ATT Bill Thompson -RE: Space Chimps – I participated in the Mercury Flights and we (the U. S. Navy Operation Mercury Recovery) did pick up chimps that were alive … but long range? I don’t how long they survived. I was an air-crewman in the squadron VRC 40. Frankly I don’t remember the USS Donner being part of our group but then I’ve forgotten much of the details like name of ships, etc. Much of that time our squadron was operating off of the USS Roosevelt.-@BillThompsonThanks for the photo … That was my plane alright. VRC-40 (U S Navy designation … V = heavier than air, R = cargo, C = carrier) My old squadron is still designated VRC-40 … it is a fleet support squadron and when I served (1958 – 1962) we flew off and on all aircraft carriers operating on the east coast. We were in position ready to fly the chimps to grand turk island but as far as I can remember … while we did pick up Alan Shepard, we never did get the chance to ferry one of the chimps.-check this out … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRC-40 -@BillThompson … To answer your question about the aircraft we flew … it was a TF (U S Navy designation – T = Trader [or Transport? I’ve forgotten which], F = Grumman) … it was manufactured by Grumman … first as a sub chaser that was designated S2F and was full of radar and sonar gear for tracking subs. Then Grumman produced it as a cargo/passenger/transport aircraft designated TF.-Before I was assigned to VRC-40 I was in FASRON – 3 (Fleet Air Support Squadron 3) which also flew off and on aricraftcarriers on the east coast. FASRON – 3 was decommissioned in 1960 or early 1961 and I was then assigned to the newly commissioned VRC-40. (I only moved from one side of the hanger to the other and we basically did the very same thing we had been doing when we were still in FASRON-3.) I can’t remember which of the two squadrons I was in when we got the “How to Care for a Chimp” instructions … it could have been while I was still in FASRON-3. Sorry … wish my memory was better.
ATT Bill Thompson -RE: Space Chimps – I participated in the Mercury Flights and we (the U. S. Navy Operation Mercury Recovery) did pick up chimps that were alive … but long range? I don’t how long they survived. I was an air-crewman in the squadron VRC 40. Frankly I don’t remember the USS Donner being part of our group but then I’ve forgotten much of the details like name of ships, etc. Much of that time our squadron was operating off of the USS Roosevelt.-@BillThompsonThanks for the photo … That was my plane alright. VRC-40 (U S Navy designation … V = heavier than air, R = cargo, C = carrier) My old squadron is still designated VRC-40 … it is a fleet support squadron and when I served (1958 – 1962) we flew off and on all aircraft carriers operating on the east coast. We were in position ready to fly the chimps to grand turk island but as far as I can remember … while we did pick up Alan Shepard, we never did get the chance to ferry one of the chimps.-check this out … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VRC-40 -@BillThompson … To answer your question about the aircraft we flew … it was a TF (U S Navy designation – T = Trader [or Transport? I’ve forgotten which], F = Grumman) … it was manufactured by Grumman … first as a sub chaser that was designated S2F and was full of radar and sonar gear for tracking subs. Then Grumman produced it as a cargo/passenger/transport aircraft designated TF.-Before I was assigned to VRC-40 I was in FASRON – 3 (Fleet Air Support Squadron 3) which also flew off and on aricraftcarriers on the east coast. FASRON – 3 was decommissioned in 1960 or early 1961 and I was then assigned to the newly commissioned VRC-40. (I only moved from one side of the hanger to the other and we basically did the very same thing we had been doing when we were still in FASRON-3.) I can’t remember which of the two squadrons I was in when we got the “How to Care for a Chimp” instructions … it could have been while I was still in FASRON-3. Sorry … wish my memory was better.