Here is a photo of my friend's Crusader taken just before the flight to final storage at Davis-Monthan.

He told me that the crews cleaned and touched up the paint on the airplanes while inbound to the CONUS on board USS
Hancock. They then launched for the final time from the carrier and flew to a ceremony ashore. That's when this photo was taken, just before the ferry hop to storage. You can read my buddy's name on the airplane on my original photo. He told me it was a very sad day for everyone involved with the F-8 to see them go.....

Crusader