It was “The Last of the Gunfighters.” In many other ways, America’s Vought F-8 Crusader represented a departure from the conventional. Its strikingly unorthodox figure, characterized by its unique variable-incidence wings and sleek silhouette, challenges the status quo with its innovative design. Its futuristic features made the Crusader a beauty to behold and a beast in performance, shattering expectations by becoming the first jet fighter in American service to break the 1,000 mph barrier in level flight.

In its reconnaissance role in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the F-8 Crusader helped avert nuclear annihilation. Then the F-8 went on to prove its mettle as a tenacious dogfighter against MiG-17s and -21s in the turbulent skies over Vietnam, racking up the best victory ratio of any US aircraft type during the war, as well as demonstrating its capabilities for devastating ground attack missions. This enduring legacy is crowned by its remarkable achievement of 20 years of service, a testament to its exceptional design and versatility in an era when Navy fighters were frequently replaced.