RVAH-11

Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 11
RVAH-11 squadron patch
Active	3 December 1951-1 June 1975
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Photo-reconnaissance
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Checkertails
Engagements	Vietnam War

RVAH-11 was a Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Composite Squadron Eight (VC-8) on 3 December 1951, it was redesignated as Heavy Attack Squadron Eleven (VAH-11) on 1 November 1955 and was redesignated as Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron Eleven (RVAH-11) on 1 July 1966. The squadron was disestablished on 1 June 1975.^[1]

Operational history

VC-8 AJ-2 Savage refuels a VF-11 F2H-4 in 1958

VAH-5 A3B Skywarrior refuels an F-4B of VF-41 in 1964

RVAH-11 RA-5C Vigilantes ablaze during the USS Forrestal fire, 29 July 1967

RVAH-11 RA-5C Vigilante on USS Kitty Hawk in 1968

VC-8

VC-8 operated AJ-1/2 Savage.

VAH-11

VAH-1 reequipped with the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior in November 1957. The squadron made seven Mediterranean deployments, five aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) and once each aboard the USS Independence (CV-62) and the USS Forrestal (CVA-59). VAH-11 transitioned to the RA-5C Vigilante during 1965.^[2]

Vietnam

• 6 June-15 September 1967, RVAH-11 was embarked on USS Forrestal for a Vietnam deployment.^[3]

• 29 July 1967, 3 of the squadron's RA-5Cs #148932, #149284 and #149305 were destroyed in the USS Forrestal fire.^[4]

• 18 November 1967-29 June 1968, RVAH-11 was embarked on USS Kitty Hawk for a Vietnam deployment.^[3]

• 18 May 1968 RA-5C #149283 was shot down over North Vietnam.^[4] The pilot CDR C James ejected successfully, was captured and released on 14 March 1973. The remains of the navigator LT V Monroe were returned in August 1978.^[5]

• 30 December 1968-4 September 1969, RVAH-11 was embarked on USS Kitty Hawk for a Vietnam deployment.^[3]

• 1 October 1971-30 June 1972, RVAH-11 was embarked on USS Constellation for a Vietnam deployment.^[3]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports:^[2]

• NAS Sanford

Aircraft Assignment

• AJ-1/2 Savage
• A-3B/D-2 Skywarrior
• RA-5C Vigilante

See also

• Reconnaissance aircraft
• List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
• History of the United States Navy

References

1. Grossnick, Roy A. (1995). Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons Volume 1 The History of VA, VAH, VAK, VAL, VAP and VFA Squadrons. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. p. 547. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
2. "A-3 Squadron History". A-3 Skywarrior Association. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
3. "Carrier, Carrier Based Squadrons and Non-Carrier Based Squadron Deployments to Vietnam" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy. 1995. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
4. Powell, Robert (2012). RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat. Osprey Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 9781782005421.
5. "U.S. Accounted-For from the Vietnam War (Sorted by Name) Prisoners of War, Escapees, Returnees and Remains Recovered" (PDF). Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Retrieved 30 December 2015.

External links