation, and they had a great influence on me as a plane captain and a Marine. Det-A, who replaced them, took all the green-tail RF-4Bs with them, leaving us with mostly the same painted aircraft with a light grey fox on the tail.

The end of April was a very exciting time for me as a Plane captain trainee. It would be my very first TAD with the squadron when we deployed to Homestead AFB, Florida, on 25 April. Excitement turned to tragedy when the aircrew flying the RF-4B’s to Homestead collided in midair over Texas. Pilot LCOL Sperry and RSO CAPT Fagan, flying Aircraft RF-01 151975, ejected safely, but the aircraft crashed on a golf course. We continued on to Homestead, and that is where I learned that life on an AFB was a whole lot different from life on an MCAS. They had civilian cooks and lived in two-man barracks, and the base was so much more modern. It was a great experience for my first TAD.

Upon returning to MCAS El Toro from Homestead, we began launching aircraft to fly Field Carrier Landing Practices, located at Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) San Clemente Island, from 25 May to 11 June. The practice runs would end with the aircraft doing CarQuals on the USS Ranger, CV-61, which lasted from 13-16 June. Sgt Tim Francis chose me to serve on an aircraft carrier for the first time during CarQuals. You can read about it and see photos here.

Alright, you glorious Rat Phixers and Phlyers, if we ever survived a TAD, a Det, or a BOHICA, who haven't, and you didn’t think I was the biggest gaff off in the squadron. Got a sea story, or some grainy photos your ex didn’t set on fire, and they’re only slightly illegal? Send ‘em by email, snail mail, or safety wire it to a carrier pigeon. I collect ‘em all, just nothing that would incriminate me.
80svmfp3@gmail.com

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