RVAH-5

Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 5
RVAH-5 squadron patch
Active	9 September 1948-30 September 1977
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Photo-reconnaissance
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Savage Sons
Engagements	Vietnam War

RVAH-5 was a Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Composite Squadron Five (VC-5) on 9 September 1948, it was redesignated as Heavy Attack Squadron Five (VAH-5) on 1 November 1955 and was redesignated as Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron Five (RVAH-5) in May 1956. The squadron was disestablished on 30 September 1977.^[1]

Operational history

VC-5 AJ-2 Savage on board USS Midway c.1953

VAH-5 A3B Skywarrior refuels a Royal Navy Supermarine Scimitar c.1962

RVAH-5 RA-5C Vigilante prepares to launch from USS America c.1966

VC-5

VC-5 was first equipped with the P2V-3C Neptune before transitioning to the AJ-2 Savage in early 1950s.^[2]

VAH-5

VAH-5 reequipped with the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior in late 1957 and made five Mediterranean deployments. In March 1963 it began transitioning to the RA-5C Vigilante.^[2]

Vietnam

RVAH-5 served 6 Vietnam deployments on the following carriers:^[3]

• 5 August 1964-6 May 1965, USS Ranger

• 29 May 1968-31 January 1969 USS Constellation. On 25 November 1968, RA-5C #149293 was lost in combat.^[4] The pilot CDR E Stamm ejected successfully, was captured, but died in captivity, his remains were returned in March 1974. The navigator LTJG R Thum was killed in the crash, his remains were returned in September 1977.^[5]

• 14 October 1969-1 June 1970, USS Ranger

• 11 June 1971-12 February 1972, USS Enterprise

• 16 November 1972-23 June 1973, USS Ranger

• 21 June-22 December 1974, RVAH-5 was embarked on USS Constellation for a Vietnam deployment.^[3]

Home port assignments

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

• NAS Moffett Field
• NAS Norfolk
• NAS Jacksonville
• NAS Sanford

Aircraft Assignment

• P2V-3C Neptune
• AJ-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