RVAH-13
| Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 13 | |
|---|---|
|
RVAH-13 squadron patch | |
| Active | 3 January 1961-30 June 1976 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Role | Photo-reconnaissance |
| Part of | Inactive |
| Nickname(s) | Bats |
| Engagements | Vietnam War |
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RVAH-13 was a Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Heavy Attack Squadron Thirteen (VAH-13) on 3 January 1961 it was redesignated as Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron Thirteen (RVAH-13) on 1 November 1964. The squadron was disestablished on 30 June 1976.[1]
Operational history
_fires_RIM-2_Terrier_c1962.jpeg)
RIM-2 Terrier missile launches behind 2 VAH-13 A3B Skywarrior on USS Kitty Hawk c.1962
Camouflaged RVAH-13 RA-5C Vigilante lands on USS Kitty Hawk in 1966
VAH-13
On its formation VAH-13 was equipped with the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior and made its shakedown cruise aboard the USS Kitty Hawk.[2] In August 1964 VAH-9 began transitioning to the RA-5C Vigilante.
Vietnam
- 17 October 1963-20 July 1964, VAH-13 was embarked on USS Kitty Hawk for a Western Pacific deployment.[3]
- 19 October 1965-13 June 1966, RVAH-13 was embarked on USS Kitty Hawk for a Vietnam deployment.[3]
- On 20 December 1965, RA-5C #151624 was hit by antiaircraft fire over North Vietnam.[4] The navigator LTJG Lee Nordahl was listed as presumptive finding of death.[5][6] The remains of the pilot LTCDR Guy D Johnson were returned in March 1977.[7]
- 22 December 1965, RA-5C #151632 was hit by an SA-2 missile.[4] The navigator, LTJG Glenn Daigle successfully ejected, was captured and released on 12 February 1973.[7] The pilot LTCDR Max Lukenbach was listed as killed in action, body not recovered.[6]
- 3 February 1966, RA-5C #151625 was lost in combat.[4] The pilot, LT Gerald Coffee successfully ejected, was captured and released on 12 February 1973.[7]The remains of the navigator LTJG Robert Hanson were returned in November 1988.[7]
- 5 November 1966-19 June 1967, RVAH-13 was embarked on USS Kitty Hawk for a Vietnam deployment.[3]
- 9 March 1967, RA-5C #151627 was lost in combat.[4] The navigator, LT F Predergast successfully ejected and was rescued. The remains of the pilot CDR C Putnam were returned in November 1988.[7]
- 19 May 1967, RA-5C #150826 was lost in combat.[4] The remains of the crew LTCDR J Griffin and Lt J Walters were returned in March 1974.[7]
- 10 April-16 December 1968, RVAH-13 was embarked on USS America for a Vietnam deployment.[3]
- 12 September 1972-12 June 1973, RVAH-13 was embarked on USS Enterprise for a Vietnam deployment.[3]
- 28 December 1972, during Operation Linebacker II RA-5C #156633 was shot docwn by a Vietnam People's Air Force MiG-21.[4] The pilot LTCDR A Agnew successfully ejected, was captured and released on 29 March 1973. The navigator LT M Haifley was listed as missing in action until his remains were returned in August 1985.[7]
- 7 May-18 October, RVAH-13 was embarked on USS Ranger for a Western Pacific deployment.[3]
Home port assignments
The squadron was assigned to these home ports:
Aircraft Assignment
See also
- Reconnaissance aircraft
- List of inactive United States Navy aircraft squadrons
- History of the United States Navy
References
- ↑ 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 30 December 2015.
- ↑ "Skywarrior in Service with US Navy". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Powell, Robert (2012). RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat. Osprey Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 9781782005421.
- ↑ "LCDR Lee Edward Nordahl". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- 1 2 "U.S. Unaccounted-For from the Vietnam War (Sorted by Name) Prisoners of War, Missing in Action and Killed in Action/Body not Recovered" (PDF). Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "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
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