RVAH-6

Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 6
RVAH-6 squadron patch
Active	6 January 1950-20 October 1978
Country	United States
Branch	United States Navy
Role	Photo-reconnaissance
Part of	Inactive
Nickname(s)	Fleurs
Engagements	Vietnam War

RVAH-6 was a Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Composite Squadron Six (VC-6) on 6 January 1950, it was redesignated as Heavy Attack Squadron Six (VAH-6) on 1 July 1956 and was redesignated as Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron Six (RVAH-6) on 23 September 1965. The squadron was disestablished on 20 October 1978.^[1]

Operational history

VC-6 AJ-2 Savage on board USS Midway in 1954

VAH-6 AJ-2 Savage preparing to launch from USS Lexington in 1956

VAH-6 A3D-2 Skywarrior lands on USS Ranger in 1958

RVAH-6 RA-5C Vigilante lands on USS America c.1972

VC-6

VC-6 became the second Navy squadron to operate the AJ-2 Savage, receiving its first aircraft in late 1950.^[2]

VAH-6

VAH-6 reequipped with the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior in 1958 and made several Western Pacific deployments aboard USS Ranger and Mediterranean deployments aboard USS Forrestal.^[3]

Vietnam

• 12 May-3 December 1966, RVAH-6 was embarked on USS Constellation for a Vietnam deployment.^[4]
• 19 August 1966, RA-5C #149309 was lost in combat, both crewmen ejected successfully and were rescued.^[5]
• 23 October 1966, while operating from USS Constellation RA-5C #150830 was lost in combat.^[5] The remains of the crew LTCDR T Kolstad and LTJG W Klenert were returned in March 1977.^[6]
• 4 November 1967 – 25 May 1968, RVAH-6 was embarked on USS Ranger for a Vietnam deployment.^[4]
• 6 January-2 July 1969, RVAH-6 was embarked on USS Enterprise for a Vietnam deployment.^[4]
• 31 March 1969, RA-5C #150842 was lost in combat.^[5]
• 6 November 1970 – 17 July 1971, RVAH-6 was embarked on USS Kitty Hawk for a Vietnam deployment.^[4]
• 5 June 1972 – 24 March 1973, RVAH-6 was embarked on USS America for a Vietnam deployment.^[4]
• 21 May-15 December 1975, RVAH-6 was embarked on USS Kitty Hawk for a Western Pacific deployment.^[4]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports:

• NAS Moffett Field
• NAS North Island
• NAS Whidbey Island
• NAS Sanford
• NAS Albany, GA
• NAS Key West, FL

Aircraft Assignment

• AJ-2 Savage
• A3D-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. Ginter, Steve (1992). North American AJ-1 Savage (Naval Fighters Number 22). p. 77. ISBN 0942612221.
3. "Skywarrior in Service with US Navy". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
4. "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.
5. Powell, Robert (2012). RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat. Osprey Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 9781782005421.
6. "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