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RVAH-14

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Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 14
RVAH-14 squadron patch
Active14 February 1968-1 May 1974
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Navy
RolePhoto-reconnaissance
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)Eagle Eyes

RVAH-14 was a Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established on 14 February 1968 and disestablished on 1 May 1974.[1]

Operational history

RVAH-14 RA-5C Vigilante over NAS Albany in 1969
RVAH-14 RA-5C prepares to launch from USS John F. Kennedy, c.1970

RVAH-14

RVAH-14 was the second squadron specifically formed to operate the RA-5C Vigilante and was the most short-lived of any RVAH squadron. RVAH-14 was initially established on 1 February 1968 at NAS Sanford, Florida in order to accommodate the impending commissioning of the USS John F. Kennedy, the latter of which was scheduled for 7 September 1968. Throughout its existence, RVAH-14 concentrated on Cold War operations, primarily in support of the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, and was the only frontline RVAH squadron not to see action during the Vietnam War. The squadron's emblem was created by cartoonist Roy Crane, the creator of the Buz Sawyer comic strip.[2]

Prior to its first overseas deployment, budgetary pressures of the Vietnam War necessitated that the Department of Defense close or realign several stateside air bases, to include the closure of NAS Sanford, Florida. As a result, only months following its establishment, RVAH-14 shifted home stations from NAS Sanford to the former Turner AFB, renamed NAS Albany, Georgia, effective 1 May 1968.

RVAH-14's overseas deployments were as follows:

  • 5 April 1969 - 20 December 1969, RVAH-14 embarked aboard USS John F. Kennedy for a Mediterranean deployment.[3]
  • 14 September 1970 - 28 February 1971, RVAH-14 embarked aboard USS John F. Kennedy for a Mediterranean deployment.[4]
  • 1 December 1971 - 6 October 1971, RVAH-14 embarked aboard USS John F. Kennedy for a Mediterranean deployment.[5]
  • 21 June 1973 - 19 January 1974, RVAH-14 embarked aboard USS Independence for a Mediterranean deployment.[6]

With the end of the Vietnam War, budgetary pressures and military force reductions impel the Department of Defense to once again close several stateside air bases, to include the closure of NAS Albany, Georgia. As a result, Reconnaissance Attack Wing ONE and all RVAH squadrons were slated to relocate to NAS Key West, Florida.

However, attrition of airframes and the increasing maintenance and flight hour costs of the RA-5C in a constrained defense budget environment also forced the Navy to incrementally retire the RA-5C and sunset the RVAH community beginning in mid-1974. Carrier-based reconnaissance was concurrently conducted by the active duty VFP community at NAS Miramar and the Naval Reserve VFP community at Andrews AFB / NAF Washington with the RF-8G Crusader until 29 March 1987, when the last RF-8G was retired and the mission was fully transferred to the active duty and Naval Reserve VF community at NAS Miramar, NAS Oceana, NAS Dallas and NAS JRB Fort Worth as a secondary role with the F-14 Tomcat equipped with the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS).

Due to these factors, RVAH-14 was selected to be the first RVAH squadron to inactivate. As a result, on 1 May 1974, before it could be transferred along with RECONATKWING ONE and the other RVAH squadrons to NAS Key West, RVAH-14 was disestablished at NAS Albany, Georgia.[7][8]

Home stations assignments

During its existence, RVAH-14 was assigned to these home stations:

Aircraft Assigned

See also

References

  1. ^ "Service of North American A-5 Vigilante with US Navy". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  2. ^ Powell, Robert (2012). RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat. Osprey Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 9781782005421.
  3. ^ Grove, M. & Miller, J; Aerofax Minigraph 9, North American Rockwell A3J/A-5A Vigilante; Aerofax, Inc., Arlington, TX c1989, p15; ISBN 0-942548-14-0
  4. ^ Grove, M. & Miller, J; Aerofax Minigraph 9, North American Rockwell A3J/A-5A Vigilante; Aerofax, Inc., Arlington, TX c1989, p15; ISBN 0-942548-14-0
  5. ^ Grove, M. & Miller, J; Aerofax Minigraph 9, North American Rockwell A3J/A-5A Vigilante; Aerofax, Inc., Arlington, TX c1989, p15; ISBN 0-942548-14-0
  6. ^ Grove, M. & Miller, J; Aerofax Minigraph 9, North American Rockwell A3J/A-5A Vigilante; Aerofax, Inc., Arlington, TX c1989, p15; ISBN 0-942548-14-0
  7. ^ Grove, M. & Miller, J; Aerofax Minigraph 9, North American Rockwell A3J/A-5A Vigilante; Aerofax, Inc., Arlington, TX c1989, p15; ISBN 0-942548-14-0
  8. ^ http://www.rvahnavy.com/5history.html
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