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RVAH-13

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Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 13
RVAH-13 squadron patch
Active3 January 1961-30 June 1976
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Navy
RolePhoto-reconnaissance
Part ofInactive
Nickname(s)Bats
EngagementsVietnam War

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

RIM-2 Terrier missile launches behind 2 VAH-13 A-3B Skywarrior on USS Kitty Hawk c.1962
Camouflaged RVAH-13 RA-5C Vigilante lands on USS Kitty Hawk in 1966

VAH-13

VAH-13 was established on 3 January at NAS Sanford, Florida, with twelve A3D-2 Skywarrior aircraft assigned. Upon completion of initial training, the squadron was assigned to Carrier Air Group 11 and deployed aboard the newly-commissioned USS Kitty Hawk for her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean. Shortly thereafter, VAH-13 transferred to the Pacific Fleet, the squadron's Detachment A embarking aboard Kitty Hawk for her 11 August - 1 November 1961 transit from the Western and Southern Atlantic to the Eastern Pacific enroute to her new homeport of NAS North Island in San Diego, California, while the remainder of the squadron relocated to its new home station of NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. In September 1962, in accordance with a new DoD aircraft designation systems, the squadron's A3D-2 aircraft were redesignated as the A-3B Skywarrior.

For the next three years, VAH-13 maintained readiness requirements and served with the U.S. Seventh Fleet, deploying as follows:

  • 13 September 1962 - 2 April 1963, VAH-13 embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk for its first Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment.[2]
  • 17 October 1963 - 20 July 1964, VAH-13 embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk for a WESTPAC deployment.[3][4]


In anticipation of its transition to the RA-5C Vigilante, VAH-13 moved back to NAS Sanford in August 1964. The squadron received its first RA-5C on 5 October 1964, followed by its redesignation as RVAH-13 on 1 November 1964.[5]

RVAH-13 / Cold War and Vietnam

With the increasing U.S. military involvement in Vietnam after 1964, RVAH-13 added to the mix of RVAH squadrons participating in combat operations in Southeast Asia. In conducting pre- and post-strike reconnaissance, the RA-5C would incur the highest loss rate of any U.S. Navy combat aircraft during the Vietnam War, and RVAH-13's experience would more than reflect this. RVAH-13's Cold War and Vietnam-era deployments were as follows:

  • 19 October 1965 – 13 June 1966, RVAH-13 embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk for a WESTPAC and Vietnam deployment.[4]
    • On 20 December 1965, RA-5C BuNo 151624 was hit by antiaircraft fire over North Vietnam.[6] Both crewmen initially listed as Missing in Action (MIA) until 1977 when Vietnamese government confirmed that both the pilot, LCDR Guy D. Johnson[7], and the reconnaissance attack navigator, LTJG Lee "Shack" Nordahl[8], were killed.[9][10][11] The remains of LCDR Johnson (promoted to CDR and CAPT while MIA), were returned to the United States in March 1977. The remains of LTJG Nordahl (promoted to LT and LCDR while MIA) were never recovered.[12]
    • On 22 December 1965, RA-5C BuNo 151632 was hit by an SA-2surface-to-air missile.[6] Reconnaissance attack navigator, LTJG Glenn Daigle[13], successfully ejected, was captured by the North Vietnamese as a POW, and repatriated to the United States on 12 February 1973.[12] The pilot, LCDR Max Lukenbach[14], was Killed in Action, body not recovered (KIA/BNR).[11]
    • On 3 February 1966, an RVAH-13 RA-5C, BuNo 151625, was lost in combat due to anti-aircraft fire.[6] The crew successfully ejected and landed in the water near Cap Bouton, North Vietnam. The pilot, LT Gerald Coffee, was captured by the North Vietnamese as a POW and repatriated to the United States on 12 February 1973.[12] The remains of LTJG Hanson (promoted to LT and LCDR while MIA) were returned to the United States in November 1988.[12][15][16]
  • 5 November 1966 – 19 June 1967, RVAH-13 was embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk for a WESTPAC and Vietnam deployment.[4]
    • 9 March 1967, RA-5C BuNo 151627 was lost in combat.[6] The reconnaissance attack navigator, LTJG Frank Predergast, successfully ejected and was rescued. The pilot and RVAH-13 Commanding Officer, CDR Charlie Putnam, also ejected and is believed to have been captured and died in captivity. He was posthumously promoted to CAPT and his remains were returned to the United States in November 1988.[12]
    • 19 May 1967, RA-5C BuNo 150826 was lost in combat over Hanoi, North Vietnam.[6] The pilot, LCDR James Griffin[17] and the RAN, LT Jack Walters[18] were seriously injured during their ejection. Both were captured but both died of their injuries within 24 to 48 hours of capture. Their remains were returned to the United States in March 1974.[12]
  • 10 April - 16 December 1968, RVAH-13 embarked aboard USS America for a WESTPAC and Vietnam deployment.[4]
    • Budgetary pressures of the Vietnam War force the Department of Defense to close several stateside air bases, to include NAS Sanford, Florida. Upon return from their 1968 deployment, RVAH-13 shifts home stations from NAS Sanford to the former Turner AFB, renamed NAS Albany, Georgia, effective December 1968.
  • 12 September 1972 – 12 June 1973, RVAH-13 embarked aboard USS Enterprise for a WESTPAC and Vietnam deployment.[4]
  • On 28 December 1972, during Operation Linebacker II, RA-5C BuNo 156633 was shot docwn by a Vietnam People's Air Force MiG-21.[6] The pilot, LCDR Al Agnew[19], successfully ejected, was captured by the North Vietnamese as a POW, and repatriated to the United States on 29 March 1973. The RAN, LT Mike Haifley[20] was listed as MIA until his remains were returned to the United States in August 1985.[12]


  • 7 May-18 October, RVAH-13 was embarked on USS Ranger for a Western Pacific deployment.[4]

Home port assignments

The squadron was assigned to these home ports:

Aircraft Assignment

See also

Template:Wikipedia books

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 30 December 2015.
  2. ^ http://www.gonavy.jp/navy/sqn/VAH13.html
  3. ^ http://www.gonavy.jp/navy/sqn/VAH13.html
  4. ^ a b c d e f "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. ^ 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. ^ a b c d e f Powell, Robert (2012). RA-5C Vigilante Units in Combat. Osprey Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 9781782005421.
  7. ^ http://www.virtualwall.org/dj/JohnsonGD04a.htm
  8. ^ http://www.virtualwall.org/dn/NordahlLE01a.htm
  9. ^ http://www.stripes.com/news/flag-flies-over-uss-kitty-hawk-in-father-s-honor-1.58348
  10. ^ "LCDR Lee Edward Nordahl". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  11. ^ a b "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.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "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.
  13. ^ http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1066
  14. ^ http://www.virtualwall.org/dl/LukenbachMD01a.htm
  15. ^ http://www.virtualwall.org/dh/HansonRT01a.htm
  16. ^ http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/Coffee-RA5C.htm
  17. ^ http://www.virtualwall.org/dg/GriffinJL01a.htm
  18. ^ http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1134
  19. ^ http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=582
  20. ^ http://www.virtualwall.org/dh/HaifleyMF01a.htm
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