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HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON ONE
VAH-1 "SMOKIN' TIGERS"

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Commissioned at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, on November 1,1955, as the heir of Patrol Squadron Three (VP-3), VAH-1 gained the distinction of being the first operational unit to receive Skywarriors when five A3D-1s were ferried from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, five months later. After initial training at its home base, VAH-1 completed carrier qualifications aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) in October, 1956, and was thus ready to bolster the Sixth Fleet during the Suez Crisis in November. This first cruise, which lasted only one month, was followed by two full-length cruises aboard CVA-59 in 1957-58, one in the Mediterranean and one in the North Atlantic.

Moving to NAS Sanford, Florida, in January, 1959, HATRON One recorded the first operational launch and arrested landing aboard the USS Independence (CVA-62) in May of that year. Two Mediterranean cruises were made aboard this carrier in 1959-60 and in 1961. Between these two cruises, VAH-1 also provided inflight refueling for Project LANA, the Bendix Trophy transcontinental speed record set by McDonnell F4H-1 s to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of U.S. Naval Aviation.

Returning from its fourth Mediterranean cruise in August, 1962, after setting a utilization record of 885 flights hours in 17 days aboard Independence, VAH-1 began its transition to North American A3J-1 s. VAH-1 disposed of its last A-3Bs prior to the end of 1962, and the unit became Reconnaissance Heavy Attack Squadron One on September 1, 1964 after transitioning in the RA-5C.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON TWO
VAH-2 "ROYAL RAMPANTS"

This HATRON was formed from VP-29 to become PacFlt's first heavy jet attack squadron. Commissioned at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, on November 1, 1955, VAH-2 was initially equipped with Lockheed TV-2 jet trainers and with Lockheed P2V-5Fs and P2V-3Bs fitted with radar and navigation/bombing systems similar to those of their forthcoming Skywarriors. During 1956, a few Douglas F3D-2Ts were added. As pilot and crew training progressed satisfactorily, personnel from VAH-2 joined VAH-1 crews to participate in the A3D Fleet Indoctrination Program at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Temporarily homeported at NAS North Island, California, from January, 1956, until December, 1957, the unit received its first A3D-1 in May, 1956, and its first A3D-2 two months later. Initial A3D-2 carquals began in May, 1957, aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), with Lt. Ed Mitchell—a future astronaut—becoming the first VAH-2 pilot to complete day carquals; the first night qualification was made by Cdr. H. L. Salyer.

While aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard, between July and December, 1957, VAH-2 Det. Bravo became the first A3D unit to deploy to WestPac; it was followed by Det. Mike aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) (Sep '57 - Apr '58). Homeported at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, from December, 1957, VAH-2 crews and support personnel then deployed several times aboard these two carriers; later, they also embarked aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) and Ranger (CVA-61) (initially in Sept. '60 and Oct. '64, respectively).

VAH-2's first war cruise was made aboard the USS Coral Sea (December 7, 1964-November 1965), with the unit being credited with the first A-3 bombing sorties (March 29,1965). During the Southeast Asia War, VAH-2 detachments made eight more deployments to the Gulf of Tonkin. In the course of these operations, VAH-2 primarily provided air refueling for the fleet with A-3Bs configured as tankers and later with KA-3Bs. Finally, as combined tanking/electronic warfare came into being, VAH-2 was redesignated VAQ-132 on November 1, 1968.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON THREE
VAH-3 "SEA DRAGONS"

On June 15, 1956, VP-34 was disestablished and VAH-3 was commissioned at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, as an operational A3D-1 squadron. After completing its carquals aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42), VAH-3 deployed in July, 1957, for its only cruise with Skywarriors. In June, 1958, three months after returning from this Mediterranean cruise, the squadron moved to NAS Sanford, Florida, to be merged with the Atlantic Fleet's Heavy Attack Training Unit. In its new role as a RAG Squadron, VAH-3 took over HATULANT's Douglas R4D-7s and Grumman F9F-8Ts, and in late 1959 added A3D-2Ts to its mixed complement of A3D-1s and A3D-2s.

During 1960, VAH-3 was given the additional duty of training crews for the North American Vigilante, and the first A3J-1s were received in June, 1961. Training of A-3 crews then became progressively less important, with the last class of Skywarrior pilots and bombardiers graduating in January, 1964. As the RA-5C RAG squadron, the unit was redesignated RVAH-3 six months later, moved to NAS Albany, Georgia, in May, 1968, and to NAS Key West, Florida, in January, 1974. RVAH-3 continued operating TA-3Bs until disestablished in August, 1979.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON FOUR
VAH-4 " FOURRUNNERS"
aka "HOLLYGREEN"

HATRON Four, formerly VP-57, came into being on July 1, 1956 as the second Skywarrior squadron in PacFlt. Following a 14-month training program (during which one of its aircraft set a record of 4 hr. 29 min. 50 sec. between the West Coast and Hawaii), VAH-4 first deployed to WestPac in February, 1958, when Detachment Delta went aboard the USS Hancock (CVA-19). VAH-4's peacetime activities were also marked by its contribution of A3D-2 tankers to Project LANA in May, 1961.

Remaining homeported at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, throughout its 12-year existence, HATRON Four never deployed as a full squadron aboard a single carrier. During the early years, the squadron's deployment history was unique as its A-3B detachments only went aboard the smaller attack carriers. During the Southeast Asia War, however, VAH-4 detachments also embarked aboard larger carriers (initially aboard the USS Independence (CVA-62) in 1965) and, as there was a shortage of tanker-configured A-3Bs to support Task Force 77 operations, in 1966 the squadron also sent a detachment to operate from NAS Cubi Point in the Philippines and Da Nang AB in South Vietnam. Altogether, VAH-4 made 16 war deployments aboard carriers, more than any other Skywarrior squadron.

VAH-4 last deployed KA-3Bs aboard the USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) in December, 1967. It returned to Whidbey Island eight months later. By then it had been decided that on November 1, 1968, VAH-4 would be reorganized as VAQ-131 to provide tanking and electronic support.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON FIVE
VAH-5 "SAVAGE SONS" or "Mushmouths"

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Originating at NAS Moffett Field, California, in September, 1948, as Composite Squadron Five (VC-5), this squadron was a pioneer of heavy carrier aircraft operations. Initially equipped with Lockheed P2V-3Cs, VC-5 converted to North American AJ-1 s during the spring of 1950 and flew Savages for seven years. During this period, it moved to NAS Norfolk, Virginia, in late 1950, to NAS Jacksonville, Florida, in 1952, and to NAS Sanford, Florida, in 1955.

Redesignated Heavy Attack Squadron Five on February 3, 1956, the Savage Sons had to wait 18 months to receive their first Skywarriors. With A3Ds, VAH-5 won several awards while compiling a brilliant record and made five Med deployments. Returning to NAS Sanford in March, 1963 at the end of a Mediterranean cruise, the squadron began transitioning to North American RA-5Cs and was redesignated RVAH-5 in May, 1964, thus ending its five-year association with the Skywarrior.

HEAVY ATTACK SQUADRON SIX
VAH-6 "FLEURS"

In January, 1950, Composite Squadron Six was formed at NAS Moffett Field, California, as the Navy's second nuclear attack squadron. Like its sister unit, VC-5, the squadron flew Neptunes and Savages for many years. It moved to NAS North Island, California, in June, 1952, and was redesignated VAH-6 on July 1,1956. In 1958, after moving to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, VAH-6 converted to Skywarriors. As part of CVG-61/CVW-6 the squadron then made several WestPac deployments aboard the USS Ranger (CVA-61) prior to transferring to CVW-8 for operations in the Mediterranean aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA-59). Transferred to NAS Sanford, Florida, the squadron was redesignated RVAH-6 in September, 1965, and commenced its transition to the RA-5C Vigilante.

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