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Tophatters (VF 14) Crew List
The table below contains the names of sailors who were assigned to the Tophatters (VF 14). Please keep in mind that this list does only include records of people who submitted their information for publication on this website. If you also served aboard and you remember one of the people below you can click on the name to send an email to the respective sailor. Would you like to have such a crew list on your website?
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There are 64 crew members registered for the Tophatters (VF 14).
Select the period (starting by the reporting year): precomm – 1980 | 1981 – now
| Name | Rank/Rate | Period | Remarks/Photo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandel, Eddie | AN | 1954 – Aug 28, 1958 | |
| White, Bill (Whitey) | YN3 | Apr 15, 1955 – Mar 22, 1956 | Cdrs Roach & Leach were skippers. Also Lt Ed Feeks.Ens J R Barnes who died in plane crash near Miami. Eddie Brandel & Lyle Tupper. Many good times at Cecil Field. |
| Ploegstra, Andy | at2 | 1956 – 1959 | spent time at cecil fld, forrestal and pt mugu |
| Hardesty, Don | AOAN | Jan 1956 – Dec 1957 | Joined squadron at Cecil Field, Fl. Worked for AOC Nick Galatano in Ord Shack. Made 1st Med Cruise on Forrestal in 57. Also Operation Strikeback in North Atlantic. Visited Scotland and England.Transfered to North Island, San Diego in Jan, 58 |
| Donaldson, Lynn | YNSN | Dec 28, 1957 – Jun 20, 1958 | I worked in the office for PN1 named Draper. We had a pilot who was not old enough to buy beer. Lt. Childs was the Personnel Officer. My best buddy was "Pappy" from North Carolina. Other friends "Lant" & Loudermilk |
| Beck, Robert | AT2 | Jul 1961 – Jul 1964 | Made 2 1/2 Med cruises. Began with F3 Demons and upgraded to the best A/C built, F4 phantom. From worst to best. |
| Kirshbaum, Stan (Kirsh) | ATN2 | Oct 1961 – Apr 11, 1964 | |
| Melligan, Ed (Butch) | pnsn | Jan 15, 1962 – Aug 1963 | |
| Wiggins, Mac | ams-3rd class | May 15, 1962 – Aug 15, 1965 | Good Times and bad. Loved the Med.cruises. We lost a screw,a few planes and some damn good pilots.Worked flight deck first cruise them made it to the shop ;-) Enjoyed it. I grew up in a hurry !! |
| McGough, Bill | E-3 | Jul 1, 1962 – Apr 18, 1965 | |
| Lamphire, Louis (Mike) | PN3,2 | Dec 18, 1962 – Apr 23, 1964 | |
| Merrill, Benjamin (Ben) | PH3 | Feb 26, 1963 – Feb 10, 1967 | |
| Conroy, Jim | AQF-2 | 1964 – 1966 | Did two Med Cruises on the FDR. Commander Savage was the CO and he was a good guy. We did lose a screw in the Med and we had to return to NJ for dry dock. That's where I met my wife. It was the best! |
| Dotson, Marvin | AMS2 | Apr 1967 – Feb 27, 1970 | |
| Holte, David | e4 | Mar 20, 1968 – Jan 12, 1971 | sheet metal shop Made the first med cruise 68 then next on in 70. Got out in 1971 and worked on C 130s for the next 25 yrs. mn air national guard Great life . I can still rember the first that i smelled jet exhaust |
| Kirchinger, Ed | AN | 1969 – 1970 | first shake down,and first med cruise on J F K |
| Hunter, T.v. | AOAN | 1970 – 1973 | Just feeling kind of old at the moment. That happens when you were on the newest carrier in the fleet and now it's been decommed. Are there any "old salts" left from that era? |
| Jensen, Doyle | AQ2 | Jan 1, 1970 – Dec 1, 1971 | |
| Vaupel, Ernest | PO3 | Apr 1970 – May 1971 | Assigned to VF14 Powerplants |
| Mize, Travis | AMS1 | 1971 – 1972 | I was TAD to AIMD as night shift supervisor and AMS1 Cliff Barnes was the dayshift supervisor . I repaired the rudder that the russian bear crunched on VF14's F4 |
| Clodfelter, Tom | AMS 2 | 1972 – 1976 | Started with F-4 phantom aircraft. Trained at Miramar California for F-14 Tomcats. Made two Mediterranean cruises . Stationed at Oceana Virginia when not out to sea ! We kept the Fighters flying . |
| Gist, Emanuel | E2 | Mar 30, 1972 – Apr 30, 1975 | USS John F. Kennedy CV67 |
| Thibault, Louis G | e4 | Feb 1, 1973 – Aug 8, 1976 | |
| Oaks, Freddie | AMH2 | Apr 5, 1973 – Dec 17, 1976 | it was along time ago but we had one helluva time |
| Watson, Dean NEW | AMS2 | May 1973 – Dec 17, 1976 | Worked in the line division. Best job I ever hated. Double nutz in the drink 75. My bird! |
| Shumaker, Robert | AQ2 | Jun 1973 – Jun 1977 | |
| Kienlen, Alex | ADJ2 | Sep 11, 1973 – Sep 11, 1977 | Worked Flight Deck troubleshooter for one Med and the N. Atlantic cruise, then in the engine shop. Also served shore patrol in North Atlantic and second Me cruise |
| Vantassel, Robert (Vt) | AMH-3 | May 5, 1974 – Jan 15, 1977 | This site is a trip |
| Bybee, Gary | AMS2 | Sep 1974 – Nov 1976 | What a ride it was. |
| Scioli, Mike | YN2 | Nov 1974 – Apr 1978 | Got to VF-14 just as the F-14 arrived. What a great 4 yrs. Loved working in Admin with all the other crazy YNs & PNs. I remember them all - especially Dave Chivalette, whom we lost in the Belknap collision. |
| Parks, Bill | AO3 | Apr 1976 – Jun 1979 | Worked AO Shop. |
| Lassiter, John/bud | ae3 | 1977 – 1979 | |
| Doran, Jim "Gunner" | CWO3 | May 3, 1978 – Oct 28, 1979 | Am in touch with Jack Dantone who was XO/CO during my tour |
| Zook, Randy | AD2 | Sep 1978 – Jun 1982 | Those were the good old days. I miss those "dog meat" sandwiches on the pier in Naples. Met some great people and saw the world on the 80-81 Med cruise. Miss my old buddy Tom Shields. randyzook@hotmail.com |
| Vans, Tony | VF-14 | 1979 – 1981 | Getting to see Europe was certainly worth 4 years of hell. |
Burgess, Robert  | e-3 AME | 1979 – 1982 | Good times, good friends! Made opsail '80 to Boston (Tall Ships), and all workups and Med curise. Miss MCPO Sinnet and Lt. Wildfong |
| Shepard, Steve | AQ2 | 1979 – Oct 31, 1981 | IWT Shop (AQ's and AT's). F-14 Tomcat Troubleshooter and Final Checker. Miss the action of the flight deck and seeing the world. |
| Homans, Shawn | AE3 | Mar 15, 1979 – Mar 15, 1983 | My first command on board the USS John F Kennedy (CV-67) I can be contacted on facebook. If you remember me come say hi! Or just email me at papatuna@gmail.com |
| Mestre, Hector L. | Ms2/Ms1 | Dec 1979 – Jun 1981 | Advancement to MS1/first meritorius advancement by the Squadron for non aviation on unit.Cruise s On The Uss John F. Kennedy and Sigonella Det. and Uss Independance.Also worked at BOQ at NAS Oceana,VA.Made many friends, |
| Balbach, Larry | YNSN - YN3 | 1980 – 1983 | Tophatters - any time baby |
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Select the period (starting by the reporting year): precomm – 1980 | 1981 – now
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